Vananners is vexed… Why does shampoo lather better the second time? Especially with those ‘sulfate-free’ ones. The first time you shampoo it may not lather that well but when you follow up (right away) with a second shampooing the lather is crazy! Also, do you think it’s beneficial to shampoo twice in the shower? I have been doing that lately because I only shampoo about 2-3 times a week and want to get a good, deep clean while I’m doing it.
The Left Brain responds:
Lather is a function of three key variables: the type of surfactant(s) used in the formula, the concentration at which they are used, and the presence of “anti-foam” agents. Anti-foamers are typically oily materials that “use up” some of the surfactants ability to produce lather.
Lather, rinse, repent
The first time you wash your hair you’re removing all (or at least most of) the anti-foamers (dirt and oils) that have built up in your hair since the last time you shampooed. These oily materials reduce how much lather the shampoo can create. (This lather reduction is particularly acute for sulfate-free shampoos because their lathering capacity is lower.) The second time you suds up, you get a lot more lather because the anti-foam agents have been washed away.
Washing your hair twice is not a bad idea but it depends on how dirty your hair is and how much residue from styling products is present. Washing twice may also increase your need to use a conditioner.
How many times do YOU typically wash your hair? Leave a comment and share your shampoo secrets with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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I typically only wash my hair 2 or 3 times each week. I have a thick head of curly hair, and my hair actually looks best about 2 days after it’s been washed.
My scalp is so oily I have to wash my hair every single day. However I usually only shampoo it once, then conditioner. Lately though I’ve been using this stuff from HSN my mom insisted I use. It has ylang-ylang in it. I HATE the smell of that stuff. To me it smells like burning cigars and BO. Since it’s easier to just give in I shampoo with the stuff, but then I right away use something else to wash the horrible smell away.
I have long hair, that tangles extremely easily. (and getting a $40 haircut every 3 months that wouldnt suit me is not an option).
Ive found that conditioning first, brushing it through in the shower and then shampooing has eliminated all my tangles and need to wash my hair so frequently.
I’ve tried a few sulfate-free shampoos. I think they are poo. Redken All Soft Shampoo really does seem to be gentler than my regular drugstore shampoo (Dove Moisturizing Shampoo), and it actually gets my hair and scalp clean (unlike you, smelly Ever Pure!)
I shampoo 2-3 times a week, and I usually lather up twice. Now that I know that it’s not necessary, I think I’ll just do it once. Especially since the Redken Shampoo is expensive.
thank you for this article…if i may add on, another problem with lathering the second time, and getting a great lather, may mean you’ve overdone it. since you cleaned the first time the ‘generous’ lather the second time is basically overcleansing/stripping, depending on the product. sometimes i find it funny how we equate lather with cleansing….when a perfectly good product does its job cleansing with low foam, we complain it doesn’t lather! i’m not immune, i use a great shampoo that has very gentle surfactants and, to this day, i find myself overapplying as it doesn’t lather like i think it ‘should’!
I have short fine, thin, semi-dry hair. I shampoo twice a week. The no-sulfate shampoos are the only ones that leave my hair looking like hair instead of looking like straw. I use a very small amount of shampoo, and rinse. That “squeaky clean” sound means that you’re stripping the oil and some of the color as well, out of your hair, so be careful. As far as conditioner is concerned, I’m doing much better with a small amount of leave-in conditioner instead of the rinse-out conditioner. There too, a very small amount does the job for me. Lather twice is just a way to get you to use more & spend more.
I’ve always wondered about this! Thanks for the great post
I wash every two to three days. I also wash twice. Same with the skin. Although I do wash my skin every day!!!!
I feel the first wash removes the styling agents and the second is the scalp and real wash.
With the skin, I use a oil type on DRY skin about once a week. I use African Black Soap as my cleanser daily. It is the BEST skin care.
I’d also like to mirror what another commenter said: Lathering doesn’t necessarily mean clean and you may be overdoing it! While that rich lathering does feel very clean and luxurious, only really “light” water will allow for good lathering. “Heavy” city water has many additives and these will prevent the product from foaming up properly. You still only need a quarter-sized squeeze in your palm (slightly more or less depending on how much hair you have or how thick it is) but if you are squeezing out way more than that you may actually be stripping your hair of things which protect it! I know it doesn’t feel as great to shampoo if it doesn’t foam up a storm but do be mindful of the effects of the water you are using as that will affect foam, too!
Lather, rinse, repent ?????
@Brenda: I put the headlines in Left Brain’s post. It was a pun. (Instead of Lather, Rinse, Repeat.) Get it?
I think part of the reason the second wash is foamier is that you have a lot more water in your hair by then.
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