Having the correct shampoo and conditioner in your hair care arsenal is a must. If you are confused about how to choose a shampoo and conditioner, then this guide will help you out.
We cover the following:-
- How To Choose A Shampoo
- How To Choose A Conditioner
Shampoo 101: Your Guide To Selecting The Right Shampoo
How To Choose A Shampoo For Your Hair Type?
All of us have a unique hair type. Not all shampoos will suit all hair types, and that is perfectly fine. You just need to make the correct choice for your particular needs:
Thin Hair:
If you have thin hair, then you will need a shampoo that is a strong cleanser. Thin hair tends to break under the pressure of accumulating dirt and oil. A strong shampoo will ensure that your scalp is clean.
However, make sure that it is not overly moisturising or else your hair will look limp. An easy solution to get thicker-looking hair is to use a volumising shampoo that can lift the hair and nourish it at the same.
Thick Hair:
If you have thick hair, then you should use a moisturising shampoo that can cleanse your hair properly. Thick hair is bound to pick up more dirt and oil along the way, which is why you need the extra cleaning action.
The nourishing quality of the shampoo will keep the hair soft.
Coloured Hair:
You should use a shampoo that is colour preservative if you do not want the colour to fade away very fast. A strengthening shampoo is a good option if you chemically treat your hair often.
It contains extra proteins that nourish the hair.
Curly Hair:
If you have curly hair, then you need a shampoo that provides deep-rooted nourishment while eliminating frizz.
Straight Hair:
For straight hair, you should use shampoos that have smoothing agents that nourish the hair and protect its texture.
Ingredients Rundown: What Your Shampoo Usually Comprises Of ?
Its very important to know the chemicals which are present in your shampoo as it directly affects your skin and health.
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate are good cleansing agents and come cheap. They are used in cheaper shampoos. While they clean your scalp, they can make your hair rough and brittle with regular usage. They can also irritate the scalp in some cases.
On the other hand, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and THEA Laureth Sulfate are milder synthetic liquids that are not so rough but should not be overused nonetheless. They can damage your hair too.
Shampoos may also come with conditioning agents like panthenol, glycerin and sorbitol to maintain the softness of the hair. Some shampoos have SPF additives and polymers to protect the hair from heat. Shampoos also have parabens as preservatives sometimes, but they are not safe to use for an extended period.
More natural shampoos have ingredients like plant extracts, vitamins, minerals and essential oils to reduce damage to the hair. They are the best shampoos with minimal side effects due to less chemicals.
One should try to go natural and should stay away from sulfate and paraben based shampoos!
Tips For Choosing The Right Shampoo For Your Hair
The following tips will help you choose the best shampoo for your hair.
- You should judge your hair by the scalp instead of the strands. The skin on the scalp usually matches our normal skin type. For example, if you have dry skin, then you will most probably need moisturising shampoos for your hair.
- You should check the pH level of a shampoo before you buy it. Usually, our hair and scalp have the same pH level. If the shampoo has different acidic properties, then they will clash and weaken the hair follicles. You can try out a few before deciding what works for you best.
- All of us have different shampoo routines. If you are someone who likes to shampoo every other day, then you should go for mild and light shampoos so as to prevent hair damage. Some shampoos have very strong cleaning agents that can make your hair brittle if used too often.
- You should never forget to check the ingredient list at the back of the bottle. Look for beneficial vitamins and minerals that can enhance your hair. If you are allergic to some substances, check for them too.
- Following the instructions that come with the shampoo bottle can change your entire experience.
- Natural substances like aloe vera, green tea, soy protein and shea butter are very good for your hair and provide much-needed nourishment to it. Do not forget to browse through herbal shampoos when you are out shopping.
Also Read: How To Make Your Hair Grow Faster - Top 14 Natural Tips
How To Choose A Shampoo For Hair Loss?
Here is how to choose shampoo for hair loss.
Go for shampoos that have more organic ingredients if you find that your hair is brittle. Overdrying because of chemicals can weaken the hair. Look for shampoos that have oils like tea tree, jojoba and argan which are known to stop hair fall and stay away from the sulphates and paraben shampoos for a while.
Dry scalp is a common cause of hair loss, and a shampoo with conditioning agents can help. Sometimes, the roots are damaged if the hair is not properly cleaned.
Make sure that your shampoo has good cleansing properties.
How To Choose Shampoo For Dry Hair?
