The use of dyes, the heat from hairdryers or straighteners, bleaching, and styling products… are many factors that can damage hair and leave it looking dull, dry or brittle.
Beyond the use of haircare products aimed at restoring hair health, there is an easy-to-apply technique you can use at home that is very useful for hydrating and protecting the hair: the pre-poo. You only need a few minutes before washing your hair, and you’ll notice the results quickly.
What is pre-poo?
The pre-wash or pre-poo (from pre-shampoo, before shampoo) is a haircare technique or treatment that is applied before washing with shampoo to prep, hydrate and protect the hair from dryness and the damage caused by washing and the cleansing agents in shampoo.
@dra.vanig Since I started prepoo, my hair has changed. That’s why it’s key before the shampoo. Are you going to implement it in your routines? #prepoo#rutinaCapilar#cuidadocapilar#cabellofuerte#peloSaludable♬ original sound – Dermatologa Tricologa Haircare
“It is one of the most effective techniques for restoring brittle hair,” says Dr Vanina Gegdyszman (better known on social media as Dr Vanig). In various videos on her social channels, this dermatologist specialising in hair and scalp advocates pre-poo to improve hair health.
In short, this trendy technique involves applying a mask, serum or conditioner before washing the hair.
Who is pre-poo for?
Pre-poo can be useful at certain times for everyone, but people with damaged hair are those who stand to benefit most from applying it regularly.
Specifically, Dr Vanig recommends it for all those who have bleached, straightened, porous, dry or brittle hair. All of them will benefit from pre-poo.
When hair is damaged, the cuticle opens and more moisture can enter the hair fibre. The pre-poo, she says, “prevents water or the washing shampoo from entering the hair fibre, causing it to swell and become more brittle than it already is, and it also doesn’t strip as many oils,” she explains. After all, a fibre full of water is a weak fibre and more prone to breaking.
What are the benefits of pre-poo?
The benefits of pre-washing or pre-poo are clear according to the expert:
- Minimises the dryness of the hair: creates a protective layer that prevents the surfactants in shampoo from removing the hair’s natural oils, helping to retain internal moisture and preventing the dehydration that typically follows washing.
- Adds softness to the hair: the emollients in the mask smooth the surface of the hair and give a softer, silkier texture to the touch.
- Helps prevent breakage: as well as preventing water from entering the hair fibre and weakening it, it reduces friction during washing, lowering the risk of breakage.
- Improves hair porosity: by filling damaged areas of the cuticle, it helps the hair retain moisture and nutrients and prevents loss of them.
- Helps manage frizz: by keeping the hair hydrated and sealing the cuticle, the pre-poo reduces frizz caused by dryness or humidity in the air. The result is hair that is more defined, controlled and with a better appearance.
Step-by-step to apply the pre-poo
If you’re going to do a pre-poo, there are a few steps you should follow to make it truly effective for your hair:
- With dry hair, apply the mask, serum or conditioner from mid-length to ends.
- Wait for at least 10 minutes (the longer, the better). This is a key point, because if you don’t leave it on long enough, “the product will rinse off easily and won’t fulfil its function, which is to protect your hair by forming a barrier during washing,” says the doctor.
- Wash your head as usual with your regular shampoo (suitable for your hair and scalp type), concentrating on the scalp.
- Apply conditioner and detangle the hair carefully.
- Rinse your hair well and that’s it, you can dry and style it as you like.
How often should you do pre-poo? “It depends on your scalp type, but between 1 and 2 times per week,” the expert says.
