How to make the perfect shampoo? Madame d'Alexis' guide

It can't be said often enough: hair beauty begins in the shower. Not through hurried or mechanical gestures, but through precise attention to a seemingly simple gesture - shampooing.

Shampooing isn't just about washing your hair. It's about purifying the scalp, awakening the hair fiber, rebalancing the roots and preparing the lengths to receive treatments. And yet, this fundamental ritual is often neglected. We use too much product, we scrub too fast, we forget that the scalp needs as much delicacy as a silk fabric.

 

 

I remember discovering this truth during a stay in Tuscany, in a small vegetal spa nestled among olive trees. There, a hairdresser washed my hair as if massaging the leather with a precious glove. It was an exquisitely slow experience, but oh so revealing: after this shampoo, my hair seemed regenerated, as if lightened. I realized that day that shampooing could become a treatment in its own right.

At Madame d'Alexis, we've rethought this daily gesture as a skincare ritual. Our shampoo is no ordinary cleansing base: it's a gentle, sensorial treatment, free from sulfates and silicones, enriched with flower hydrosols: a precious alternative to the inert water found in most conventional formulas.

 

Why the art of shampooing deserves your full attention

Bad shampoo is more common than you might think. And the consequences are sometimes invisible, but profound. Here's what can happen when you do it wrong:

• The scalp becomes irritated and produces excess sebum, leading to greasy roots the very next day.
• Lengths dry out, lose their shine and become brittle.
• Scalp microcirculation is slowed down, which impairs growth.
• Care products applied afterwards do not penetrate well, as the hair scales are poorly prepared.

Conversely, a well-executed shampoo will :

• naturally rebalance the scalp,
• promote hair's natural shine,
• prolong freshness between washes,
• and ideally prepare the fiber to receive masks, serums or oils.
• But for this to happen, two elements are essential: a precise method, and a well-formulated shampoo.

How to shampoo in 5 simple and effective steps

Shampooing may seem a trivial task. And yet, this daily gesture can radically transform the quality of your hair if it's done right. I've experienced it myself. For years, I used the best hair care products without getting the results I wanted.

It wasn't until I changed my washing method - on the advice of a hair care expert in Paris - that my hair finally became as shiny and disciplined as I'd hoped. It wasn't about doing more, it was about doing better.

Here are the 5 essential steps for perfectly shampooed hair, elegantly and effectively, at home.

1. Brush your hair before showering

This is an often overlooked, yet fundamental step. Dry brushing your hair allows you to :

• Removes surface impurities and pollution residues.
• Distribute sebum over the lengths for better protection.
• Stimulate scalp microcirculation, promoting growth.

Choose a brush with natural bristles, which will respect the hair fiber without damaging it.

2. Wet with plenty of lukewarm water

Too many people apply shampoo to barely wet hair. This is a mistake. Warm water slightly opens the hair scales, facilitating deep cleansing without weakening the fiber.

Take the time to soak the entire head of hair for at least 30 seconds. This will activate the treatment's effectiveness while limiting the amount of product needed.

3. Apply a small amount and massage into scalp.

Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't shampoo your lengths. Shampoo is designed for the scalp, where sebum, sweat and impurities accumulate. A small dab, evenly distributed between the fingers, is all that's needed.

Massage gently, using fingertips (never fingernails) and small circular movements. This massage activates microcirculation and helps oxygenate bulbs.

4. Emulsify with water, not product.

If the lather seems insufficient, don't add shampoo. Instead, add water gradually. This is one of the secrets of a successful wash: a light, well-distributed lather that cleans without stripping.

It's also an excellent way to save product while respecting the scalp's natural balance.

5. Rinse thoroughly, finish with cool water

Rinsing is just as important as washing. It must be meticulous. No residue should be left behind, as this will weigh down the fiber and dull the lengths. Ideally?

Finish with a splash of cool water, which tightens the scales and adds immediate natural shine. This simple but precious habit makes all the difference in the long run.

When you shampoo your hair the right way, you're giving it what it deserves: precision, softness and consideration. Add to this a well-formulated shampoo, based on noble ingredients, and your ritual becomes an exceptional treatment.

 

 

Do I need to shampoo twice?

It's a question I've been asked many times. To tell the truth, for a long time I answered it instinctively, without really thinking about it. Then one day, while observing the movements of a studio hairdresser during a shoot, I realized that his first shampoo served to rid the scalp of all its clutter.

The second revealed the material.

Two shampoos is not a dogma. It's a choice, provided it's an informed one. In some cases, double shampooing can be a wise choice.

When double shampooing makes sense:

• after an oil bath or a very rich skincare product;
• prolonged exposure to pollution or chlorine ;
• if you regularly use styling products (hairspray, wax, mousse);
• when the scalp is oily, with a feeling of suffocation.

The first shampoo rids hair of surface residues. The second shampoo has a more targeted action: soothing, balancing or purifying, depending on the formula used.

