Having perennially dry hair is not for the weak; luckily, I discovered the fascinating world that is pre-shampoo treatments—potent elixirs carefully crafted to tackle a variety of hair concerns. Before I actually tested one, I thought it was all fluff. I was using a nourishing shampoo and conditioner; I prioritized habitual hair masks and bond repair treatments for strengthening; I even use a hair oil almost every night. So, I assumed my brittle strands were something I’d have to live with forever.
Then, I randomly remembered I had a bottle of Ceremonia’s pre-shampoo oil in my bathroom. So, on wash day, instead of heading right into the shower with my mane untouched, I did as the instructions asked and applied the oil to dry hair—massaging it into my scalp and working excess product down my hair shaft. I let it work for 15 minutes; The oil felt conditioning, but admittedly I couldn’t tell any difference until I started washing it out.
Now in the shower, armed with my shampoo, I found my, again, very dry hair feeling noticeably softer while rinsing away the soapy lather. This softness only became more apparent during my conditioning step. While my strands would typically need a minute or so to soak up the conditioner’s intensely hydrated ingredients, they immediately felt softer, stronger, and silkier. It was markedly easier to detangle my precious coils. “Where has this been all my life,” I thought. And so, the pre-shampoo became integral to my bi-weekly washes, but I didn’t quite understand why how it worked any different than other oils I had tried.
“A pre-shampoo treatment is a hair-care product applied before shampooing to address specific concerns such as hydration, nourishment, repair, or scalp health,” explains celebrity hairstylist Valerie Vanessa. That said, there are a few types of pre-shampoo treatments. “Certain masks can help repair the hair shaft, while oils moisturize the scalp and strands,” says pro hairstylist Madison Clifford. “Some treatments will assist in exfoliating the scalp or clarifying the hair from product buildup.”
Choosing which type might work for you is largely up to your lifestyle and desired results, as celebrity hairstylist Jay Birmingham puts it. “For example, if you work out, you may need a more exfoliating pre-shampoo treatment to banish any sweat residue in the hair,” he says; or, if you use a lot of styling products and heat, you’ll likely want a pre-shampoo that can remove buildup. Or if you’re like me, a hydrating oil or mask to help replenish moisture, aid in detangling, and promote softer strands.
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