We can't say it enough: beautiful hair starts in the shower. Not through a rushed or mechanical action, but through precise attention to a seemingly simple gesture—shampooing.

Shampooing isn't just "washing your hair." It's purifying the scalp, awakening the hair fiber, rebalancing the roots, and preparing the lengths to receive care. Yet, this fundamental ritual is often neglected. We use too much product, rub too quickly, and 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 organic spa nestled among the olive trees. There, a hairdresser washed my hair as if she were massaging the leather of a precious glove. An exquisitely slow but revealing experience: after this shampoo, my hair seemed regenerated, as if lighter. I understood that day that shampooing could become a complete treatment in itself.

At Madame d'Alexis, we've reimagined this daily gesture as a ritual of care. Our shampoo isn't an ordinary cleansing base: it's a gentle, sensory treatment, without sulfates or silicones, enriched with flower hydrolates: a precious alternative to the inert water found in most classic formulas.

 

Why the art of shampooing deserves your full attention

Doing a bad shampoo is more common than you think. And its consequences are sometimes invisible, but profound. Here's what can happen when the action is performed incorrectly:

• The scalp becomes irritated and produces excess sebum, causing oily roots the very next day.
• The lengths dry out, lose their shine, and become brittle.
• The scalp's microcirculation is slowed down, which impairs growth.
• The treatments applied afterward don't penetrate well because the hair cuticles are poorly prepared.

Conversely, a well-done shampoo allows you to:

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

How to shampoo in 5 simple and effective steps

Shampooing may seem trivial. Yet, this daily routine can radically transform the quality of your hair if done correctly. I have experienced this myself. For years, I used the best hair care products without achieving the desired results.

It was only when I changed my washing method—on the advice of a hair care expert in Paris—that my hair finally became as shiny and manageable as I had hoped. It wasn't about doing more, but about doing better.

Here are the 5 essential steps for a perfectly executed shampoo at home, with elegance and efficiency.

1. Brush your hair before showering

This is an often-neglected step, yet it is fundamental. Brushing your dry hair allows you to:

• Remove superficial impurities and pollution residue.
• Distribute sebum along the lengths to better protect them.
• Stimulate microcirculation of the scalp, thus promoting growth.

Opt for a natural bristle brush, which will respect the hair fiber without damaging it.

2. Wet thoroughly with lukewarm water

Too many people apply their shampoo to barely damp hair. This is a mistake. Lukewarm water helps to slightly open the hair cuticles, which facilitates deep cleaning without weakening the fiber.

Take the time to soak all of your hair for at least 30 seconds. This will be enough to activate the effectiveness of the treatment while limiting the amount of product needed.

3. Apply a small amount and massage the scalp

Contrary to popular belief, you should not shampoo the lengths of your hair. Shampoo is designed for the scalp, where sebum, sweat, and impurities accumulate. A small amount, well distributed between your fingers, is sufficient.

Massage gently with your fingertips (never with your nails), using small circular motions. This massage activates microcirculation and helps oxygenate the hair follicles.

4. Emulsify with water, not product

If the lather seems insufficient, do not add more shampoo. Instead, add water gradually. This is one of the secrets to a successful wash: a light, well-distributed lather that cleanses without stripping.

It is also an excellent way to save product while respecting the natural balance of the scalp.

5. Rinse thoroughly, finish with cool water

Rinsing is just as important as washing. It must be meticulous. No residue should remain, otherwise it will weigh down the hair and dull the lengths. The ideal?

Finish with a stream of cool water, which tightens the cuticles and provides immediate natural shine. This simple but valuable habit makes all the difference in the long run.

To shampoo your hair properly is to give it exactly what it deserves: precision, gentleness, and true care. Add to that a well-formulated shampoo, made with premium ingredients, and your routine becomes an exceptional treatment.

 

 

Is it necessary to shampoo twice?

This is a question I've been asked many times. To be honest, for a long time, my answer was instinctive, without much thought. But one day, while watching a studio hairdresser during a shoot, I realized that their first shampoo was used to rid the scalp of any buildup.

The second shampoo, however, enhanced the hair's texture.

Shampooing twice isn't a strict rule. It's a choice, provided it's an informed one. In some cases, this double cleanse can be beneficial.

