The rule of 5
A good routine has five products max. More than that and you're either not using them enough or doubling up needlessly.
The core five:
- Shampoo (matched to scalp)
- Conditioner (matched to hair damage/porosity)
- Weekly treatment (mask — protein, moisture, or bond-building)
- Leave-in or serum (daily, on damp hair)
- Heat protectant (if using heat)
Step 1: Know your hair
Before buying anything, know:
- Scalp type (oily, dry, normal, sensitive)
- Hair type (straight, wavy, curly, coily)
- Porosity (low, medium, high)
- Damage level (1–5)
- Balance needs (moisture, protein, lipid)
The Mutaly quiz gives you these in 3 minutes.
Step 2: Match each product
Shampoo
- Oily scalp → clarifying or salicylic acid-based
- Normal → mild daily shampoo
- Dry/sensitive → cream-based, sulfate-free
- Color-treated → color-safe, sulfate-free
Conditioner
- Fine/thin hair → lightweight, no heavy silicones
- Thick/coarse → rich, with butters and oils
- Porous → ceramide-rich, sealing
- Cuticle is closed; resists moisture absorption.">Low porosity → lightweight, water-based
Mask (alternate weekly)
- Moisture deficit → hydrating (aloe, glycerin, shea)
- Protein deficit → protein (hydrolyzed keratin)
- Damage → Olaplex No.3, K18.">bond-builder (Olaplex, K18)
- Balanced → rotate all three
Leave-in
- Fine → spray
- Medium → lotion
- Thick → cream
- Very damaged → serum with silicones + protein
Heat protectant
- Only if you use heat (200°C+)
- Spray for fine hair, cream for thick
- UV filter if outdoors a lot
Step 3: Weekly plan
Wash day 1 (Monday):
- Shampoo, conditioner
- Leave-in
- Heat protectant if styling
Between day (Wednesday):
- Refresh with water + leave-in on dry sections
- Dry shampoo if oily
Wash day 2 (Thursday):
- Shampoo, mask (5–10 min), conditioner
- Leave-in
Between day (Saturday):
- Night oil on ends
- Loose protective style for sleep
That's it. 5 products, 2 wash days, 2 between days.
Step 4: Evaluate after 30 days
Signs routine is working:
- Hair feels consistent day-to-day
- Less "not sure what my hair needs today"
- Less breakage
- Visible softness or definition
Signs to adjust:
- Hair feels mushy → reduce moisture, add protein
- Hair feels crunchy → reduce protein, add moisture
- Scalp feels off → rethink shampoo
- Ends fraying fast → add oil or change mask
What NOT to do
- Don't add more products to "fix" symptoms
- Don't switch products every 2 weeks (takes time to see effects)
- Don't double-up shampoos (two color-safe shampoos does nothing different)
- Don't buy celebrity-recommended products without checking your hair profile
Seasonal adjustments
- Winter: Richer conditioners, add humidifier, scalp oils more often
- Summer: Lighter products, UV protection, clarifying for chlorine/salt
- High humidity: Skip glycerin-heavy products, use film-formers
- Dry climate: Humectants help
When to call in reinforcements
If after 8 weeks your hair isn't improving:
- Re-take the Mutaly quiz — maybe your profile shifted
- See a stylist for a cut consultation
- See a dermatologist if scalp issues persist