Washing your hair in the shower is a time-consuming process that might not always fit into your busy schedule. Luckily, washing your hair in the sink can be a quick, convenient option when your hair needs a refresh, but you don’t have time to wash it in the shower.
Continue reading to discover the easiest way to wash your hair in the sink. With the right preparation and steps, washing your hair in the sink can be just as effective as washing it in the shower. Plus, it works regardless of hair type.
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How To Wash Your Hair in the Sink: Step-by-Step
There are a few steps you should take before washing your hair in the sink. Continue reading to learn how to get ready.
Gather Your Supplies
It’s important to gather all of the necessary supplies for washing your hair in the sink before you begin. You don’t want to drip water all over the room as you search for hair products that you forgot to grab.
So here’s what you’ll need:
- Shampoo and Conditioner of your choice.
- Deep conditioner (optional)
- Wide-tooth comb
- A microfiber towel or t-shirt to dry your hair
- A cup
- A step stool (optional)
- A clean sink. We prefer the kitchen sink because we have a sink sprayer, but the bathroom sink works well.
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Washing your hair in the sink and soaking the bottom of your sleeves can be incredibly annoying. Plus, if you’re washing your hair in the sink, this might mean that you’re in a hurry.
If this is the case, you definitely won’t have time to deal with soaking wet shirt sleeves. So, be sure to roll up your sleeves before you begin!
Additionally, you may want to place a towel around your neck to prevent your collar from getting soaked as well.
Choose the Best Sink to Use
When selecting which sink in your house to use, there are a few factors that will make one sink more suitable for washing your hair than another.
Choose a sink that is about waist height if one is available to you. A sink of this height will be the easiest to bend over into with your head and hair upside down. Also, larger sinks will be easier to fit your head under.
If the sink has a retractable sprayer, that’ll make the washing process even easier.
Lastly, make sure your sink is spotless. If you are using a kitchen sink, clean away any leftover food scraps – you don’t want them to get in your hair.
If you’re using a bathroom sink, make sure there is no toothpaste or soap buildup. It’s essential to start with a clean sink, as using a dirty sink is unsanitary, defeating the purpose of washing your hair.
Washing Hair in the Sink
Now that you know how to choose the best sink let’s get into some step-by-step instructions for how to wash your hair in the sink.
- Turn on the water and set it to a warm temperature. If you set it too hot, you could dry out your hair with hot water, and cold water doesn’t feel good. So, we recommend using warm water.
- Flip your hair over and bend over the sink, putting your head under the running sink faucet.
- Wet the back of your hair. Do this by putting your head under the faucet as far as you can go. Use your sink’s sprayer or a cup to wet the hair at the nape of your neck if you can’t reach it with the faucet alone.
- Turn your head to the side and repeat the process of completely saturating your hair using the running faucet as well as a cup or sprayer. Repeat on both sides. If you don’t have a running faucet, you can use bottled water.
- Once your entire head of hair is completely saturated, turn off the water, but keep your head over the sink.
- Apply a small amount of shampoo. Massage it into your scalp and work it through your hair.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly, using the same method described in steps 3-5.
- Apply conditioner or deep conditioner, working it through your hair until it is evenly distributed from your roots to the ends of your hair. Then, comb through your hair with a wide-tooth comb to easily remove tangles. Read this article to learn more about detangling natural hair.
- If you’d like, you can stand up, put on a shower cap, and leave the product in your hair for a few minutes to allow it to soak up the moisture (i.e., deep condition your hair).
- Rinse your hair thoroughly with cool water, using the same method as above. The cool water helps seal the hair’s cuticle and lock in the moisture from the conditioner.
- Tip: While it is okay to leave a small amount of conditioner in your hair after rinsing to retain moisture, be sure to rinse as much conditioner out of your scalp as possible to prevent product buildup in your hair.
- Dry and style it as you normally would.
Do’s and Don’ts of Washing Your Hair in the Sink
Be sure to review the tips below before washing your hair in the sink instead of using the shower method!
Do:
- Be careful to rinse thoroughly. When you aren’t under a running shower, it can be easy to miss parts of your hair when rinsing. Take your time and ensure that you don’t leave any product residue from shampoo in your hair.
- Be aware of the position of the faucet. If you’re not careful, you might bang your head on it.
- Take a break if your head or neck begins to hurt.
Don’t:
- Don’t wash your hair in the sink all the time. Washing your hair in the sink is a great quick solution when you’re in a hurry or don’t need a full shower. However, it’s much more difficult to wash your hair thoroughly in a sink versus a good shower washing.
- Don’t flip your head over or bend over in the sink if you get easily light-headed or your body can’t handle a bent-over position for several minutes at a time. Staying in this position for a long time could lead to certain medical issues, like increased blood pressure.
Pros and Cons of Washing Your Hair in The Sink
Not sure whether you should be washing your hair in the sink or the shower? This list of pros and cons will help you decide whether washing your hair in the sink is something you should try.
Pros:
- Washing your hair in the sink is a faster option than taking a full shower and is perfect for when you’re in a hurry. It’s perfect for a quick rinse.
- Washing your hair in the sink to extend days between showers is an excellent way to conserve your water usage.
- If you’re deep conditioning your hair, washing your hair in the sink may be more convenient so that you can avoid getting into, out of, and then back into a steamy shower for rinsing. Although, if you have a detachable handheld showerhead, you might prefer using that option.
Cons:
- Bathroom and kitchen sinks (e.g., dirty dishes) are not always clean. You may not have time to clean your sink before washing your hair.
- It is easy to spill and drip water onto the surrounding countertops and floors, which can be messy. Also, extra cleanup might make washing your hair in the sink more time-consuming than jumping in the shower.
Is it ok to wash your hair in the sink?
It’s perfectly fine to wash your hair in the sink if you’re careful. This is a convenient way to conserve water, but it can be difficult for some people to keep the mess under control. You’ll want to have all of your tools and materials ready beforehand so that you don’t waste time looking for anything while your wet hair drips water all over the floor.
How do I wash my hair only?
If you’re wearing a long-sleeved shirt, roll up your sleeves to avoid getting them wet. You can also use a towel to shield your clothes from water. Plus, a water bottle makes it easier to rinse your hair when you’re done. If you have long hair, using a towel to protect your clothes is highly recommended, because it’s common for excess water to drip on your clothes.
Alternative Options
If you’re really in a hurry and don’t have time to wash your hair at all, some women use dry shampoo to soak up excess oil and sweat. This is a quick option that doesn’t require you to get your hair wet although it doesn’t result in clean hair.
Conclusion
You may not always have the time to wash your hair in the shower, but luckily there’s a way you can quickly and easily clean it at home.
If you are looking for an easy DIY solution, washing your hair in the sink is likely your best bet. Not only is it quick and easy, but it also works for all hair types.
With just a few helpful supplies and our step-by-step guide, washing your hair in the sink will be just as effective as doing so in the shower!
Many celebrity hairstylists recommend washing your hair in the sink to avoid stripping it of natural oils and nutrients that can be stripped during a shower.
Plus, washing your hair in the sink is the perfect fix every once in a while if your hair is a little dirty but you don’t have time for a nice hot shower.
It’s also the perfect solution for lazy days. We encourage you to consider giving this alternative hair washing method a try to decide whether it’ll work for you.