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Shampoo your scalp

For wash days when oil or product residue has collected at your roots. Focus cleansing on the scalp while handling the lengths gently.

A woman uses both hands to gently work shampoo at the back and sides of her scalp, with the lengths hanging loose.

Step by step

  1. A woman lifts her own wet hair at the back while water from a fixed showerhead reaches her crown.
    STEP 1 OF 3

    Wet the scalp and hair

    • Place your shampoo within easy reach, open its cap and set the shower to comfortably warm water.
    • With your back toward the water, wet the crown, sides and nape—the back of your neck.
    • Move hair aside with one hand so water reaches underneath. Keep longer lengths hanging loose.
  2. A woman uses both hands to gently work shampoo at the back and sides of her scalp, with the lengths hanging loose.
    STEP 2 OF 3

    Work shampoo over your scalp

    • Move clear of the stream. Dispense the label-directed amount into a palm, then put the bottle down.
    • Spread it between your hands. Gently massage with finger pads over the front, sides, crown and back.
    • For the back, reach behind with one hand; use the other to move hair aside. Work down toward the nape without scratching.

    Keep the lengths hanging down instead of piling or rubbing them on top of your head. Follow the label for any waiting or repeat wash.

  3. A woman lifts hair near her nape while a fixed shower rinses her crown and diluted suds run down the loose lengths.
    STEP 3 OF 3

    Rinse the roots and underneath

    • Return under the water. Turn slightly to rinse each side, keeping shampoo away from your eyes.
    • Lift hair at the back with one hand so water reaches the crown and nape. Let the rinse flow through the lengths without rubbing.
    • Continue until no visible suds remain. Rinse your hands and any spills, then follow your conditioning step as directed.

    The photo shows rinsing in progress. Keep going until the remaining suds are gone; do not scrub for a squeaky feel.

About 3–6 min hands-on for setup, complete wetting, one scalp shampoo and thorough rinsing. Add any label-directed contact time; conditioning and drying are separate.

Practical editorial estimate, not measured. One ordinary cleanse is a few minutes; low water flow, dense hair or a label-required repeat can take longer.

You’re done when…

Water has reached the crown, sides and nape, and no visible suds remain in the roots or lengths. Continue with conditioning as directed; a squeaky feel is not a required finish.