Should You Shower Before A Haircut?
We are all familiar with a “hair washing schedule” to ensure we have our best-looking locks for our most important occasions, or even just a night out.
Ensuring our freshly washed hair aligns with our schedule is a way to prevent over-washing, while still maintaining its shine and luster throughout the week.
However, when you have a hair appointment scheduled, it can disrupt your hair-washing routine.
Of course, we want our hair to be clean enough to discuss the desired outcome with our hairstylist.
However, the hair is often washed at the start of a haircut appointment or shampooed at the end of a color treatment anyway.
As far as styling appointments go, it is often better to have next-day hair, as the natural oils have more grip, which will hold the style better.
So, should you wash your hair before getting your haircut?
Generally, it is best to have your hair washed 1-2 days before your hair appointment. The service you are having done in your appointment will also inform how you should arrive.
However, while it might not be necessary to wash your hair directly before an appointment, your hair shouldn’t be overly dirty either.
Below, we discuss the best ways to handle your hair before getting it done.
Should You Wash Your Hair Before A Haircut?
It may not always be crucial to shampoo your hair directly before your appointment.
Having relatively clean hair that was washed within the past 24-48 hours is a good general rule to follow, as it ensures your hair is clean while also retaining some of its natural oils and texture.
Although shampooing directly before a hair appointment isn’t necessary, hair mustn’t be filthy for both you and your stylist.
If the hair is excessively greasy, smelly, flaky, or has not been washed in over several days.
Your stylist may not be able to begin your appointment until the hair is washed, and you may not achieve the desired results.
Overall, it depends on the cut and style, as well as your preference and that of your stylist.
There are a few instances where shampooing the hair beforehand is advisable.
If your desired haircut is a dry cut, shampooing is typically not included in the service.
It’s a good idea to wash your hair before the appointment.
Depending on your hair texture and the style of the cut, your stylist may prefer to cut and style the hair dry, meaning the hair will not be washed during the appointment.
Suppose you frequently use styling products, such as dry shampoos, texturizers, or serums.
In that case, it is ideal to wash away any… product buildup before your appointment, preferably with a clarifying shampoo like this one from Redken.
If you are following the 24-48-hour guide, make sure to use a light amount of styling products in the days leading up to your appointment.
Also, if your scalp is particularly prone to oiliness or flakiness, it is a good idea to wash the hair beforehand.
However, if you are only planning to have your hair styled for an occasion or special event, ensuring your hair retains some of its natural grit and texture will help in the styling process.
Generally, hair that has not been freshly washed, such as second-day hair, will hold the style better, as freshly washed hair may be too silky and slippery.
Hair that produces its own natural oils and maintains its natural texture will help in keeping the style as needed.
If you are getting a haircut and plan to donate your locks, your hair should be shampooed and washed before the cut, although your salon may offer this service first.
If you are unsure about how your hair will be cut (wet or dry) or what its current state should be, you can always consult with your salon or stylist before your appointment.
Benefits Of Washing Your Hair Before A Haircut
There are benefits to washing your hair before a haircut; however, even if it is only a day or two before the appointment.
Your hair will not be weighed down by excess product or buildup, allowing your stylist to get a clear idea of what your hair looks like in its natural state.
Allowing them to determine the best cut and style for your locks.
If you wash your hair right before having a dry cut done, you can extend the style from your hair appointment for a few additional days before your next wash.
While most salons include shampoo as part of their haircut service, some charge an additional fee for a shampooing session.
If that is the case, shampooing your hair beforehand can save you the washing fee from your salon instead.
Should You Wash Your Hair Before A Color Treatment?
As far as color treatments go, yes, it is smart to wash your hair beforehand.
Following the same guideline of washing your hair a day or two prior and keeping the styling products to a minimum leading up to your appointment is recommended for the best results.
However, if you are bleaching your hair or getting highlights, you may want to avoid washing your hair so that you have some natural oil to protect your hair from damage.
Benefits Of Washing Your Hair Before A Color Treatment
Shampooing your hair before your color treatment appointment offers many of the same benefits as washing your hair before a regular haircut.
Most importantly, it will help reduce product buildup, which can affect how the color is applied to your hair and its subsequent absorption.
Hair color can be absorbed fully and evenly, without any excess product in its way.
Washing the hair a day or two prior also helps the natural oils start to be produced again.
The natural oils help to hydrate the hair, and color treatments often need additional moisture after the appointment.
Your stylist will wash the color out of your hair during the appointment.
So shampooing your hair within the 24-48 hour window will ensure it is clean enough and not overly stripped of its natural moisture.
How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
Everyone’s hair is different and has its own needs.
However, washing your hair every day can be detrimental to your hair, regardless of its texture or type.
Washing the hair every day can strip the strands of their natural moisture or unnecessarily dry out the scalp.
Depending on your hair type and texture, washing the hair 2-3 times a week is a good guide to follow.
If your hair is particularly dry or naturally textured, you can often get away with washing your hair 1-2 times a week.
For example, curly hair is usually on the drier side, as it produces less oil.
Therefore, extending the time between washes during the week may be beneficial.
Your hair-washing routine will depend on your hair type, as well as your specific lifestyle and daily activities.
If you work out frequently, have an oily scalp, or use a lot of styling products, for example, you may need to wash your hair more often.
For more great hair washing tips, take a look at this video from stylist Brad Mondo on YouTube.
Conclusion
Overall, shampooing your hair before a hair appointment is beneficial, and a general guideline to keep in mind is to do so 1-2 days before your appointment.
However, specific instances may benefit instead from having your hair shampooed directly beforehand.
It is always a good idea to consult with your hairstylist if you are unsure.
They can provide guidance based on their personal preferences and what would benefit the service you are seeking.
Getting a dry haircut or wanting to avoid the extra salon charge for a wash are a few instances where shampooing your hair before the appointment can be helpful.
Color treatments and styling appointments are instances where arriving with hair that is next or second-day old can be beneficial to the overall outcome, in a way that is healthy for your hair.
Every hair type is different, as well as our daily lifestyle activities, which inform how often we need to wash our hair to maintain its health and cleanliness.
Although we may not want to face our stylist with hair that is not freshly washed, as long as the hair is not excessively dirty, it is not something to stress over.
Getting your hair cut and styled should be a relaxing process, and a moment to pamper yourself and your locks.
Keeping in mind that shampooing the hair anywhere from 24 to 48 hours before your appointment will give you the sweet spot of having your hair clean enough for your stylist to work correctly.
While not running the risk of being so dirty that they cannot service you.
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