What Are Pre-shampoo Treatments and How Do They Fit In Your Routine?

Pre-shampoo may be the missing link in your hair care routine. Here, learn what pre-shampoo treatments do and discover 12 of our favorite options for healthy-looking hair.

By Hair.com & Powered By L’Oreal Professional Products Division
Update Date: 08 Feb 2024

What is a pre-shampoo treatment?

A pre-shampoo (also cheekily referred to as a pre-poo or pre-wash) is a hair care product applied to your hair or scalp immediately before shampooing. There are many different pre-wash treatments, including strengthening pre-shampoo masks, nourishing pre-shampoo oils, and purifying pre-shampoo scalp scrubs. What they all have in common is that they help set your hair care routine up for success—and provide an opportunity to address specific concerns.

What does pre-shampoo do?

The main purpose of a pre-shampoo treatment is to protect your strands while you cleanse. Hair stretches up to 50 percent when wet, rendering it weaker and more vulnerable to damage during the shampooing process. Pre-poo treatments help form a protective barrier around your strands, shielding your hair from excess friction while you lather up. They also typically contain moisturizing and strengthening ingredients that penetrate into hair’s fiber, allowing you to get a deep clean without making hair feel stripped or dry.

Pre-shampoos can have benefits beyond moisturizing and protecting, too. For instance, if you want to tackle dandruff, you might select a pre-shampoo designed to combat itchy flakes. If you’re concerned about color care or hydration, meanwhile, you may consider a pre-shampoo made specifically to extend your salon hue or address dryness.

Who needs pre-shampoo?

Everyone can use a pre-shampoo treatment, though it’s not always a necessity. Those with textured hair may see the greatest payoff from pre-washes since they help retain much-needed moisture. That said, they’re an excellent—and easy—way for everyone to target specific hair woes, such as dryness, breakage, and dandruff before the shampoo process even begins.

Do you rinse out pre-shampoo?

Some pre-poos can be washed out before shampooing, while others are intended to be rinsed with your shampoo. The timing of this step varies, so be sure to read your product’s label to determine the best usage. Your stylist can guide you in the right direction if you’re still uncertain.

What can I use as a pre-shampoo treatment?

A quick internet search yields hundreds of DIY pre-wash recipes, but these can do more harm than good. Many at-home solutions require slathering an oil (like coconut or olive) onto your hair before shampooing. However, these oils can be extremely heavy, making removing residue from your hair difficult. We always recommend professionally formulated pre-shampoo treatments. They contain just the right ratio of ingredients to help you reap the rewards without adverse effects on your strands.

Consider what you'd like to address in order to find a pre-shampoo formula that’s right for you. Your chosen product should align with your hair goals. Here, we rounded up 12 of our best pre-shampoo treatments from the L'Oréal professional portfolio of brands to get you started.

Our Best Hydrating and Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Masks

Kérastase Première Concentré Décalcifiant Ultra-Réparateur Repairing Pre-Shampoo Treatment

Minerals like calcium in hard water can lead to continuous hair damage, making strands stiff, dull, and brittle. If you have hard water in your shower (or suspect you might), pick up Kérastase’s Première Concentré Décalcifiant Ultra-Réparateur Repairing Pre-Shampoo Treatment. The powerful system, which is formulated with an 8% Citric Acid + Glycine Complex, helps remove calcium buildup, repair persistent damage, reinforce weakened hair bonds, and more. For maximum efficacy, layer the Première Bain Décalcifiant Réparateur Repairing Shampoo right on top and wash them out together.

Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment

An intensive acidic rinse-off treatment that helps reinforce weak hair bonds and repair damaged hair. Combat major hair damage with Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment. This reparative treatment is a member of Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate family and is suitable as a pre-shampoo or an as-needed strengthening mask. It's a must if your hair is weakened hair from coloring, lightening, brushing, or heat styling.

Biolage Professional Bond Therapy Intensive Treatment

Biolage Professional’s Bond Therapy Intensive Treatment is a pre-shampoo mask for overprocessed, damaged hair. The coconut oil and citric acid-infused formula deeply conditions and builds hair bonds from the inside out, restoring hair’s strength. Apply it from the roots to the ends of the hair before rinsing it alongside the complementary shampoo.

Pro Tip: If you have an oily scalp, consider applying it from the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair so your roots don’t get weighed down. Read more about the line in our Bond Therapy Review.

Blondage High Bright Pre-Treatment

A pre-shampoo treatment powered by Vitamin C and chelating agents to prep and clarify hair for a brighter blonde instantly. Redken’s Blondage High Bright Pre-Treatment helps brighten up your blonde while clarifying and balancing your hair’s pH level. Apply the pre-shampoo to wet hair, comb through, and leave in 5-10 minutes before rinsing. For best results, follow it up with the Blondage High Bright Shampoo and Blondage High Bright Conditioner.

Style Shifter Society Wonder Crown Scalp Foaming Pre-Cleanser

A foaming pre-cleanser that refreshes and balances your scalp.