How to care for your hair:
the complete guide

Your hair tells the story of who you are: its appearance changes with the seasons, your lifestyle and the passing of time.

Caring for your hair means learning to observe it so you can choose the right steps and products at every stage. In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know to build your hair care routine and choose the treatments best suited to your hair type.

What are the steps in a hair care routine?

An effective hair routine isn't a matter of time, but of method. Four steps, always in the same order, are all it takes to care for your hair in depth:

Pre-shampoo

Before shampooing, a nourishing treatment or an oil worked through the lengths prepares the hair, leaving it softer and easier to detangle, and eases the stress of the wash to come.

Cleasing

A gentle shampoo, chosen to suit your scalp and hair type, cleanses without stripping, leaving the hair clean and ready for the next treatment.

Conditioner

Applied to the lengths and ends, conditioner seals the cuticles, adds softness and makes the hair easier to comb, reducing frizz.

Protection/styling

The final step protects the hair from the heat of hairdryers and straighteners, and defines the style, leaving the hair shiny and manageable for longer.

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How can you plan an effective hair care routine?

Just as with the skin, for hair too there is a genuine hair care schedule: a programme of targeted treatments to alternate over time, to meet its different needs, such as hydration, nourishment and repair.

Hydration

All hair, whether dry or oily, fine or thick, needs to be well hydrated to remain soft, glossy and radiant. For this step, we recommend choosing hydrating shampoos and masks.

Nourishment

This stage is particularly recommended if your hair looks dry, dull, brittle or damaged. To nourish your hair, apply nourishing masks or oil treatments.

Repair

This step is recommended once or twice a month when the hair has become finer, has split ends, is prone to breakage and is difficult to comb. It is time to choose restructuring treatments and specific food supplements.

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How can I tell what my hair needs?

Viewing the scalp and the lengths as two distinct areas, with needs that can be very different from one another, is the first step towards choosing the most suitable products.

Hair that quickly becomes weighed down indicates an oily scalp, which calls for purifying products and more frequent washing; dull hair that breaks or is difficult to detangle needs nourishment and repair; hair that loses volume throughout the day benefits from light, volumising formulas.

How many times a week should you wash your hair?

There is no one-size-fits-all rule: the ideal frequency depends on your scalp type and lifestyle.

Oily hair may require daily washing with a gentle shampoo that doesn't disrupt the scalp’s balance; normal hair can be washed every two or three days, while a dry scalp benefits from less frequent washing, about twice a week.

If you exercise frequently, you can choose formulas designed for daily use as well.

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How should you care for curly hair?

Curly and wavy hair has a naturally drier structure and is more prone to frizz, so it needs gentle cleansing, constant hydration and products designed to define curls without weighing them down. A curly-hair routine starts with an anti-frizz shampoo, continues with a conditioner or a smoothing mask, and finishes with a serum or shaping cream applied to damp hair, for defined, soft, frizz-free curls.

wavy & curly

How should men care for their hair?

Men also have specific hair needs: a scalp that is often more prone to oiliness, frequent use of Shower Shampoo and, in many cases, hair that becomes finer over time. A men’s hair care routine should include a practical Shower Shampoo for daily use and, where needed, a targeted treatment and a strengthening food supplement, for stronger hair over time.

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What is a Solid Shampoo and what are its benefits?

Solid Shampoo is a practical, waterless solution for hair that stays clean wherever you are. In the L’Erbolario catalogue, you will find a range of Solid Shampoos that contain up to 70% less water than our traditional shampoos. They come in paper cartons which, once opened, can be replaced with a reusable Small Tin Box. You can choose a Solid Shampoo for all hair types, for frequent use, for dry or oily hair, or a practical Shower Shampoo for body and hair.

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