6 Mistakes You're Making When Washing Your Hair

You shampoo and condition all the time. But are you doing it right? Using the best products for your hair? Professional stylists and the Good Housekeeping Beauty Lab share everything you need to know for guaranteed good hair days.

1. You're shampooing your hair too often.

Don't wash daily. That said, "How often you wash depends on your lifestyle, environment, and desired result," says Pantene celeb stylist Danilo Dixon. "But you should do a full shampoo and condition at least twice a week for hair to look its best and be its healthiest."

If your hair is dry or damaged, not washing daily may keep it hydrated, thanks to its natural oils, says GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral. You can try a dry shampoo in the meantime, like Beauty Breakthrough Award Winner Batiste Dry Shampoo Hint of Color ($10, walmart.com).

2. You're mixing and matching shampoos and conditioners.

Get the set. "Shampoos and conditioners are developed and tested for efficacy in pairs, which allows their manufacturers to optimize ingredients for their individual functions," says GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. "Mixing brands and collections may produce less effective results, including under- and over-conditioning."

3. You're applying way too much product.

Apply sparingly. Start with a small dollop and add more as needed. "Excess shampoo will not get hair cleaner; it will just make it harder to rinse, and too much conditioner can leave build-up," says GH Beauty Lab chemist Danusia Wnek.

4. You're not thoroughly cleansing your scalp.

Distribute evenly. People tend to glob products onto one spot and then end up not getting a thorough cleansing. "Squeeze it into your palms, then use your fingers to work it from your scalp to the ends," Pantene's Dixon says.

5. You're leaving residue behind.

Rinse well. If you have curly or damaged strands, detangle them gently with a wide-toothed comb prior to rinsing out conditioner to prevent breakage. "Rinse until you don't feel any residue to ensure that it's totally clean," Dixon suggests.

6. You're not properly addressing dandruff.

Healthy hair really starts with your scalp. Give your head a mini massage as you shampoo to deeply de-gunk and boost circulation. If you have itchiness or flakiness, try adding an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner to your routine, like GH Seal stars Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Shampoo ($19 for 2, amazon.com) and Conditioner ($6, target.com).

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