Lather, Rinse - Don’t Repeat

Regardless of which shampoo you use, from the least expensive drugstore brand to the poshest salon formula, the instructions never seem to change from bottle to bottle.

Lather, rinse thoroughly. Repeat.

Does your hair really need that second application of shampoo? It’s not likely. One lathering with any shampoo is sufficient to lift the dirt and excess oils from your hair and scalp. To repeat the process will only strip hair of too much oil and leave it dry and easily damaged by the rest of your styling routine (which probably involves heat in the form of dryers and irons, stressing your hair even further). So why do the directions on the bottle tell you to repeat?

Easy. You use more product, they sell more product. But they don’t just sell more shampoo, you will also use more conditioner as well, trying to make up for the loss of moisture as a result of a too-thorough cleansing.

So when you wash your hair, lather, rinse and don’t repeat. Once is enough.