Do you love the feeling you get when you go to the salon? You’re queen for a day or at least a couple hours. You feel pampered and special and leave floating on a cloud, then your real life comes crashing in.

Well, now you can get that salon-special feeling all the time with these tips for shampooing at home. Okay, we’ll admit, it’s not quite the same when you do it yourself, but it’s a great way to treat yourself every time you shampoo.

A DIY salon shampoo routine

Oil up

Start even before you get in the shower with a nice oily scalp massage. Did you know that oil attracts oil? So, if you’re looking to pull the oil out of your hair you should put more oil in it.

This is also a good pre-shower move because it gets your scalp ready for shampooing while the hair is still dry. When your hair is wet, it’s in its most fragile stage, so this scrubbing motion, while it’s still dry, will help protect it.

Skip the scratch

The pads of your fingers are the best tools for massaging your head. While scratching can feel amazing, it’s actually not very good for your scalp. If any bacteria are tucked under your fingernails it can cause an infection.

Less is more

Once you’re in the shower and your hair is completely wet, begin with a small amount of shampoo, about the size of a raspberry. Apply the shampoo to your scalp, not your hair.

This can take a little getting used to, but once you adapt, you’ll see that you really don’t need much shampoo. As an added benefit, imagine all the money you’ll save because you’re no longer literally washing wasted shampoo down the drain.

Be thorough

Create a pattern that starts at your hairline and works around your head, circling up to the top. Pay particular attention to the base of your scalp and your temples, as these areas tend to sweat more.

This technique of massaging and scrubbing every spot on your head lets your shampoo penetrate and gives you a deeper clean. It’s also the most enjoyable part and promotes relaxation as well as circulation.

Know your head

Everyone’s head is a little different. You may have sore spots that don’t respond well to rubbing and other areas that respond very well. Pay attention to your needs and give in to the massage.

Try pulling your hair

Add hair pulling to your massage routine. This technique offers many benefits and if you’re trying to grow your hair it can speed up the process.

Just remember to pull gently and to do it with warm or cool water. Hot water softens your scalp and follicles and makes it easy to accidentally pull out hair strands.

Condition

Follow every shampoo with a conditioner that nourishes your hair while softening it. The conditioner should be applied directly to your hair, not your scalp, and then you can work it through the strands gently.

To make the experience even more authentic, pick a scent that reminds you of the salon. Look for something that’s clean, has a fresh smell, and comes from natural ingredients rather than heavy perfumes.

Cool finish

When you’re done, use a cool water rinse to revive your scalp, seal your hair’s cuticles and boost your shine.

Final thoughts

You deserve to feel refreshed, revived and pampered every day. Now you can get that salon experience at home and make it part of your regular shower routine. And the best part is that it’s not only a feel-good treat, but it’s also great for your hair and scalp, too.

The key to really nailing it is using top-quality products that have the essence of the salon experience and also leave your hair in great shape.