On the other hand, in a classic routine - with reasonable frequency - a single shampoo is more than enough, provided it's well done. There's no need to overzealously weaken the fiber. Two poorly executed shampoos are always worth less than a single shampoo done by the book.

Above all, it's important to avoid confusing deep cleansing with aggressive washing. Repeated daily shampooing, especially with classic sulfate-based formulas, can alter the natural hydrolipidic film and dry out the scalp, leading to a vicious circle of sebum overproduction.

 

Making homemade shampoo (DIY): good or bad idea?

Of course, the idea is very appealing. I myself have tested - out of curiosity - homemade shampoo recipes based on egg, green clay and aloe vera.

Some promises are tempting: natural, economical, minimalist. But between theory and everyday use, the reality is more nuanced.

Among the most popular natural recipes are :

• egg yolk for its nourishing proteins;
• clay for its absorbency ;
• aloe vera gel for its moisturizing properties;
• baking soda for its cleaning properties.

While the intention is laudable, the limitations are very real:

• pH imbalance: shampoos that are too acidic or too alkaline can irritate the scalp;
• preservation problems: without preservatives, these mixtures degrade rapidly;
• variable efficiency: lack of mild surfactants to properly remove impurities.

Added to this is the lack of sensory experience: the texture, the lather, the subtle fragrance... all elements that contribute to the pleasure of the ritual and respect for the fiber.

The alternative? Choose a premium shampoo, formulated with well-dosed natural active ingredients, a non-aggressive cleansing base, and care agents that transform washing into a genuine moment of pampering.

This is precisely what Madame d'Alexis ShampooShampoo, combining floral hydrolats, prebiotics and extreme softness. A solution that's natural, safe and effective - without compromise.

 

 

The choice of shampoo makes all the difference: opt for a gentle, active formula

There was a time when I thought, as many do, that all shampoos were created equal. That the important thing was the moisturizing mask or the final treatment.

Until one day, when a trichologist - those hair specialists still too little known - explained to me that shampooing is, in fact, the founding stage.

The one that prepares, purifies, balances and sometimes even cares. Since then, I've only used formulas that work without disturbing the scalp's delicate ecosystem.

The right shampoo doesn't just wash. It respects the skin barrier, regulates sebum, softens the fiber and prepares the hair to receive treatments. It must be as effective as it is invisible, as sensorial as it is effective.

This is the philosophy behind Le Shampoing Madame d'Alexis. A premium hair care product, designed as a balanced emulsion of gentle technology and beneficial nature.

Here's what makes it an essential ally:

• Sulfate-free, silicone-free, uncompromising: its cleansing base of plant origin preserves the integrity of scalp and fiber.
• 98% ingredients of natural origin, for a pure, no-frills formula.
• Instead of water, we use organic floral hydrosols(shampoo with Damask rose, chamomile and orange blossomhydrosols) for a soothing, purifying and revitalizing action from the very first application.
• A fine, velvety foam that rinses off without leaving any residue or stripping effect.
• Exceptional tolerance, even on sensitized, color-treated or weakened hair.

This shampoo can be used frequently, without ever weighing it down or aggressing it. It embodies the discreet luxury of daily care that respects living beings.

 

 

Bonus: common mistakes to avoid

Even with the right shampoo, certain actions can compromise your results. Here are five to correct today:

• Use too much product: a dab is enough, but too much overloads the fiber.
• Apply to the lengths: only the roots need to be cleaned, the lengths can be rinsed clean.
• Rub vigorously: prefer a gentle massage with the fingertips.
• Rinse with water that's too hot: this opens up the scales and weakens the fiber.
• Shampooing three times "just to be on the safe side" is unnecessary, often aggressive and counter-productive.

Adopting the right method and a demanding formula means giving your hair the chance to reveal its natural, unadorned beauty.

The shampoo ritual, the foundation of exceptional hair

There can be no lasting beauty without a solid foundation. And in the world of hair, shampoo is the foundation. What was thought to be a simple hygienic gesture turns out, when properly executed, to be a genuine in-depth treatment. A break that purifies, balances, awakens the fiber and, above all, prepares the hair to receive the very best you have to offer.

The truth is simple: a rigorous method, combined with a gentle, expert formula, is often enough to transform the appearance and texture of hair. I've experienced it first-hand. And at Madame d'Alexis, we've made it our conviction.

Every detail counts: the temperature of the water, the way you massage, the rinsing time... but above all, the quality of the product you choose to entrust to your roots. Because whatever touches your scalp penetrates far more than you can imagine.

Madame d'Alexis Shampoo embodies this demand. It combines naturalness, tolerance and effectiveness, without ever sacrificing sensory pleasure. Its velvety texture, elegant foam, delicate fragrance - everything is designed to make every wash a moment of care, almost of grace.

Adopting this approach means choosing beauty that's respectful, intelligent and sustainable. It also means understanding that true luxury today lies in what is healthy, well formulated, useful and fair.

What if tomorrow, you didn't just shampoo... but ritualize?