Through it's been quite the learning process over the years, I've finally learned how to wash my Asian hair properly. Let me tell you, it was not an easy process. Sometimes my hair can get extremely dry and into a frizzy, tangled mess. Other times, I find myself with a super oily scalp and split ends galore. It gets a little complicated at times, but as soon as I discovered how much washing my hair incorrectly was affecting the way it looked, i knew I had to change.
My mom, who also deals with the same problem, was a huge help in figuring how to maintain my hair.Ever since elementary school, my mom has imparted so much wisdom for how to properly wash my hair with the right products. Even until now, we're always trying to find new ways that we can keep our Asian hair in tip top shape.
Over the years, I've learned a couple of things that really help my hair stay healthy and shiny. My hair also happens to be pin straight, so at times it may seem a little dull and flat. But believe me, the way you wash it and the products you use can change up your hair entirely.
If you have Asian hair like me and have been struggling with how to take better care of your tresses, here are some tips for how to wash your hair the right way:
Pre-Wash Brushing
Ghd Paddle Brush, $35, Ghd
Before I learned this trick, my hair would be a literal mess after getting out of the shower — even after conditioning it. I have really fine hair, but a lot of it, so naturally my hair gets extremely tangled whenever anything hits it, be a hair tie or a light breeze. I found that brushing my hair with a paddle brush before washing my 'do really helped smooth out my hair and made it easier to manage after the shower.
Use The Right Temperature
Since my hair is extremely fine, I tend to also lose a lot of it. I noticed that when I would have extremely long, hot showers, my hair would become even thinner. After realizing that the hot temperature affected the shininess of my hair and my scalp, I settled for a warm temperature that's in between hot and ice cold.
Use A Shampoo With Natural Oil
Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Shampoo with Tsubaki Oil , $17, Amazon
Before, I used to just pick any shampoo that was on sale. However, after using shampoos with natural oils in them, I've never gone back. Not only does using natural oils help make my hair feel healthier and bouncier, it adds great volume to my super straight and thin hair.
Use A Shining Conditioner
Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Conditioner with Tsubaki Oil, $23, Amazon
Just like shampoo, using a conditioner made with natural oils is extremely helpful in giving my thin hair volume and lift. This Shiseido conditioner as well as the shampoo I mentioned before work really well. For someone who tends to have really dry hair in the winter, I try to find a conditioner that will give my follicles a soft, long-lasting texture. This product does just that.
Wash From The Scalp To The Ends
It's super important to remember this step for someone with Asian hair like me. In order to keep my scalp less oily, I'll make sure to wash my scalp first and move onto the ends. Your ends tend to be drier than the hair on your scalp, so it doesn't need as much shampoo. Use the foam from the shampoo on the top of your head on your ends — this will help keep your scalp less oily while also making sure not to dry out the rest of your tresses.
Condition From The Ends To Scalp
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Conditioner, $28, Amazon
At one point, I was so fed up with how oily my hair became that I ended up spending so much money on unnecessary products to try and fix it. I later realized that the way I conditioned my hair was the cause of how oily it was! Instead of starting from your scalp, where you can tend to be oily, start conditioning from the ends first.
Use A Hair Mask Post-Wash
Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Repairative Hair Pak, $25, Nordstrom
If you feel like going that extra mile, consider using a mask on your hair after it's nice and clean. Masks can really help keep thin and straight Asian hair shiny and full of volume. It will also nourish and tame your hair from frizz, as well as repair any damage from hot tool use.
Want more beauty tips? Check out the video below, and be sure to subscribe to Bustle’s YouTube page for more hacks and tricks!
Images: Courtesy of Brands; KBoyd/Pixabay
