Shampoo and Conditioner Basics
Hair, Shampoo and Conditioner
Lesson duration is: 60 minItems in this lesson
Hair, Shampoo and Conditioner
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Learning goal
I can describe the main parts of the hair, recognise common hair conditions, and explain what shampoo and conditioner do.
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What words do you link with healthy hair?
Use this to surface prior ideas such as clean, shiny, soft, smooth, strong or moisturised. Briefly connect student words to the lesson goal: hair parts, hair conditions, shampoo and conditioner.
Cuticle
Cortex
Medulla
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The main parts of a hair
Cuticle - the outer layer
Cortex - the middle layer
Medulla - the inner core
These layers help decide how hair looks and feels.
Keep the explanation simple and linked to salon practice. Students only need to recognise the three layers and connect them to how products affect the hair.
Cuticle, cortex and medulla
The cuticle is the outside of the hair, so it is the part most affected by washing, brushing, heat and products. The cortex gives the hair much of its strength and shape. The medulla is the inner part of the hair shaft.
Emphasise that conditioner mainly works on the cuticle, which links this slide to the later shampoo and conditioner slides.
Why the cuticle matters
A smooth cuticle helps hair look shiny
A rough cuticle can make hair look dull
An open or damaged cuticle can lead to tangles
Hair products often aim to protect or smooth this layer
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Which part is the outer layer of the hair?
Medulla
Cuticle
Cortex
Root
Tests recognition of the three hair layers. 'Root' is a plausible confusion because students may know it as a hair part, but it is not one of the three layers taught here.
Hair structure
The cuticle is the outer layer of the hair. The cortex is the middle layer and helps give hair strength and shape. The medulla is the inner core.
All three blanks are key terms from the first subtopic. Students should match each layer to its position.
Hair conditions
Hair and scalp do not all have the same needs. Some hair needs more moisture, some needs better cleansing, and some needs gentle care because it is weak or damaged.
Use this as a bridge into the named conditions. Keep the focus on noticing differences before choosing products.
Common hair conditions
Dry - lacks moisture and can feel rough
Oily - has excess oil and can look greasy
Normal - looks balanced and healthy
Dandruff - flakes from the scalp
Damaged - hair is weak, rough or broken
Scalp or hair problem
Hair type
Make sure students do not confuse oily hair with dirty hair. Oily hair is linked to excess natural oil on the scalp and hair.
Dry and oily hair
Dry hair often needs moisture and gentle care
It may feel rough or look dull
Oily hair needs effective cleansing
It may look greasy soon after washing
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Dandruff, normal and damaged hair
Dandruff shows as flakes on the scalp
Normal hair is balanced, not too dry or oily
Damaged hair may break easily
Damaged hair often needs extra care and moisture
What colour flakes are dry scalp?
White
You can mention common causes of damage such as heat styling or chemical treatments, but keep the student slide focused on recognising the condition.
Which hair condition has excess oil?
Dry
Damaged
Oily
Normal
Checks the named conditions. This also reinforces that oily hair means excess natural oil, not simply dirty hair.
Which hair condition may need extra moisture and gentle care?
Dry hair
Oily hair
Normal hair
Dandruff
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What shampoo does
Shampoo cleanses the hair and scalp. It removes dirt, oil and product build-up so the hair and scalp feel fresh and clean.
Use the exact wording from the brief: cleanses the hair and scalp. The extra examples simply unpack what cleansing means.
Shampoo and the scalp
Shampoo works mainly to clean
It helps remove excess oil
It helps keep the scalp fresh
Different hair conditions may need different shampoos
Link back to hair conditions: oily hair may need more frequent cleansing, while dry or damaged hair may need a gentler shampoo.
What is the main job of shampoo?
Add shine
Clean the scalp
Close the cuticle
Cleanse hair and scalp
The exact taught phrase is 'cleanses the hair and scalp'. 'Clean the scalp' is close but incomplete, so students must choose the full idea.
Using shampoo
Shampoo cleanses the hair and scalp. It removes dirt, oil and product build-up. This helps the scalp feel fresh and clean.
This anchors the main function of shampoo and its simple effects using wording already seen on the slides.
What conditioner does
Conditioner helps the hair after shampooing. It works mainly on the outside of the hair to improve how the hair feels, looks and behaves.
Set up the next slide by reminding students that the outer layer is the cuticle.
Benefits of conditioner
Closes the cuticle
Smoothes the cuticle
Adds shine
Support for hair care
Effect on the hair
Replaces moisture
Helps to detangle hair
Keep the exact benefit list clear and simple, as these are core points students may need to recall accurately.
Why conditioner helps
A smoother cuticle reflects more light, so hair looks shinier
Moisture helps hair feel softer
Less tangling can make hair easier to manage
This is especially useful for dry or damaged hair
This slide links product function to visible results. It also reinforces why conditioner is important for certain hair conditions.
Which is a benefit of conditioner?
Removes flakes
Smoothes cuticle
Adds excess oil
Cleanses scalp
Compares conditioner with shampoo and with scalp problems. The correct answer is taken directly from the conditioner benefits list.
What conditioner does
Conditioner helps after shampooing. It can close the cuticle, add shine and replace moisture. It also helps to detangle hair.
Use this to reinforce the most important conditioner benefits in simple language. 'Close' echoes the taught phrase 'closes the cuticle'.
Which hair needs conditioner most, and why?
Students may mention dry hair or damaged hair because conditioner smoothes the cuticle, replaces moisture, adds shine and helps detangle. Accept either or both and ask for a simple reason.
What is one thing you learned today?
Reflection only. Encourage short answers about parts of hair, hair conditions, shampoo, or conditioner.
What helped you understand this lesson best?
Reflection only. Students may mention diagrams, lists, matching hair conditions, or comparing shampoo and conditioner.
Glossary
cuticle - the outer layer of the hair
cortex - the middle layer of the hair
medulla - the inner core of the hair
dry hair - hair that lacks moisture
oily hair - hair with excess oil
dandruff - flakes from the scalp
damaged hair - hair that is weak, rough or broken
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Glossary
normal hair - hair that is balanced and healthy
shampoo - a product that cleanses the hair and scalp
conditioner - a product that smoothes the hair and helps replace moisture
detangle - to remove knots and make hair easier to comb
shine - the healthy-looking light reflected from smooth hair
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