Hair Wash

Available from thebeautyshop.com (8th Oct 2013) 

Before you style any hair, you need to make sure that the hair is clean. 

Hair is always exposed to the elements and carries much dirt, grease and bacteria. In order for the hair styling process to be executed smoothly, hair needs to be fresh and clean. 

Before you wash the model's hair, do a quick consultation. You should examine the following: 

• colour
• length
• thickness
• shape
• Is the hair colour treated? 
• Is the hair damaged? 
• Ends of the hair
• Direction of hair growth 
• Hair problems, e.g. head lice, dandruff

It is important to quickly analyse the hair before washing it because you can see how the hair naturally falls and get a better idea of how you would go about styling it later on, you will be aware of the condition of the hair, if the hair is colour treated or damaged, you will know to apply a lower heat setting when styling it later on. 

If you find that the model has severe hair problems such as head lice, which is infectious or psoriasis on the scalp, you cannot work on them. However, hair problems such as dandruff and alopecia can be worked around.

Once you are happy with the results of the consultation you can wash the hair. 

1. Put a waterproof cape on the model and towel over her shoulder to prevent excess water soaking through his/her clothes. 
2. Sit model down by the hair basin and make sure she/he is comfortable.Make sure all the hair is swept to the back and hangs into the basin. 
3. Turn on the water, test the temperature of the water on the back of your wrist, when you feel like its right, start wetting the hair. Ask the model if the water is too hot or too cold. 
4. When the hair is fully wet, start shampooing, if the model has thicker hair, use more shampoo, if thin hair, use a smaller amount. DO NOT SCRUB THE HAIR between your hands as this may pull the hair as this may be uncomfortable for the model and it will matte and tangle the hair. Instead use gentle circle motions and remember to massage the shampoo by the scalp and behind the ears.  
5. When you have created big bubbles and foam with the shampoo, you know you have done it correctly and you can now rinse the shampoo out. Since you will be shampooing the hair again to make sure the hair is extra clean, you do not need to pay too much attention. 
6. Make sure you use one hand to cup the forehead to stop droplets of water running down the model's face. 
7. Once you have rinsed, shampoo hair again. 
8. Rinse, make sure all of the shampoo is rinsed off. An itchy scalp can be triggered if the shampoo is not entirely washed out. 
9. Condition the hair. Now you can start to condition the hair, focus the conditioner at the ends of the hair as the ends tend to be dryer and more damaged. Conditioner hydrates the hair. 
10. Rinse conditioner out, make sure all the product is rinsed out. 
11. Squeeze out the water from the hair 
12. Comb though the hair gently, starting with the ends, working up. Make sure not to force the comb though the hair as it may stretch the hair and cause breakage. 
13. You are now finished.

You may want to dry the hair before you start styling it:

• Always use a nozzle when using a hairdryer, it enables you to direct the heat and dried hair much quicker. 
• The back of the hair dryer sucks hair in, so make sure that end stays away from any hair. 
• Keep moving the hairdryer, if you keep it in one place, you will burn the model's scalp. 
• With the one hand, keep moving the models hair, by running your fingers through the hair, you are directing heat onto a larger surface area, thus the hair dries quickly. 
• Start with the roots of the hair. 
• Always finish with the cold setting as this sets the hair.