What is reverse shampooing?
Everybody has a different way of washing their hair. Some like to finish off with a blast of cold water, while others like to leave their conditioner in until the last minute. But generally, the one thing we all do the same is shampoo first and condition second.
Recently, however, a new hair washing technique has been sweeping across the Internet and even our own forums: reverse shampooing. This technique is when conditioner is used first and shampoo last, supposedly to add volume to fine and limp hair. Below, Barney Martin, Pantene Ambassador & Hair Expert, shares insight on this technique, while bh members comment about their own experiences.
Barney says:
“When you reverse shampoo, you’ll find that your hair won’t feel as weighed down and that it carries more volume and bounce, which is the result of no residue being left from your conditioner. In saying that, you’ll also definitely start to notice that your hair won’t be as soft, that it’s become a lot drier, and generally less glossy, which is due to the conditioning agents being stripped when you shampoo.
“Everyone’s hair type is different, but fine hair generally warrants less conditioning as it can end up being too heavy if it’s applied every day. If you have fine hair, then this method could be good as a short-term solution, but I don’t think it would be altogether healthy for your hair if you were to maintain this as a long-term habit, as essentially your hair won’t gain all the benefits of a conditioner.
“If you’re concerned about your hair being weighed down or being left with residue and are looking for a long-term solution, then I’d recommend introducing a clarifying shampoo (bh recommends: Shu Uemura Art of Hair Clarifying Astringent Cleanser Cleansing Oil Shampoo or Fudge Detox Cleanser Shampoo) into your haircare regime and using it once a week. A shampoo free from added silicones, parabens and dyes, like the Pantene Ice Shine Shampoo, will cleanse fine hair to remove dirt and residue, whilst leaving you with a lightweight feel.”
You say:
“I do it when I use a heavy conditioning treatment. I’ll often apply it to my dry hair, then leave it for ages before just shampooing out. I do find that the heavier treatments can leave my fine hair very soft but kind of heavy and lank.” –Stay C
“I’ve tried it – I actually do think I noticed an improvement. My hair was light and not at all limp like it often is. It wasn’t as shiny as normal, which I guess is the payoff, but I’d definitely be prepared to try it again.” –Miss_Lee
“I definitely didn’t like it. I mean I got a bit of extra volume throughout my hair, but it made it so knotty, dry and frizzy, which are things I struggle with anyway. Although it was an interesting method to try out, I won’t be sticking to it…” -sarzej
Have you ever tried reverse shampooing? Do you have fine hair that is partial to be weighed down by products?
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112 Member Comments
This doesn't appeal to me in any way. I'll stick to convention and my favourite products.
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My hair is way too dry to try this.
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Well I always shampoo first then condition second but I'll give this a go.
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Ive tried it before but I feel as though it would just wash all of my conditioner out
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I have tried this reverse shampooing method but it didn't work on my hair...
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Interesting concept though...
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Mine was so limp after years using products and conditioners...now i do bicarb soda/ACvinegar thingy with a few drops of fave essential oil and my hair is ALIVE again! and full of body :) Also smells amazing and does not have to be washed for at least a week, as before every day!!!
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I have tried this many times when using an actual conditioning treatment , I pop it on and leave in for around 15 minutes then pop in the shower and rinse out. It worked well for me.
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I've never tried Reverse Shampooing though Dove does make a Hair Treatment that you leave in overnight and then shampoo out in the morning. I have bought that Treatment but as yet, am still to give it a go.
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It has actually worked quite well for me and I found my hair is a lot shinier and healthier!!
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I did this by accident the other day!!
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I've accidentally picked up the conditioner bottle before the shampoo a few times... does that count? Haha. I can't see this being a thing for me. I knot my hair up too much when shampooing
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I only do this if I use an intense home made treatment before and it doesn't harm my hair at all.
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Interesting. I am going to give it a go!
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It sounds like it's a bit of a waste of conditioner? I use natural shampoo and conditioner anyway, so I sacrifice the soft shiny look for a longer time between washes.
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Doesn't seem very sensible to me - shampoo & conditioner were designed to be used in that order. Sounds like you're just using the wrong conditioner for your hair type if you need to shampoo it out!!
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I do it about once a month - didn't know there was a name for it. I apply L'Oreal's Elvive Extraordinary Oil to my hair about an hour before I shampoo then don't use conditioner. It leaves my hair shiny and feeling fantastic. I remember as a teenager doing a similar thing using coconut oil. My hair is thick but I'd noticed it was thinning slightly. This method restored it. I wouldn't do it every time I wash my hair. I did try once a week but it was a disaster with my hair becoming either too oily or too brittle depending on how much oil I applied.
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I've not heard of reverse shampooing before now but i don't use conditioner so i'll pass this on to people i know.
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Don't think it'll work with me because my hair is so dry and frizzy. Reverse shampooing will make it worse.
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I haven't heard of this before, I might try it.
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I'd actually been wondering about this for some time! I'm going to give it a go tonight and see how I go.
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