Most people spend more time styling their hair, or thinking about how to get it to curl and lay just right, than they do about washing it – but that’s the wrong way to go about it! Turns out that how you wash is just as much, if not more, important to getting that perfect look before you step out the door.

Chances are, you’re on autopilot in the shower. Heck, you’re probably not even completely awake in the shower if you work a nine-to-five job and stumble under the spray straight from your bed. Read on to find out why you should focus a little, and maybe think about changing your ways!

It turns out there are 7 easy steps to getting hair that would make any runway model green with envy.

Step 1: Brush your hair before you wash it.

Brushing stimulates circulation in your scalp, prevents breakage and, as an added bonus, will gather up a lot of dead, loose hairs before they turn into a clog monster that must be tugged from your drain.

Step 2: Wet your hair and apply shampoo.

There are a few extras to remember here. First, use warm, not hot, water (that will dry out your scalp). Second, start at the roots and work your way to the tips, and use only as much shampoo as you need!

Step 3: Massage your scalp.

I know, I know…it feels SO much better when someone else does this task for you. Hell, it’s part of the reason I pay for haircuts, if I’m being honest! That said, giving yourself a two-minute massage after you’re lathered up will stimulate healthy scalp circulation and emulsify the shampoo, so you get the most bang for your buck.

Step 4: Rinse.

Use warm water again, and be sure to continually squeeze your hair (gently!) until all of the soap residue and grime are gone. It’s helpful here to get your hair as dry as possible before moving onto the next step.

Step 5: Condition.

After you squeeze as much water out of your hair as possible, apply a generous amount of conditioner to your palms. Work it from the mid-length of your hair out to the ends – the hair near your scalp is newer, less damaged, and less likely to need extra moisture thanks to its proximity to skin oils.