Everyone dreams of having beautiful long hair, but when they do they can’t wait to get rid of it because long hair requires a lot of maintenance. Your hair breaks easier, it gets in your face, you get more split ends, and forget about the tangling! But don’t worry, we’ve found a solution to your problem. It may take an extra step before washing your hair, but it’s definitely worth it. Pre-shampoo treatments are really hot this season, which include hair masks and oils that condition and prep your hair before washing.
Essentially, you’re doing the job of your hairdresser when you get a deep conditioning treatment, except for a fraction of the cost and the convenience of doing it in your own home. Pre-shampoo treatments remove the build-up and moisturizes deeper, helping your regular shampoo while preventing it from stripping your hair of the oils it needs. Plus these pre-shampoo treatments are especially great for people with dyed hair and most only require a couple of minutes of leave-in time before you shampoo.
“Pre-shampoos are excellent at enveloping the hair strands so you don’t lose the ‘good oils’ you need to keep your hair moisturized, strong and flexible that can be stripped in the shampooing process,” says Catherine Deceglie, Director of product development for Alterna Haircare. It also helps repel minerals present in water and helps your hair defend against build-up.
Who Needs A Pre-Shampoo Treatment?
Experts agree that everyone should use them, it doesn’t really matter if your hair is thin, coarse, brittle, color-treated, chemically damaged or regularly styled with heat. There are a variety of products that you can use, so it really depends on the type of hair you have. There are products for all types of hair and at different price points. Here are some of the most popular products, according to Fashionista:
Best for Fighting Frizz: Huile de Leonor Greyl, $60, available at Net-a-Porter: This ultra-hydrating cult-favorite oil got an update last year, thanks to the additions of copra oil from cold-pressed coconut kernels and mongongo oil from the nuts of an African tree to provide even more silkifying effects. A little bit goes a long way — if your hair is long, start with just a capful. Then smear any extra on your legs, shoulders, elbows… wherever.
Best for Hiding Damage: , $51, available at Philip Kingsley: The original Elasticizer was formulated for Audrey Hepburn, whose hair was in need of help due to constant color treatments. Last year, the brand released this updated version with geranium, neroli, lavender and rose oils to up its softening game.
Best for Blasting Away Product Build-Up: Kérastase Chronologiste Gommage Exfoliating Pre-Shampoo Scalp Treatment, $42, available at Kerastase: This gel-based scrub contains fine particles that stimulate and exfoliate the scalp. Any leftover styling product that’s accumulated there will be gone, leaving your hair feeling soft, weightless and hydrated. And the scrubbing bits are sparkly, so you feel like a pretty, pretty princess in the process.
Best for Fine and/or Aging Hair: Living Proof Timeless Pre-Shampoo Treatment, $26, available at Ulta: Packed with amino acids and ceramide-like lipids, this lotion helps to maintain hair density by reducing breakage — by up to 85 percent after one use, the company claims. And it’s super-light, so you can really pile it on without worrying about getting weighed down.
Best for Oily Scalps: Dessange Purifying Clay Balancing Pre-Shampoo Mask, $11.99, available at Target: This clay mask removes excess sebum on your scalp to beat Greasy Summer Head. It’s a tad goopy, which means spreading it around on your roots with the included brush takes a little finessing. So give it a couple of tries before you judge the results.
Best for Color-treated Hair: Christophe Robin Moisturizing Hair Oil with Lavender, $47, available at Sephora: When left on one hour to overnight, this serum, a 97.7 percent natural mix of lavender, wheat germ and palm oils, restores the hair’s natural lipid film. It was specifically created not to alter dye pigments, so no worries about brassiness here. In fact, it will actually help your locks hold on to color longer, thanks to its rich protective emollients.
Best for Coarse Hair: Alterna Haircare Moisture Intense Caviar Oil Crème Pre-Shampoo Treatment, $30, available at Sephora: The big headliner here is Abyssinian oil, picked because it has a very small molecular structure, therefore it creates a weightless barrier around the hair that seals in hydration. If you find your hair particularly dry and unruly, it’s pretty much a game-changer.
