what to do if your hair still feels dirty after you wash it

Okay, let’s be honest here, does anyone actually like washing and styling their own hair? I mean, wouldn’t we all rather go weeks without washing it or hire someone to do it for us? I think I can speak for all of us when I say there’s nothing more frustrating than finally washing and styling your hair only for it to feel like it’s still dirty. Why does this happen and what can we do to get our hair back to feeling clean?

USE A SHOWERHEAD FILTER

If you’re a MONAT customer of mine you’ve probably heard me say this before. Sometimes you can use all of the right products and your hair will still feel off because, sometimes, it’s your water. Head to your local home improvement store (or hop on Amazon) and find yourself a showerhead filter! They’re inexpensive and easy to install (if I can do it you can do it). If you already have a showerhead filter and your hair is starting to feel gross, it might be time to change the filter.

CLEAN YOUR BRUSH OR BUY A NEW ONE

When was the last time you switched out your hairbrush or cleaned it? Using a dirty brush on clean hair will make your hair feel gross.

RINSE, RINSE, AND RINSE SOME MORE

It sounds way too simple (and almost insulting), right? Rinsing your hair and scalp well is just as important as washing it well. Rinse, rinse, rinse, and when you think you’re done, RINSE SOME MORE. I typically rinse my hair for 2 minutes minimum.

USE LESS CONDITIONER AND STOP CONDITIONING YOUR SCALP

If your hair feels heavy after washing, you could be using too much conditioner. If you’re using MONAT, you don’t need much. For 90% of people, I typically recommend a nickel-quarter size amount. For the other 10% with extremely thick, coarse, curly, and LONG hair, I recommend around a half-dollar size amount.

If your scalp is feeling gross after washing, stop conditioning it. Conditioner is typically designed for the ends of your hair.

REJUVENIQE OIL

I know, you’re probably thinking why would I add oil when my hair already feels heavy/dirty? but I’m telling you, Rejuveniqe is a secret weapon and one of its many powers is that it helps to balance out your scalp. If you’re not already using it, add it to your routine as soon as you can. Apply it to your hair and scalp the night before you wash, sleep in it, and wash it out the next day.

ADD A CLARIFYING SHAMPOO TO YOUR ROUTINE

Clarifying shampoos are the best for breaking down gunk and build-up that’s on your scalp. This can be from old products (if you’ve recently switched to MONAT), hard water, environmental factors (dog hair, pollution, dust, dirt, the list goes on and on), etc. My favorite clarifying shampoos are MONAT Purifying Vinegar and MONAT Black, use one of these for your first wash if your hair is feeling dirty after washes.

ADD A SCALP SCRUB TO YOUR ROUTINE

If all else fails, you’ve gotta bring in the big guns and this scalp scrub is IT! Pro-tip — instead of using it before you shampoo, use it after you shampoo twice, and follow with your favorite conditioner (ears down).

Don’t be afraid to do everything on this list and give it some time to work (it might not be a quick fix). I hope this helps and don’t be afraid to reach out if you’re still having problems!