Otherwise known as pre-pooing, a pre-shampoo treatment is a protective remedy designed to add extra nourishment to moisture-starved locks.
What is a pre-shampoo treatment and do I need one?
Typically oils, balms or butters, pre-shampoo treatments are applied to dry hair before shampooing with your regular cleanser.
They help to lock in moisture and hydration to keep hair healthy, soft, strong and shiny.
How long do I leave it in?
A pre-shampoo treatment can be left on as little or as long as your hair needs. Normal hair will benefit from a half hour worth of treatment, while very dehydrated or afro locks could need a full day of pre-pooing before your regular cleanse.
6 of the best pre-shampoo treatments
There are lots of pre-shampoo treatments to choose from depending on how much moisture and care your hair needs, but these are some of our favourites.
- Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Pre-Shampoo Masque
- Philip Kingsley Coconut Breeze Elasticizer
- Leonor Greyl L’Huile de Leonor Greyl
- STARSKIN Coco-Nuts Nourishing Hot Oil Hair Mask
- Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil
- Kérastase Aura Botanica Concentré Essentiel Hair Oil
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Buy now with Lookfantastic UK Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Pre-Shampoo Masque
Buy now with free deliveryEnriched with a blend of luxurious oils, Bumble and Bumble’s Pre-Shampoo Treatment Masque is ideal for those with especially dry or damaged hair.
It contains macadamia nut, sweet almond, argan and safflower seed to replenish lost moisture and regenerate damaged fibres. Transforming from a luxurious balm into a lightweight oil, it’s ideal for weekly use when your locks need enhanced shine and manageability.
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Buy now with Lookfantastic UK Philip Kingsley Coconut Breeze Elasticizer
Buy now with free deliveryOne of the most famous pre-shampoo treatments and cult haircare products of all time, Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer is ideal for hair that has lost its bounce, shine and volume.
Created especially for Audrey Hepburn who needed help with damaged locks coming off set, the Elasticizer contains ingredients that improve manageability, elasticity and bounce for beautiful and shiny hair. Plus, its coconut scent leaves hair smelling divine.
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Buy now with Lookfantastic UK Leonor Greyl L'Huile de Leonor Greyl
Buy now with free deliveryOne of the brand’s most famous products, the Leonor Greyl Pre-Shampoo Treatment is free from all manner of nasty chemicals including parabens, silicones and SLS, making it ideal for those with coloured hair or sensitised locks.
It has a variety of benefits, including natural UV filters to shield against environmental damage, as well as luxurious oils to soften and repair dehydrated and damaged hair fibres.
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Buy now with Lookfantastic UK STARSKIN Coco-Nuts Nourishing Hot Oil Hair Mask
Buy now with free deliveryThis amazing and innovative conditioning treatment from STARSKIN heats up as it treats the hair, making it great to use if you suffer from tension headaches and need a relaxing treatment after a long day.
The Coco-Nuts Nourishing Hot Oil Hair Mask contains a blend of natural oils and fruits to repair damage deep within the hair-shaft for long-term improvement. Not only that, it’s made from 100% organic ingredients and is suitable for vegans.
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Buy now with Lookfantastic UK Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil
Buy now with free deliveryThis multipurpose hair oil from Redken can be used in 6 ways to keep locks soft and healthy, but we love to use it as a pre-shampoo treatment the most.
Formulated with the brand’s exclusive Keratin Enrich Complex, the oil helps to restore the hair’s own natural protein structure to not only improve moisture levels and hydration, but also manageability and strength.
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Buy now with Lookfantastic UK Kérastase Aura Botanica Concentré Essentiel Hair Oil
Buy now with free deliveryDerived from 99% natural origin ingredients, the Kérastase Aura Botanica Concentré Essentiel Hair Oil is ideal for those who suffer from frizz and unruly tresses.
Rich in luxurious oils including coconut, sweet orange and argan, the oil expertly delivers moisture into parched locks and leaves hair manageable and under control.
