What if we didn’t wash our hair the right way? A professional reveals to us the mistake we make most often.
A real hair revolution is underway. In recent years, we have been witnessing what we call “hair skinification”. The goal? Take care of your scalp and lengths as if they were facial skin. We then apply serums, exfoliants, and massage it with tools to make the products penetrate better. In this context, more and more brands are launching into the world of hair. The New Zealand company Antipodes is no exception to the rule. In February, the brand launched its first range of shampoos and conditioners with a slogan: “haircare like skincare”. Faithful to what makes it successful, the brand has developed formulas that brilliantly combine science and nature, to support the life cycle of the hair, from root to tip, while respecting the balance of the scalp. The opportunity to meet the founder, Elizabeth Barbalich, and discuss the mistakes we make when shampooing.
With a degree in science and extensive experience in the field of natural health, the creator of Antipodes knows a lot about the growth of our mane and the physiological changes that women’s hair undergoes. For Elizabeth Barbalich, the observation is clear: we are targeting the wrong target when shampooing. While we focus all our attention on our lengths, we neglect the most crucial area. “The main mistake is not focusing enough on the scalp. We don’t clean it properly“, she explains to us. However, the logic is simple: to have beautiful hair, you need a healthy base. The founder insists on the importance of massage when shampooing. It is not a question of rubbing the ends, but of “really massage the scalp to deeply cleanse and “nourish” it“. A gesture that stimulates microcirculation and prepares the ground for vigorous growth.
The same goes for conditioner. We were always told to only apply it to the mid-lengths to avoid greasing the roots. A rule that does not apply to natural products, according to the professional. “With synthetic brands, we recommend avoiding roots because of the chemical ingredients. My philosophy for natural care is to apply it from the scalp. Often, people only put it on the ends, when you also need to nourish the scalp with the conditioner.“
Finally, to perfect this pro routine, Elizabeth Barbalich recommends combing your hair instead of brushing it when it’s wet. “Use a wide-toothed comb, many women brush their hair damp, which ends up damaging it“, she explains. From now on, we forget the old reflexes dictated by synthetic cosmetics and we let nature nourish our hair, from root to tip.
