Skin care

FYI: You're Showering All Wrong

Tired of unruly hair and dry skin? It's time to give your showering routine a facelift

by Erica Smith | COMMENT

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You're Not Starting With Your Hair How it's hurting: If you're taking down your pony, hopping in the shower and saving your conditioning 'til last, your hair could be in for a world of hurt in the form of matted tangles and fragile strands.

The fix: Take a cue from Marcia Brady and brush all the tangles and snags out of your hair before hopping in the shower. Because water weakens your strands, wet hair is especially prone to matting and breakage. Mitgang recommends a soft multi-bristle brush pre-shower for gentle detangling and minimal yanking. Once you step into the shower, shampoo and condition your hair ASAP. "The best way to deep condition is to start at the beginning of your shower," says Mingtang. "Shampoo first, rinse, squeeze (don't wring) excess water, slather your product on and then use a shower cap so it can soak in. Do this during a long shower so it's on a while" (i.e., on a day you're shaving your legs and you know you'll be going over 10 minutes), says Mingtang.

While it may be tempting to rake through tangles when your hair is covered in conditioner, Mitgang says if your hair isn't on the coarser side, step away from the wide-tooth comb. "When hair is wet, it's a little more fragile ... so damaged or fine hair is better off being detangled out of the shower," she warns.

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