Shampoo
Regular cleansing of the scalp and hair is crucial in a healthy hair journey. You should focus on using products that do not strip the hair of moisture by containing harsh or dangerous ingredients. For example, avoid products that contain sulfates as this can be quite drying to the hair by stripping it of its natural oils. Parabens and phthalates are unhealthy preservatives that you should avoid. They are thought to disrupt estrogen levels and be dangerous to our overall health.
Once you have found clean natural products to clean your hair, I would recommend first finding a good shampoo. I am a big proponent of using shampoo and not co-wash. I believe that you truly must cleanse your scalp and hair. I do not think this can be achieved with a co-wash. Just as you wash your body with soap and not lotion, I believe the same is true for hair (as the scalp is part of your skin – integumentary system). But I understand this is a highly debated topic and some have had success with co-washing.
Plan to shampoo and condition your hair a minimum of every 2 weeks and a scalp cleanse every week. Some may need weekly wash days depending on how quickly you have buildup on your scalp and hair strands.
The focus of your shampoo day should be on your scalp. It is very important to keep your scalp clean as this is where hair follicles are located on your scalp and this is where the hair strand grows from. If the scalp is dirty from buildup, this creates a barrier when trying to achieve healthy hair growth.
Textured hair can easily tangle and make it difficult to manage on wash day. It is often better to section your hair when shampooing to ensure adequate cleansing in each section. Many times detangling prior to shampooing helps with the sectioning process and also gives you an opportunity to start to comb the scalp a little prior to shampoo to help remove some product buildup.
During the shampoo process I would recommend that the shampoo be directed at the scalp as this is the focus and then remaining shampoo can travel down the shaft of the hair strand as this is enough to cleanse the hair without stripping the hair of moisture. If it is difficult to get your shampoo to your scalp, you can consider transferring it to a bottle with a tip. These bottles can be found at beauty supply stores.
You are off to a good start if you remain on a regular consistent wash day routine. Patience is key in the hair journey.