Q: What is the correct order to use haircare products?

We all know that shampoo should come first, but what about conditioners, masks, peelings/vinegar?

Pre-Wash and Shampoo

Shampoo is not always the first step in hair care. Start with a pre-wash to remove styling products (if you use them) and prepare for gentle shampooing. Pre-washing can be done with special products, conditioners, or masks applied to the scalp. Think of it as cleansing your skin of makeup and long-lasting products with cleansing oil. Why scrub your scalp twice with strong shampoo when you can dissolve all the styling products with a pre-wash?

Next comes cleansing with shampoo. Depending on the water, your scalp, and the shampoo, one or two washes may be needed. There are no strict rules; it’s up to you to decide what works best.

Important: only wash the scalp. There’s no need to wash the length of your hair every time as if it’s the last wash ever (this helps avoid dryness).

Masks and Conditioners

After shampooing and pre-washing, use a conditioner or mask. Manufacturers can call their products whatever they like, and there’s no strict line between these terms, nor is there a requirement to always “seal” a mask with a conditioner. Many established notions are created simply to boost sales.

You can skip masks altogether and use powerful conditioners instead. This is perfectly fine, just as using masks instead of conditioners is fine if it makes your hair look better. You can even skip rinse-out conditioner and use only leave-in conditioner. Apply it to clean, towel-dried hair before drying and styling. If you want to use oils in your care routine, apply them over conditioner to create a hydrophobic film for shine and protection against friction and moisture.

Additional Care: Peelings, Vinegars, Serums

Additional care steps can easily fit into your routine if you understand their general purpose. Apply scalp peels and scrubs only to the scalp according to the instructions. Manufacturers give different recommendations: before shampooing on dirty, dry skin, after shampooing on clean, wet skin, or even overnight. I don’t recommend applying peels to a scalp with a lot of styling product – it’s simply inconvenient. It’s better to first wash off the styling products with a pre-wash.

Lotions, creams, and leave-in masks for the scalp are usually suitable for use overnight before shampooing. They work similarly to facial and body care products, but it can be uncomfortable to walk around with a greasy scalp during the day, so it’s best to use them in the evening before washing your hair.

Scalp tonics and serums can be applied either immediately after washing or overnight. Consider how the product feels: does it make your hair greasy, affect styling, etc. Rinse-out vinegars, lamellar water, and filler masks in ampoules are applied instead of regular hair masks: their effects are similar, but they focus on different benefits. However, vinegar sprays can be left in and used instead of a regular leave-in conditioner.