When double shampooing is beneficial:

• after an oil bath or a very rich treatment;
• in case of 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 removes surface residue from the hair. The second shampoo, on the other hand, allows for a more targeted action: soothing, balancing, or purifying, depending on the formula used.

However, in a typical routine — at a reasonable frequency — one shampoo is more than enough, provided it's done correctly. There's no need to weaken the hair fiber with excessive zeal. Two poorly executed shampoos are always worth less than one done properly.

Above all, avoid confusing deep cleansing with aggressive washing. Shampooing too often, especially with classic sulfate-based formulas, can damage the natural hydrolipidic film and dry out the scalp, leading to a vicious cycle of sebum overproduction.

 

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

The idea is certainly appealing. I myself have tested — out of curiosity — homemade shampoo recipes based on egg, green clay, or 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, we find:

• egg yolk for its nourishing proteins;
• clay for its absorbent power;
• aloe vera gel for its moisturizing properties;
• baking soda for its cleansing properties.

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

• Unbalanced pH: a shampoo that is too acidic or too alkaline can irritate the scalp;
• Preservation issues: without preservatives, these mixtures degrade quickly;
• Variable effectiveness: lack of gentle surfactants to properly remove impurities.

Additionally, there's the absence of a sensory experience: the texture, the lather, the subtle fragrance... all elements that contribute to the pleasure of the ritual and respect for the hair fiber.

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

This is precisely what Madame d'Alexis Shampoo offers, by combining floral hydrosols, prebiotics, and extreme gentleness. A natural, safe, and effective solution—without compromise.

 

 

The choice of shampoo changes everything: opt for a gentle and active formula.

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

That was until a trichologist – those still too little-known hair specialists – explained to me that shampoo is, in reality, the foundational step.

The step that prepares, purifies, balances, and sometimes even treats. Since then, I only use formulas capable of acting without disrupting the delicate ecosystem of the scalp.

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

Madame d'Alexis Shampoo was designed with this philosophy in mind. A premium hair care product, conceived as a balanced emulsion between gentle technology and beneficial nature.

Here's what makes it an indispensable ally:

• Sulfate-free, silicone-free, compromise-free: its plant-based cleansing base preserves the integrity of the scalp and hair fiber.
• 98% natural ingredients, for a pure formula, without unnecessary additives.
• Instead of water, organic floral hydrosols (shampoo with Damascus rose hydrosols, chamomile, orange blossom) for a soothing, purifying, and revitalizing action from the very first application.
• A fine and velvety lather, which rinses without leaving residue and without stripping the hair.
• Exceptional tolerance, even on sensitized, colored, or weakened hair.

This shampoo can be used frequently, without ever weighing down or damaging the hair. It embodies a discreet luxury, that of a daily treatment that respects living things.

 

 

As a bonus: common mistakes to avoid

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

• Using too much product: a dab is enough; excess overloads the hair fiber.
• Applying it to the lengths: only the roots need to be cleaned; the lengths are washed during rinsing.
• Rubbing vigorously: prefer a gentle massage with your fingertips.
• Rinsing with water that is too hot: this opens the cuticles and weakens the hair fiber.
• Shampooing three times 'for safety': it's unnecessary, often aggressive, and counterproductive.

To adopt a fair method and a demanding formula is to offer your hair the opportunity to reveal its natural beauty, without artifice.

The shampoo ritual: the foundation for exceptional hair.

There is no lasting beauty without a solid foundation. And in the world of hair care, shampoo is the cornerstone. What we once thought was a simple act of hygiene is, when done correctly, a true foundational treatment. It's a moment that purifies, balances, awakens the hair fiber, and, above all, prepares the hair to receive the best possible care.

The truth is simple: a rigorous method, combined with a gentle and expert formula, is often enough to transform the appearance and texture of hair. I have experienced it myself. And at Madame d'Alexis, we are convinced of it.

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

Madame d'Alexis Shampoo embodies this requirement. It combines naturalness, tolerance, and effectiveness, without ever sacrificing sensory pleasure. Its velvety texture, elegant lather, and delicate fragrance—everything is designed so that each wash becomes a moment of care, almost of grace.

To adopt this approach is to choose a beauty that is 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 no longer simply shampooed... but performed a ritual?