Pre-Wash is a scalp-purifying rinse that refreshes your hair and preps for wash day by removing unwanted product buildup, oil and dirt. Pre-Wash’s detergent-free micellar technology ensures effective and gentle cleansing, while prebiotics help balance moisture and improve the health of your scalp’s microbiome.

Every hair and scalp type can use Pre-Wash. It is perfect for those with excess oil, product buildup and scalp irritation. Pre-Wash also helps with the transition period if you have just switched to New Wash from traditional shampoo.

Section dry hair to ensure thorough application. Apply Pre-Wash to the scalp using the targeted applicator. Start at the roots and move along the parted sections, ensuring even coverage. Massage it into the scalp with the scalp brush or your fingertips. Allow it to remain on your scalp for 3-4 minutes. Wash your hair as you normally do with New Wash.

Use solo, before New Wash or as the first step of the New Wash Method: Pre-Wash, New Wash and Primer.

Pre-Wash’s detergent-free micellar technology gently and effectively cleanses while soothing the scalp with the prebiotics in its formula, derived from starmerella bombicola/brassica oil fermentation. Natural, upcycled betaine helps maintain optimal scalp moisture and transport water at a cellular level for long-lasting moisturization.

The transition period occurs when your scalp has been used to harsh, drying detergents. In response, it produces more oil to combat dryness, even though that’s not necessary with New Wash. This is where the prebiotics and micellar technology in Pre-Wash comes in: It helps balance the scalp’s microbiome more quickly and absorb excess oil before you wash with New Wash, which effectively helps prevent the transition period.

Pre-Wash has a distinctive lightweight, thin, fluid consistency that effortlessly coats the scalp and hair strands, providing refreshment, moisture and nourishment without any greasy residue.

Yes, you can use Pre-Wash if you have a dry scalp. The prebiotics in its formula will help balance your scalp microbiome, while betaine helps maintain optimal scalp moisture and transports water at a cellular level for long-lasting moisturization. The results: a healthy and nourished scalp!

Yes! Everyone can benefit from Pre-Wash, no matter the condition of their scalp. The scalp is constantly collecting dirt, oil, dead skin cells and product buildup that can impact follicle health. These factors can cause hair strands to become weakened and/or damaged. Pre-Wash’s unique technology refreshes your scalp for a better cleansing experience.

You can use Pre-Wash with every wash or as needed to help remove excess oil, dirt and buildup caused by hair treatments or styling products.

Yes, Pre-Wash is fragrance-free, so it’s suitable even for the most sensitive scalps.

Yes, Pre-Wash is vegan and Leaping Bunny Certified. Leaping Bunny is the beauty industry’s most trusted cruelty-free certification.

Yes, Pre-Wash’s detergent-free formula is safe for color-treated hair.

The scalp microbiome is a community of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that live on the scalp. Like the skin microbiome, it provides the first line of defense against harmful pathogens, shielding the hair follicles and scalp from infection, toxins, irritation, hair damage and more. This results in a stronger scalp barrier and healthier hair. 

In contrast, a disrupted and imbalanced scalp microbiome can result in irritation, dryness, damaged hair and sebum buildup and may even impede hair growth.

Prebiotics are ingredients that act as food for good bacteria on your scalp. In haircare products, they help keep the scalp’s natural balance of bacteria in check, which is essential for overall scalp health.

• Balance the scalp’s bacteria: Prebiotics support the growth of beneficial bacteria, helping to maintain a healthy balance on the scalp. This can prevent issues like dandruff and irritation caused by harmful bacteria.
• Soothe irritation: By promoting good bacteria, prebiotics help calm the scalp, reducing redness, itchiness and sensitivity.
• Strengthen the scalp’s natural barrier: A balanced scalp is better at protecting itself from environmental stress and keeping moisture in, which prevents dryness and keeps the scalp healthy.

New Wash is not a shampoo. It's a cleansing cream. Shampoos contain harsh detergents that strip your hair of its good, protective oils while they clean. New Wash cleans using essential oils and fatty alcohols—and zero detergents—while removing dirt, oil and buildup.

New Wash is not a conditioner. Conditioner does not clean the hair; it only replaces moisture after shampoo strips it. New Wash contains cleansing and conditioning ingredients.

Yes! New Wash cleans using essential oils and fatty alcohols, all of which are naturally derived and biodegradable.

You can wash your hair daily or however often works for you. New Wash is so gentle that you no longer need to worry about stripping your color or drying out your strands. 

When starting out with New Wash, we suggest sticking to your regular routine and finding your rhythm over time. Many people have found that they can go much longer between washes with New Wash.

New Wash cleans hair with a custom blend of essential oils and gentle, naturally derived saturated cleansers that also help balance your scalp's natural oil production.

Yes! Check out the reviews—“life-changing” is a commonly used phrase by people with all different hair types. Take our quiz to find the best formula for you.

New Wash benefits hair immediately, but all hair types are different so some scalps need to adjust and may experience oiliness or flakiness. This transition period is natural and more commonly experienced by people with oily or fine hair.

New Wash is different from detergent-based shampoos, and so is the way you use it. If your hair feels greasy or you have some buildup after using New Wash, there are two common reasons. 

First, you might not be using enough New Wash. Apply the same amount of New Wash as you'd usually use for both shampoo and conditioner—enough to coat hair like you would for a conditioner or mask. Then work it in really, really well with the Massaging Scalp Brush. Add a bit of water to get a smooth, milky consistency; this will allow it to capture and bond to the dirt, buildup and excess oil.

You also might not be rinsing it out thoroughly. New Wash bonds to impurities and requires extra rinsing to work it out. Massage it out with the Massaging Scalp Brush or your fingertips.

Remember: It takes time to adjust to new habits and routines. You might experience a transition period during which your scalp overproduces oil, like it was trained to do by detergent-based shampoos. It hasn't yet acclimated to this new way of cleansing that leaves the healthy, protective oils to do their job.

After about two or three washes, your scalp and oil production should regulate and thrive with your new healthy routine!

Yes, pouches are made with LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) and are fully recyclable under classification #1.

No, all Hairstory products are septic-safe and will not clog the drain.