Common Hair-Washing Mistakes Preventing You From Healthy, Shiny Hair

If the only reason you show up for a haircut is because you love the scalp massage during the rinse portion, you're in good company. But going ham on your scalp in the shower isn't the same (or as good, if we're being honest). “Wet hair is weak and more prone to breaking, so be gentle when washing your own hair,” says Dove celebrity stylist Cynthia Alvarez. “Stroke your scalp from forehead to nape, on the sides, and along the hairline rather than rubbing aggressively." Plus, if you're too harsh, your scalp might overproduce oil (in the same way that super-harsh scrubbing on your face can leave it feeling dry and tight, causing your skin to go into oil-production overdrive).

Mistake #4: Applying shampoo and conditioner all over your hair.

Shampoo and conditioner serve completely different purposes—and therefore belong on different areas of your hair. Shampoo is your cleanser, so you only really need it on the areas that get dirty and grimy (a.k.a. your roots, especially if you're obsessed with dry shampoo). "If you have bangs or if your hair is slightly oily on the top of your head or around the hairline, just shampoo those areas," says Suave celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis. "That way you have that great texture from it being slightly lived-in with those spots feeling oil-free." Conversely, conditioner belongs on the drier areas of your hair—that is, the mid-lengths of your hair to the ends (Why? Check out the next mistake.)

Mistake #5: Skipping conditioner altogether.

Conditioner kind of gets a bad rap, in part because some blame it for weighing hair down and killing any natural volume you might have. That only happens if you rub it on your roots, and it really belongs anywhere but. "After cleansing, your scalp regains its natural oils, but your ends are still susceptible to drying out," says Alvarez. "That's why you need a conditioner." Plus, it gives hair slip and silkiness that reduces friction, so there's less chance of breakage when you go to brush or style it. She recommends applying it first to the ends (since that's where hair is most prone to breakage) and then spreading it up the hair to the mid-shaft.

Mistake #6: Still using a shampoo with sulfates.

Sulfates (surfactants that give shampoo its foamy lather) have gotten a ton of bad press in the past few years, thanks to rumors that they cause cancer (no) and strip skin of oil (true). Studies have deemed them perfectly safe—but even so, they're worth avoiding if you color your hair. "Sulfate-free shampoos are much gentler and keep the cuticle tighter so color doesn't fade as quickly," explains Clarke. Longer time between trips to the salon? Totally worth the switch.

Mistake #7: Rushing through your routine.

Those mornings when you just don't have time (so, every morning?) you might not feel like spending a full two minutes rinsing out your hair. "Women tend to overuse shampoo, so you really need to pay a lot of attention to rinsing it out of the scalp," says Andre. If you let product hang out until your next wash—and pile on styling products and dry shampoo all the while—it'll turn into buildup, which can irritate the scalp and even slow growth by clogging up the hair follicles.