When the hairline in the mirror quietly shifts back and the amount of hair on the top of the head becomes increasingly sparse, do you immediately place your hope on a new bottle of shampoo? In fact, the first step in hair care should start with "washing hair correctly". The scalp is like soil, hair follicles are seeds, and scientific hair care is not about "magic hair transformation", but about creating a nutritious and healthy growth environment for hair. Starting today, wash your hair correctly and choose the right ingredients to give every strand of hair a chance to make a comeback! Leave shampoo on for a while longer. The active ingredients of shampoo need to be in full contact with the scalp to take effect. Brushing off the foam as soon as it starts may seem like washing the hair clean, but it may greatly reduce the effectiveness of the shampoo. Especially some shampoos containing active ingredients, such as caffeine and saw palm extract, have a specific minimum onset time, usually 3-5 minutes. Short stays and rapid rinsing will reduce the effectiveness of the active ingredients. The frequency of shampooing varies from person to person in northern regions and during the summer season. It is prone to sandstorms and dust (such as PM2.5), and pollutants adhering to the scalp can stimulate hair follicles, causing inflammation or itching; At the same time, direct sunlight damages the scalp barrier, accelerates oil oxidation, and produces odors or dandruff. Therefore, it is recommended to clean once every 1-3 days to balance hygiene and scalp health. Due to the high oil production from oily scalp, the sebum secretion increases by about 10% with every 1 ℃ increase in temperature, and can be cleaned every other day. Dry scalp can extend the cleaning interval by 3-5 days to avoid excessive defatting and barrier damage. People who love to exercise can wash their hair every day after sweating, but there is no need to use shampoo products every time. Rinse with water to still be effective. Don't forget to clean the scalp. The key to shampoo is to ensure that the foam fully contacts the scalp instead of just staying on the hair. Step 1: Wet your hair and scalp thoroughly with warm water at around 38 ℃ to help open hair scales and soften sebum. Take shampoo about the size of a coin in the palm, rub your hands to enrich foam, avoid direct contact with the scalp with high concentration shampoo, and reduce chemical irritation. Step 2: Massage the scalp with fingertips, focusing on the hairline on the forehead and the vortex on the top of the head, to avoid scratching the nails. Research has shown that finger massage can increase hair follicle blood flow by up to 20%, while nail scraping can damage the scalp's stratum corneum. Oily scalp can be cleaned twice, the first time to remove oil and the second time for deep cleansing. Long haired individuals should first apply conditioner to the ends of their hair before washing their scalp to avoid tangling and pulling. Is functional shampoo a hair growth tool? The true effectiveness of functional hair care products depends on the active ingredients and their scientific ratios, rather than marketing promotion. To care for and nourish hair, choosing the right ingredients and scientific hair care is effective. Functional shampoos on the market often contain the following ingredients: Salicylic acid. Salicylic acid, originally extracted from willow bark (hence also known as salicylic acid), is a natural antipyretic and analgesic ingredient. Modern applications are mostly synthetic preparations, and its derivative acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is one of the most classic antipyretic and analgesic drugs. As a β - hydroxy acid (BHA), it has a potent keratolytic effect, which can remove scalp oil and dead skin cells, alleviate hair follicle blockage and inflammation. Simultaneously possessing mild antibacterial properties, it assists in suppressing the risk of scalp bacterial and fungal infections. Usage suggestion: Suitable for oily scalp, use 1-2 times a week, avoid using it on the same day as powerful dandruff suppressants such as selenium disulfide to prevent excessive dryness. Recent studies have shown that caffeine, as a plant extract, can effectively inhibit hair loss caused by long-term cessation of hair growth. Research has shown that it can precisely inhibit hair follicle miniaturization caused by testosterone by blocking phosphodiesterase, causing a surge in the concentration of cAMP, the "energy signal" in hair follicle cells. Usage suggestion: It should be reminded that although caffeine containing shampoo or hair essence and other external products have been proved to have certain effects on preventing hair loss, the effect of hair growth simply by drinking coffee is very limited. After drinking coffee, caffeine will be distributed through the blood to the brain, heart, etc., with only a very small amount (400mg/day), which may increase cortisol and produce stress hormones, thereby exacerbating androgenic alopecia or resting phase alopecia. In addition, insufficient sleep can disrupt the hair follicle cycle and worsen hair loss. The leaves of Platycodon grandiflorus and Polygonum multiflorum have the effects of promoting blood circulation, cooling blood, and dispelling wind, which can promote scalp blood circulation and improve the nutritional supply to hair follicles. Its flavonoids can inhibit androgen metabolites that cause hair loss and delay hair follicle miniaturization. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Polygonum multiflorum can "darken and solidify hair". It is rich in stilbene glycosides, which can resist oxidation, promote the proliferation of hair papilla cells, and prolong the hair growth period. Usage suggestion: You can use shampoo or tincture containing extracts of Platycodon grandiflorus for external application, 2-3 times a week. When the extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb is contained in the shampoo or hair essence, it should be properly processed. Raw Polygonum multiflorum may have hepatotoxicity, and processed Polygonum multiflorum should be chosen. (New Society)