I Tried "Reverse Hair Washing" - and I'm Never Going Back

I will do almost anything in the name of good hair. Whether it's testing out a TikTok hair detox or taking a viral haircut for a spin, I'm willing to try whatever it takes. While I've had a couple of disasters, I've also stumbled across so many fun hacks on TikTok that have helped the health of my hair. So when I started seeing a bunch of videos on my For You Page talking about "reverse hair washing" and how the process left hair shinier, softer, and bouncier, I was definitely intrigued.

Reverse hair washing is exactly what it sounds like: reversing the order of the products you use when you wash your hair. Instead of shampooing first, you condition first, which supposedly benefits hair in a number of ways. If you're intrigued, keep reading to learn more about the trend — and exactly how it worked for my hair.

How "Reverse Hair Washing" Works

Experts say swapping the order in which you wash allows you to condition thin hair without weighing it down. Because it's not coated with product and it only gets rinsed out instead of washed, hair can actually end up appearing fuller. People also claim that applying conditioner first has made theirs softer because it can more easily absorb the product. The big questions for me were: were the claims true, and would they work on my ultrafine hair?

Getting started was simple. Once I was in the shower, I wet my hair and then applied conditioner. I opted to use my current favorite, the Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner ($56). I applied the conditioner through the ends of my hair and on my scalp, and I combed everything through with my fingers. I aimed to concentrate the most product on my ends, where I knew my hair was typically very dry. I let the conditioner sit for a good two minutes, then rinsed it out with water. For the next step, I used the Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo ($53) to thoroughly wash my hair, concentrating most of the product on my scalp.

While I didn't notice anything drastic after reverse hair washing only once, my hair did feel lighter than it normally does after a wash day. However, I've been reverse washing for almost a month now, and I have definitely noticed some pretty drastic changes. My hair feels not only lighter but also smoother and silkier. I have fine hair, and this routine switch-up has also made it appear fuller without any extra steps, which is kind of magical.

Also, typically when using shampoo first, I always skip conditioning my scalp and the top part of my hair because I find that it leaves it feeling greasy and coated. That means those areas are often neglected in my regular shower routine. With reverse hair washing, I can condition the top parts because I end up washing out the conditioner, rather than just rinsing it. I've even found that reverse hair washing benefits the ends of my hair for that same reason.

Pro tip: If my hair is feeling extra dry, I often reverse hair wash and then use a tiny bit of conditioner on just the ends before rinsing. The small amount of conditioner is just enough product to leave my hair feeling hydrated and soft but not coated and weighed down with product.

"Reverse Hair Washing" Results

I found this to be a great hack for anyone with fine hair or hair that's extremely dry. It would also work well for anyone with an oily scalp or looking to add a little volume. Overall, I'm extremely happy I stumbled across reverse hair washing. If you've been searching for a way to add fullness or shine without weighing down your hair, definitely give this trick a try — it's absolutely changed my hair routine for the better.

Renee Rodriguez (she/her) is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.