Heat styling, chemical processing, hair dye, and improper grooming can all cause hair to become dry, fragile, or damaged. In these cases, regular shampooing and conditioning may not be sufficient to bring your hair back to health. Adding a “pre-poo” step to your regimen could be the extra care your strands need.
Pre-poo is short for “pre-shampoo.” It’s a treatment some people may not know about, yet it can significantly help rejuvenate hair.
Read on to find out more about pre-pooing — its advantages, homemade recipes, and how to use it.
Why you should pre-poo
Depending on your hair’s length and texture, washing and conditioning can be quite an effort. Adding a pre-shampoo step may feel like extra work, but it’s worthwhile.
Pre-pooing involves applying a treatment to your dry hair before shampooing. This treatment forms a protective coating on the strands. That protection is useful because shampoos can strip moisture away, and a conditioner applied after shampooing doesn’t always fully replace what was lost.
Certain hair types, like curly or coily textures, are often more familiar with pre-pooing practices. However, anyone can benefit from a pre-shampoo ritual. It can help rescue dry, knotted, and damaged hair.
Benefits of pre-shampoo treatments include:
- adds additional moisture to parched strands
- helps hair feel softer and more vibrant
- facilitates easier detangling
- enhances conditioner performance, leading to stronger hair and reduced breakage
How to pre-poo
The pre-shampoo routine is straightforward and doesn’t require much time. Since it’s applied before washing, you place the pre-poo on dry hair so it can coat the fibers and seal in moisture before water hits your locks.
Section your hair
For easier application, work in sections. Split your hair into four to eight parts depending on thickness and length. This helps you spread the product evenly. Apply the treatment from roots to tips.
Work out tangles
After applying the product to each section, gently comb through with a wide-tooth comb to remove knots.
Let it penetrate
As a general guideline, leave the pre-poo on for at least 30 minutes before shampooing. Naturally, leaving it on longer can yield better results.
If you prefer, apply the pre-poo earlier in the day and wash several hours later, or do an overnight treatment. For an overnight pre-poo, cover your treated hair with a scarf and wash it out in the morning.
The more time the pre-poo has to work, the softer and glossier your hair tends to become.
Shampoo, condition, and rinse well
After pre-pooing, wash and condition as normal. Make sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid leaving any product behind.
Types of pre-poo to use
There’s no single rule about what to use for pre-shampooing. Some people opt for oils like olive, avocado, or coconut oil. Others choose aloe vera, mango butter, or even a regular conditioner, sometimes mixed with an oil.
You can pre-poo as often as your hair’s condition requires.
While your choice often comes down to preference, some products suit certain hair types better. You might pre-poo before every wash or just once or twice weekly.
Pre-poo oils
Using oils for pre-pooing works well when you want to add moisture to either curly or straight hair.
Oils can help repair dryness and damage from heat, chemical services, or color. Since oils aren’t completely rinsed away by shampoo, a portion remains after washing to continue providing moisture.
Common pre-poo oils include:
- coconut oil
- avocado oil
- almond oil
- argan oil
Pre-poo aloe vera gel
Aloe vera gel is another pre-poo option for dry hair because it boosts hydration. It’s also beneficial for those dealing with dandruff — aloe can reduce inflammation and itchiness and has antifungal qualities that may help control flakes.
Pre-poo butters
Hair butters such as shea, mango, cocoa, and hempseed butter strengthen the hair shaft and help prevent breakage from heat, color, or chemical treatments.
These butters can also help rebuild damaged follicles, encouraging fuller growth. In addition to fortifying hair, they provide moisture that yields shinier, softer strands.
DIY pre-poo recipes
You can create pre-poo treatments from common kitchen items. Here are two easy recipes.
1. Banana pre-poo
Bananas contain potassium, which can help reduce hair loss. They also have natural oils that condition and smooth hair. This mixture can combat frizz and help mend split ends and other types of damage.
Instructions
- Mash or blend 1 ripe banana.
- Stir in 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil.
- Mix thoroughly and apply the banana pre-poo to pre-sectioned hair.
- Leave the treatment on for at least 30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning.
- Repeat this treatment 1 to 3 times per week.
2. Egg pre-poo
Eggs work as a protein treatment to strengthen fragile or damaged hair. Protein helps prevent breakage, repairs harm, and fortifies strands.
Instructions
- Beat 1 to 3 eggs depending on your hair length and the amount needed.
- Mix the eggs with 1 tbsp. honey and 2 tbsp. olive oil.
- Section your hair and evenly apply the mixture onto your strands.
- Allow the pre-poo to sit for at least 30 minutes before washing and shampooing.
- Use this treatment at least once weekly.
Over-the-counter pre-poo products
If you don’t have time to DIY, here are three ready-made pre-shampoo options to consider:
1. Kiehl’s Rice and Wheat Volumizing Conditioning Rinse
This formula includes honey, jojoba seed, and rice bran to nourish, soften, and add body to hair. It’s helpful for detangling and reviving dull strands, and can address dryness, frizz, and split ends.
Apply for at least 30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning. Use as often as needed.
Shop for Kiehl’s Rice and Wheat Volumizing Conditioning Rinse online.
2. DevaCurl Wash Day Wonder
This product suits dry or easily tangled straight and curly hair. It contains wheat and soy derivatives to restore moisture and hydration, leaving hair shinier and softer.
Use it prior to shampooing. Apply as often as needed.
Shop for DevaCurl Wash Day Wonder online.
3. Burt’s Bee Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment
This pre-wash treatment blends olive oil, almond oil, rosemary, and avocado oil to rehydrate and nourish very dry or damaged hair — often damaged from color, heat, or chemicals. These oils help seal in moisture for glossier, more vibrant hair.
Leave the treatment on for 5 to 20 minutes before washing and conditioning. Use weekly.
Shop for Burt’s Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment online.
Key takeaways
Good hair health starts with a solid care routine that goes beyond shampoo and conditioner to include pre-poo or pre-shampoo treatments.
Whether you’re aiming to repair dry, overprocessed, brittle, or broken hair, applying a protective treatment before shampooing can help you achieve stronger, softer strands.
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