by Joan Inong

Created on: August 29, 2009

Using your shampoo and conditioner properly can help improve your hair's condition. However, with all the choices that you have, how can you determine which shampoo and conditioner is right for you, and how can you use them to reach your hair's potential? This article will attempt to provide you with some answers to those trying questions.

First, consider what kind of shampoo and conditioner you want to use. There are myriad products out there, and each one claims to make your hair better in some way. To pick the right shampoo and conditioner combination for your hair, you have to go out there and choose at least four to try first.

There are at least four kinds of shampoos, but most of them are a combination of two or more types. For example, there are shampoos with sulfates that claim to be "natural" and are only for people with colored hair. Then again, there are shampoos that have no sulfates, claim to be organic, and are only for people with dry or damaged hair. Try to pick the four best products that sound good to you, then judge them by how your hair feels after you come out of the shower. A few questions to consider:

- Does your hair feel too dry or brittle?

- Is there a change in texture, good or bad?

- Is there excessive hair fall?

- How does your scalp feel (tingly, nothing,...)?

Sometimes, using a shampoo and conditioner the right way can make your answers to these questions more on the positive side. Here's how you can shampoo and condition your hair effectively:

1. First, make sure that your scalp and hair are completely wet. This means drenched. Make sure that you are using cold water, so that your hair does not become dry or brittle.

2. Put only a quarter-size of shampoo onto your palm. Place the shampoo onto the back of your neck. Using the pads of your fingers, massage the shampoo and gradually move the suds up to the rest of your head.

3. Massage your hair for at least two minutes. This will ensure that you are getting rid of dead skin cells.

4. Using cold water, wash the shampoo out completely. Once you are sure that your hair is squeaky clean, use about three quarter-sized dollops of conditioner and place only on the tips of your hair. Leave the conditioner on for at least five minutes. Wash for only thirty seconds.

By making sure that you do not put conditioner on your roots, you are helping to decrease your chances of developing dandruff.

Hopefully, these tips will teach you how to use your shampoo and conditioner more effectively, so that you can use them to help you attain healthy hair.

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