This video explains how to shampoo your hair properly when you’re dealing with hair loss or scalp conditions, and why shampooing “less” can make things worse. William Gaunitz says that when hair loss and scalp conditions are involved, there can be an excessive amount of bacteria, fungus, oil, and parasites on the scalp—and the less you shampoo, the more those issues can flare up.
He also addresses a common mistake: people become very gentle with shampooing because they’re afraid of shedding. He explains that shampooing correctly will kick out dead hairs that were going to fall out anyway, and it helps clean the surface of the scalp, creating a clean, healthy environment for proper hair growth. He also says proper shampooing exfoliates the scalp, which can help a topical scalp serum achieve the best penetration possible.
William’s recommended frequency for people dealing with scalp conditions and hair loss is every 24 hours (he also mentions every 48 hours as typical). He then demonstrates a step-by-step method:
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Use about a quarter-size amount of shampoo, lather it up, and use the pads of your fingers to scrub the scalp from the front down to the nape of the neck and back.
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Let it sit for 30 seconds to a minute, then rinse.
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Shampoo a second time the same way, and let it sit again for about a minute to a minute and a half. He explains this helps remove debris around the follicle rim and creates a better opportunity for the shampoo to work more “medicinally” and for anything else applied afterward to reach the follicle area.
He also explains the “why” behind scrubbing with your fingers, including mentioning Demodex parasites and how manual removal can expose the rim of the follicle for better access on the second shampoo pass. He adds that removing oil and buildup helps create a cleaner environment for hair to grow normally and can help oil (sebum) move across the scalp more efficiently when you comb your hair.
After shampooing twice, he recommends conditioning with Scalp Therapy Conditioner by Advanced Trichology, describing it as a moisturizer step after cleansing, meant to rehydrate the scalp and help build the immune state of the scalp. He demonstrates applying about a quarter-size amount (more if hair is longer), scrubbing it into the scalp, and letting it sit for about 2 minutes. He also notes that for females with very long hair, use this conditioner on the scalp and a different chemical-based conditioner on the length of the hair.
Finally, he recommends applying a topical scalp serum directly to the scalp after the shower once the hair is at least towel-dried, and says this has the best penetration possible because the scalp has been properly cleansed, inflammation decreased, and microbials removed—creating the greatest opportunity for growth.
