Are you tired of constantly hearing hair product recommendations yet not being able to decide on one? Is your ‘bad hair day’ fast becoming a ‘bad hair life’?
Well, rest assured that you aren’t the only one. And understanding how to select the right shampoo just might be the right way to end this hair-scare situation.
Since choosing a shampoo is no longer as simple as selecting something that will get the coconut oil out of your hair, you need a smarter approach on this mane-mission.
When the wrong choice means living with lifeless, limp hair whose damage can be hard to correct without professional treatment, choosing the right shampoo becomes all the more important.
Experts have highlighted some important points to consider when engaging in shampoo-shopping.
Read on!
WHAT IS YOUR HAIR TYPE?
The first step is to determine the kind of hair you have – the texture, range of oiliness, natural hair colour and dyed streaks, etc.
Here are some common hair types and the products that suit them:
NORMAL HAIR
If your hair is neither too dry nor too oily, and frizziness and styling are not your usual concerns, take a bow, you’ve been blessed.
Y’all with normal hair — congratulations on this natural gift!
Usually the product of genetics, a healthy lifestyle and minimal upkeep, such hair is easy to maintain to its best. Choosing a shampoo, however, can be tricky for such type of hair, as most brands today usually go a specialized route to beat competition.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
If you fall under this category, shampoos made out of natural ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, rosemary, etc., and that are devoid of harsh chemicals, are your best bet!
OILY HAIR
Overuse of serums or waxy styling products often contribute further to the greasiness of such hair, and it is best to steer clear of these.
Hair experts suggest that the ingredient list be shorter for your shampoo to minimize the deposit build-up in hair and the scalp.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
You should be looking to find a shampoo which contains sulphates (SLES/SLS) or other detergents to truly wash out the grime, including oil and dirt. However, beware of products that contain conditioners or moisturizers as they’ll weigh down on your hair which is something you’re probably already going through. (Thanks, genetics, thanks a lot!)
However, we would like to bring an important point to your notice that concentration above 1% (generally shampoos have concentration of around 15%) can damage cells and are also known to be associated with eye irritation, removal of natural oil from scalp, environmental impact of sulphates.
Sulphates, may also get contaminated with a substance called 1,4-dioxane, which is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. This contamination occurs during the manufacturing process.
FINE HAIR
Fine hair means that the natural texture of your hair isn’t the greatest. It’s thin and easily breakable too. The struggle with fine hair is to increase its volume, and the struggle is real.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The key is to look for polymer ingredients in the shampoo, which can make the hair feel and look thicker. Film-former shampoos (such as those which contain hydrolysed wheat protein) are also good options for fine hair.
Silicones should be avoided, as the weight they add to the hair can take away from its volume.
With fine hair, conditioners also require careful selection, as the wrong type can bear heavily on the hair. HACK: Condition before you shampoo to prevent the accumulation of products in fine hair.
CURLY AND/OR FRIZZY HAIR
Welcome to madness.
If you fall under this category, you’ve gone through all sorts of bad hair days, including ones where nothing seems to work so you just make peace with walking around with an untidy little knot on your head. Ugh.
Both curls of various types and frizzy hair have the same root solution – tons of moisture and hydration to keep the mane in check.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
New babies on the block known as cleansing conditioners – conditioners with mild surfactants to help left the dirt and grime – are increasingly being recommended for this hair type.
They offer cleansing to frizzy and curly hair without stripping it off precious oil and moisture, which prevents fly-aways and allows for easy maintenance and styling.
DRY/DAMAGED OR CHEMICALLY TREATED HAIR
Hair colouring and other chemical treatments like smoothening or straightening procedures can often leave hair damaged and dry. But fear not, because where there’s a will (read hydration), there’s a way!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
What is required in such cases is hydration and moisture to bring your locks back to a shiny, bouncy life.
Hunt for ingredients like dimethicone and cyclomethicone, and conditioning agents such as polyquaternium, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, or hydroxyethyl dimonium chloride.
For coloured hair, it is best to choose options that are specially designed to maintain the hair’s softness and the colour.
So with that, we have reached the end of this enlightening list.
We hope you’ve got ample idea about hair type-specific shampoos now.
Remember: It is essential to choose conditioners, styling products and to include preventive measures (such as hats) in your day-to-day life to save your mane from going haywire.
Also remember that shampoos are still only at the base for great hair. Choosing the correct one, switching it up on regular intervals, and engaging in deep cleansing and moisturizing rituals occasionally, irrespective of the hair type you have, will surely do wonders for your mane.
Add Comment