If you’re the type of person who appreciates hair care and is constantly looking for the next big thing, you’ve probably come across the concept of “pre-shampoo”. But shouldn’t shampoo be the first product in your hair care routine? Maybe not! Proponents of the pre-shampoo lifestyle believe this product can bring a lot of benefits, so we’re here to help you figure out how to make this product work for you. If you want to learn how to use pre-shampoo in your hair care routine, keep reading!
All you need to know about pre-shampoo
What is a pre-shampoo treatment?
A pre-shampoo treatment (also sometimes referred to as “pre-poo” or “pre-wash”) is, as the name suggests, a treatment product that you apply to your hair or scalp just before shampooing. That’s the basic definition, but there are many variations that relate to the format of the product, its benefits, and the details of how to apply it.
Let’s get to the format first. These days, you can find pre-shampoo treatments in cream or mask format, oil, spray, or even scrub. Often, the format of a pre-shampoo product gives you valuable clues as to its benefits: an oil offers nourishment and helps detangle the hair, while a scrub helps remove oil and product build-up from the scalp.
As for how to apply it, the way you apply your pre-shampoo will always depend on the specific instructions of each brand and each product: there are pre-shampoo treatments that should be applied to dry hair for 10 minutes, and pre-shampoo treatments that should be applied to damp hair for 3 minutes. There are pre-shampoos that must be rinsed out with water and then shampooed, and pre-shampoos that must be removed directly with shampoo. There’s a world of options!
What does pre-shampoo do?
As we have already mentioned, a pre-shampoo can have a series of benefits. We will list some of the most common below:
- Nourish the hair (especially important for dry, curly, or coily hair);
- Help detangle the hair;
- Protect the hair during the washing process (creating a type of protective barrier that helps reduces friction between the strands);
- Strengthen and repair damaged hair (OLAPLEX Hair Perfector Nº3 is a very well-known example of this!);
- Remove product build-up from the scalp and hair;
- Exfoliate the scalp to promote the removal of dandruff flakes;
- Maintain the shine and tone of color-treated hair.
When do you apply pre-shampoo?
A pre-shampoo treatment should be applied immediately before shampoo, on dry or damp hair (depending on the product’s specific instructions). Some pre-shampoos can be rinsed out with water before shampooing, while others can be washed away directly with your shampoo. We’ll show you some examples below!
How to apply pre-shampoo
All pre-shampoos are a little different in their form of application, starting with whether they are applied to dry or damp hair.
A pre-shampoo for dry hair is extremely convenient to apply: just apply it to your hair, making sure to really saturate the strands, and leave it on for the recommended period. With this type of pre-shampoo, you don’t even have to be in the shower as they work their magic, which makes them incredibly practical.
If, on the other hand, your pre-shampoo has to be applied to damp hair, it may be more practical for you to apply it right at the beginning of your shower. Simply apply the product to damp hair, and then work on your body care routine while you wait for a few minutes.
Pre-shampoos also vary in how long you can leave them in your hair, but it’s generally between 3 and 10 minutes, depending on the specific recommendations of each product.
So, you’ve applied the product, left it in your hair, and now it’s time to remove it. Some pre-shampoo treatments must be rinsed out with water before shampooing, and others can be washed out directly with shampoo. It’s just a matter of following the instructions!
The best pre-shampoo treatment for every need
Pre-shampoo for damaged hair
It’s difficult to think of a more iconic pre-shampoo product than the OLAPLEX Hair Perfector Nº3, a game-changing product known around the world. Infused with patented OLAPLEX Bond Building technology, OLAPLEX Hair Perfector Nº3 repairs disulfide bonds that naturally exist in the hair but are often broken by chemical treatments, heat styling, and environmental aggressions–thus leaving the hair looking dry, frizzy, and brittle. 10 minutes are enough to undo a whole lot of damage, making this product perfect for those with heavily processed hair.
Designed as the first step in a hair repair routine, the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Rescue Pre-Shampoo is an intensive treatment indicated for all types of damaged hair, regardless of its texture or of the chemical treatments it’s endured. Through the repairing action of citric acid, the product penetrates deep into the hair fiber in order to promote repair at the molecular level, which translates into 98% less breakage. Leave it on damp hair for 5 minutes before shampooing, and you’ll be good to go!
Pre-shampoo for the scalp
The René Furterer Complexe 5 Stimulating Plant Extract Pre-Shampoo is one of the most popular pre-shampoos among the Care to Beauty community. With a 100% natural formula, this cult product nourishes and stimulates the scalp, therefore contributing to the growth of healthy hair. To apply this ultra-concentrated product, apply it in sections to your dry scalp; then, massage gently using the pads of your fingers. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes, then shampoo as usual.
The Lazartigue Exfoliate Pre-Shampoo Scalp Purifying Gel may not be what many people have in mind when they imagine a pre-shampoo: it’s not a cream, nor a mask, nor an oil, but a scrub. With a gel texture that includes small jojoba pearls and fruit acids, this product provides a gentle exfoliating effect, freeing the scalp from accumulated impurities that can compromise its health and comfort: think, for example, or oil build-up, residue from styling products, or even pollution particles. Apply it to your dry scalp, work it in with a gentle massage, then rinse and shampoo as usual. All done!
Pre-shampoo for color-treated hair
The Color Wow Dream Filter Pre-Shampoo aims to reveal your truest shade of blonde hair, which may tend to darken, shift, or grow dull as time goes on. More specifically, this product uses exclusive filters that capture metal and mineral particles that accumulate in the hair as a result of hard water, and which gradually alter the tonality of light hair colors. Spray it onto dry hair, wait three minutes, and then shampoo as usual–you’ll find your hair is much better able to stay true with this handy pre-shampoo treatment.
The Redken Blondage High Bright Pre-Shampoo Treatment is a pre-shampoo spray that prepares color-treated hair for washing. Through the antioxidant action of vitamin C and the purifying action of chelating agents, this spray helps to remove impurities accumulated in the hair, in order to reveal its true luminosity and shine. Apply the product directly to damp hair, from root to tip, then leave it on for 5-10 minutes. Once the time is up, shampoo as usual–you’ll notice that not only does your hair look shinier, it also feels smoother, another benefit of this versatile pre-shampoo spray.
We’ve talked about the many types of pre-shampoo and their benefits, and we’ve shown you some of our favorite pre-shampoos for every hair concern. Are you ready to incorporate a pre-shampoo in your routine, or would you rather stick to the tried-and-true basics?