If you are wondering how to choose shampoo for dry hair, remember that you need to provide your hair with enough moisture.
You should refrain from buying strengthening and volumizing shampoos that will dry your hair further by stripping the oils. Go for hydrating or smoothing shampoos which help in moisture retention.
In case your scalp is very itchy or flaky, you should look for special formulations for dry scalps. They have natural soothing agents like menthol and tea tree. It is best to stick to natural and herbal shampoos as much as you can because sulfates and parabens can make your hair rougher and dryer.
How To Choose A Shampoo For Dandruff?
If you are asking yourself, 'How to stop hair fall', then you should check if you have dandruff as it is a major cause of hair loss. You should use a shampoo for oily scalp if you are having a dandruff problem because sebum promotes the growth of dandruff.
Look for anti-dandruff shampoos with ingredients like zinc, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide. You will also find medicated anti-dandruff shampoos that are meant to attack the fungal infection directly.
What Is A Mild Shampoo? How To Select A Mild Shampoo?
Mild shampoos are supposed to cleanse your hair without being too rough on the strands or the scamp. They do not cause any damage or strip away the moisture from the hair which leaves it clean but hydrated.
They do not irritate the scalp in any way. If you like to shampoo frequently, then you should try a mild shampoo.
If you are confused about how to select mild shampoo, then you should look for the following ingredients:
- Polymers
- Glucoside
- Natural Oils or Essential Oils
- Botanical extracts
- Supplements like Vitamin E, Vitamin D etc.
How To Choose A Shampoo For Oily Scalp?
If you are looking for a shampoo for oily scalp, then here is how to choose shampoo that will give you perfect hair.
You should stay away from hydrating and moisturising shampoos which can make your hair even oilier.
Volumising shampoos or balancing shampoos give your hair a nice bounce by removing the excess oil. If you have very oily hair, then you should use a mild clarifying shampoo that has essential oils like tea tree, lavender, peppermint, or lemongrass every alternate day. You should avoid chemicals and silicones as much as possible.
Chemicals Which One Should Avoid In The Shampoos?
The best shampoo for hair usually do not have the following chemicals:
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS )
- Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES)
- Parabens
- Sulphonates
- Silicones
Also Read: 10 Harmful Beauty Ingredients One Must Avoid
How To Check Shampoo Quality?
If you are looking for the best shampoo for hair, then you should know how to check the quality of shampoos.
- Avoid shampoos that come with water and one surfactant as the main ingredients. They are usually of poor quality.
- Check the quality of the surfactant. Avoid ammonia-based shampoos altogether as they are not good for your hair.
- Check for alcohol in the ingredient list. Alcohol will dry out your hair before you know it. So better to avoid it.
One easy test to check shampoo qualtity is to let the shampoo sit in a glass of water. If it settles down at the bottom, then it is not good quality.
Conditioner 101: Your guide to selecting the right conditioner
How To Choose A Conditioner?
Nowadays, most shampoos come with their coordinating conditioners. They are meant to work together and serve your purpose. However, you can also choose to use a separate conditioner.
If you do not know how to choose conditioner, then you should follow these tips.
1) Find your hair type
The conditioner is meant to restore the moisture that is lost from your hair when you use shampoo. It smoothes out the hair, reduces tangling and makes your hair more manageable. However, using a conditioner that does not suit your hair type might have just the opposite effect.
You need to remember that the texture of your scalp might not always match the end of the strands. You can have a dry scalp but oily ends and vice-versa.
Feel your hair and try to figure out what it needs- more moisture or more bounce?
2) If you have oily hair, avoid a moisturizing or smoothening conditioner
If you have oily hair, then you have the option of skipping out on the conditioner. However, that will deprive you of the other benefits. Instead, you can choose a conditioner that will not make your hair look limp and dull.
Avoid moisturizing and smoothening conditioners as they will make your hair lie flat. Go for labels that say volumising, strengthening, or balancing. These will be more effective in removing excess oil.
3) If you have dry hair, pick the conditioner good at restoring moisture
If you have dry hair, then conditioning is for you. Look for moisturising and hydrating formulas that will nourish your hair.
They will add the moisture without weighing the hair down. If you have damaged hair, then you should go for conditioners that have been specially formulated to restore hair moisture.
For that extra moisture boost, go for deep conditioners.
Go online or head to the supermarket to pick up the best shampoo and conditioner for yourself!
Related Articles