SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER: THE FOUNDATION OF HEALTHY CURLS
Shampooing and conditioning are the foundation of every curl routine. No styling product can do its job properly if the hair isn’t cleansed and conditioned correctly. Technique matters just as much as the products you’re using — and water is your most important tool.
SHAMPOOING YOUR CURLS
Before applying shampoo, make sure your hair is fully saturated with water. Curly hair thrives on hydration, and water helps shampoo spread evenly and work more effectively. Always add water before you add product.
Most professional shampoos are highly concentrated. Instead of applying shampoo directly to your head, start by placing a small amount in your palms and lathering it between your hands first. This process is called emulsifying, and it helps distribute the product evenly across the scalp.
Once the shampoo is emulsified, apply it directly to your scalp, not the ends of your hair. Shampoo is designed to cleanse the scalp — the lather that rinses through the lengths is enough to clean the rest of your hair.
Using your fingertips or a scalp massaging brush, gently but thoroughly scrub your scalp. You’re looking to create a rich, foamy lather. If you don’t get a good lather during your first wash, that’s your sign to go in for a second wash.
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First wash: Removes oil, sweat, and surface buildup
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Second wash (if needed): Deeply cleanses the scalp and hair
If you do a second wash, use about half the amount of shampoo and remember to add more water before adding more product. Not everyone needs two washes — if you get a rich lather on the first wash, you’re good to move on.
Pro tip: Lather comes from water + surfactants working together. More water often matters more than more shampoo.
Hard Water Detox Routine
Clarifying Wash Routine.
CONDITIONING YOUR CURLS
Conditioner is all about hydration, slip, and protection — especially for curls.
Start small. You can always add more, but too much conditioner too quickly can weigh curls down. Organic and clean brands, like Innersense, are extremely concentrated, so a little goes a long way.
Begin with 2–3 pumps of conditioner, emulsify it between your palms, and apply it primarily to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. Conditioner does not need to be worked into the scalp unless directed for scalp care.
Once the conditioner is distributed, begin detangling your hair in sections. I recommend starting at the nape of the neckand working your way up.
You can detangle using:
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Your fingers
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A wide-tooth comb
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A Wet Brush (my favorite for detangling in the shower)
Always start at the ends of your hair and gently work your way up toward the scalp. This helps prevent unnecessary breakage.
BRUSHING & DAILY DETANGLING
I brush my hair every time I wash, but daily detangling depends on your individual needs. Light finger detangling or gentle brushing can be done between wash days if needed — always with moisture.
WATER IS YOUR BEST CONDITIONER
As you detangle, continue adding water every few passes. This is extremely important.
Water provides the most hydration for your curls and helps the conditioner spread evenly. If you feel resistance or dryness while detangling, add more water first — then add a small amount of conditioner if needed.
When adding more conditioner:
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Add water first
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Add a small amount of conditioner
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Emulsify it in your hands
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Apply only to the areas that need it
SQUISH TO CONDITIONER
Once your conditioner is fully distributed, you can use the “Squish to Condition” method.
Tilt your head side to side or forward, gather your hair in your hands, and gently scrunch from the ends toward the roots. This motion helps push water and conditioner deeper into the curl pattern.
This step encourages hydration, curl formation, and definition. Taking your time here can make a noticeable difference in how your curls feel and behave.
Work the conditioner into your hair until each section feels slippery and smooth. If your hair is very dehydrated, this step may take longer — that’s okay.
You can also apply a deep conditioner just to the ends if they need extra moisture.
When rinsing, you may choose to leave a small amount of conditioner in your hair for added hydration.
PREPPING FOR STYLING
After conditioning, you can apply your styling products:
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In the shower, while your hair is still soaking wet
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Or outside the shower, after clipping your hair up
The key is to keep as much water in your hair as possible before styling.
✨ Pro tip: I apply my styling products in the shower before washing my body to lock in hydration and save time.
From here, you’re ready to move into styling — which is where everything we’ve done so far really comes together.
Lather - a frothy white mass of bubbles produced by soap or similar cleansing substance when mixed with water.
Emulsify - emulsify the shampoo in your hands by rubbing them together in a circular motion; this will assist to dilute the shampoo and make it more balanced.
Nape - the back of your neck.
Hydration - is water in the two internal layers of your hair. Cortex, and Medulla are the two layers, they absorb and retain water.
Pulsating - gather a small hand full of hair from the ends and raise the hair to the roots making a fist. Gently pulsate the hair with water and product.