Many of us consider washing our hair similar to other cleaning routines. Hence, end up with hair issues like damaged and dry hair, oiliness, split ends, hair loss, damage to the scalp, lack of volume, frizzy hair, and much more. To deal with these issues, we end up with a professional parlor session that includes hair cutting, chemical-based hair coloring, etc. But what if I tell you that you can avoid all these harmful chemicals and have a professional hair routine to enhance the health of your scalp and hair? Yes, this is true with the shampoo and set hair routine.
Wash and Set – What is it?
Surprisingly, the wash-and-set hair routine has been practiced for centuries. The swanky women in Britain considered a wash and set as a hairstyle after the world wars. Have you noticed women wearing large hood dryers, chatting, or reading magazines in the salon in old movies? They are enjoying the shampoo and set hair routine.
This video explains the wash and set method in detail –
Wash and set or shampoo and set is a hair care therapy or process popularly carried out in salons. The process includes steps like shampooing, hair conditioning, and finally styling the hair temporarily using rollers and a hairdryer.
Women who carry out the wash and set hair routine experience hair benefits like shiny and smooth hair, improved texture and volume, strong and hydrated hair, color longevity, and overall healthy hair and scalp.
How is the wash-and-set hair care routine carried out?
Wash and set is one of the essential experiences offered at salons. The stylists carefully wash your hair and pamper it with a few styling products. Let’s understand how this service is carried out in salons to understand whether it can be practiced at home.
1. Cleanse the hair
The foremost step for this hair care routine is cleansing the hair. Similar to cleansing the skin, the hair should also be cleansed. However, it should be noted that this step shouldn’t be carried out daily. Depending on the dryness of your hair and scalp condition, an appropriate product is selected to cleanse the hair. Cleansing the hair would help clean the hair and scalp and eliminate any dirt, grease, product left over, dead skin cells, etc., protecting the hair and scalp from any build-up.
For better cleansing, select a shampoo that is sulfate-free and gentle. Avoid washing the hair often, as it would damage the natural oil of the hair and the scalp microbiome. Use lukewarm or cold water and cleanse the hair every 3 to 4 days.
2. Use a conditioner
The next step is using a good conditioner to condition your hair. This process helps seal the cuticles and moisturize and detangle the hair. It restores the moisture that might have been washed away by the shampoo. It also removes any tangles or knots in the hair while massaging the hair during a hair wash.
After washing the hair, squeeze the hair and remove any additional water from the hair. Take a required amount of conditioner in your hands and apply it to the hair lengths. Leave the conditioner on the hair for around 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse using cool water. Take a comb with a wide tooth and comb the hair to distribute the conditioner evenly to the hair lengths. Make sure you select a conditioner that is free from silicone and lightweight.
3. Detangle the hair
Next, you have to detangle the hair to eliminate any knots in the hair and reduce the chances of breakage. For detangling, you can use any leave-in conditioner. Using it in this step would smoothen the locks and prepare them for the process of detangling. Carry out this step using either a wide-tooth comb or a brush. In case you are out of leave-in conditioner, you can also use hair oil or hair serum.
You can carry out the detangling process in the shower itself. Simply comb the lengths of the hair with your fingertips. If you are using a comb, start with the lower portion or ends of the hair and reach the roots at last.
4. Protect and Style
Once your hair is detangled, it is time to protect and style it as well. The hair needs to be protected or prepared before using heated styling tools like straighteners, curling tools, blow dryers, etc. This would protect the hair from any damage or breakout, ensure long-lasting hairstyling, and improve the styling results. For this step, you can use any lightweight primer that helps in preparing the hair for styling. It would prevent the hair from frizzing, reduce the drying time, and improve the texture of the hair. It also protects the hair from damage caused by heat while blow-drying the hair.
Make sure you don’t use styling rollers, straighteners, or curling irons on wet hair. Once you have applied the protector, wait for the hair to dry.
5. Moisturize the hair
Once the hair is styled, allow the hair to dry before moving to the final step, moisturizing. This process can be carried out using oil, as it prevents the hair from dryness and frizz. All you need to do is take some hair drops on your hand and apply them to the hair. Comb the hair to distribute the oil evenly on the hair. You can also use leave-in conditioner for this step. Even if you haven’t washed the hair, you can moisturize the hair to regain moisture and make it healthier, stronger, and softer.
Conclusion
Wash and set is an ideal hair routine that ensures healthy, smooth, and strong hair. However, it should be noted that the hair care routine would differ from one to another, as everyone has different hair texture, look, and sensitivity levels. Want to avoid salons? No issues. You can also carry out the wash and set process at home on your own.
So, what is your hair care routine? Have any healthy hair secrets? Do share in the comments below.
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