All Natural Hair Care - Step 1

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We all want silky smooth hair and some of us will go to great lengths to find just the right product.  Walk into any salon or store and you'll find serums, sprays, treatments and masks in all price ranges to de-frizz our locks
If you find that nothing seems to do the trick consider studies that show the average woman does not properly wash or rinse her hair.  Often times it's not because we don't know how or don't want to, we just don't have the time to properly lather up, rinse and repeat.
Add that to the years and decades spent slicking and spraying and you'll find yourself facing a massive microscopic build up of products, shampoo, etc. on our scalp.
(If you don't believe me take the test I read about: part your hair and gently scrape your scalp with your nail.  That white powdery residue is not dandruff, it's buildup!)
It's no wonder then that hundreds smoothing, anti frizz products exist; there is so much build up that our hair is freaking out!
What's a girl to do?
Follow three simple steps:

Step 1
The first course of action is to relearn what we know about hair care, beginning with the lathering process.
Shampoo should be applied to a soaking wet scalp for best results, which means about a quarter size dollop or less is enough for everyone.  Pour the dollop in your hand, work it into a bit of a lather between both hands and then apply.
Shampoo should be gently massaged or "scrubbed" onto the scalp with your fingertips, not fingernails, in small, circular motions.  Your scalp is the only part that needs actual agitation but scrubbing too hard or scratching with your nails will cause damage to your scalp as well as your hair follicles.  It is possible to permanently damage hair follicles this way so much so that they never grow another strand of hair again, so be gentle.
It is not necessary to apply shampoo down the length of the hair.  Instead gently run your fingers or a comb  from your scalp down the length of your hair.  This is enough to remove any surface build up.  It is not necessary to scrub the length of your hair or ends because the ends are already dry and brittle and any further agitation can potentially break the shaft and leave you with split ends.  Also, the ends don't usually get as greasy or otherwise dirty as the scalp.
Rinse shampoo well, gently massaging your scalp and running your fingers or a comb down the length of the hair as you rinse, concentrating the water-flow on your scalp.
Conditioner should be applied to the length and ends only, worked gently into the hair from the ends up.  It is not necessary to condition your scalp since the hair near your scalp is already healthy and layering on a thick conditioner will only cause more buildup in this area.
It is not necessary either to apply massive amounts of conditioner to get silkier hair.    You should apply only as much as your hair type dictates and enough so that each strand feels coated.  Fine, short hair needs less while longer thicker hair needs more.  Start out with a small dollop, work it in to the ends and gently run your fingers or a comb down the length to redistribute until you feel that all your strands are coated.  If you feel you need more conditioner, first try combing through your hair a little more to redistribute, and then decide.
Conditioner should sit on your hair for at least three minutes during which the steam from the shower opens up the shaft and lets the conditioner penetrate the strands.  Meanwhile you can wash your face, scrub your elbows, shave your legs...
When it is time to rinse, use the same method of running your fingers or a comb down the length of your hair and concentrating the water-flow on this area.  When you think you've rinsed enough, rinse a little more.  You should not be able to feel the conditioner on your strands (hair should not feel "coated") when you run your fingers through it.

Stay tuned for steps 2 and 3 in the next days!