Tania Sachdev Chess Player I’m all for make-up and like applying it in moderate quantities to enhance my features. Though I’m more of a lipgloss and blush-on person, I also love to highlight my eyes with light copper or golden eyeshadow. What suits my skin are products from MAC, specially for my eyes and lips. For my slightly frizzy hair, shampoos and conditioners from Pantene and Wella work wonders and keep it in good condition.

I am a young girl with very long hair. My hair gets entangled every time I shampoo it, causing it to break before I can even apply a conditioner. What should I do to avoid this problem? I would also like to know what is the best way to shampoo my hair.

Name and address withheld

People often assume, albeit wrongly, that shampooing one’s hair is a simple exercise. But that is not the case at all. In fact, if you do not shampoo your hair in the correct manner, chances are you might ruin your hair by accumulation of chemicals.

Here are eight rules for washing your hair to give it the maximum protection that can be offered for healthy tresses.

Before washing, brush thoroughly. This loosens the dirt accumulated on the hair strands and the remains of styling products, if any. Pre-rinse the hair with lukewarm water. This helps to save on shampoo. You should always use a moderate quantity of shampoo.

Do not apply shampoo directly on your scalp. First rub it between your palms and then spread evenly over the hair strands. Don’t apply pressure on the hair strands, just work in the shampoo gently.

Make sure that you don’t leave on the shampoo for too long. It is extremely important to rinse the hair thoroughly as shampoo residues can reduce the shine and volume of your hair.

Finally, gently squeeze out water from wet hair with the tips of your fingers and dry your hair lightly with a towel. Apply a conditioner along the length of the hair strands. Rinse thoroughly. Avoid rubbing your hair while drying with a towel.

While disentangling wet hair, use a wide-toothed comb. Check that the comb has no rough edges or corners that can penetrate the scaly layer. Don’t brush your hair when it is still moist.

When you are untangling your hair, it is necessary to begin with the ends and gradually work upwards. This prevents unnecessary wear and tear.

If your hair cannot be brushed without the application of pressure, it means that it is already damaged.