How To Choose The Right Shampoo For Your Hair

Get to Know Your Scalp

It is essential to know what type of scalp you have before choosing a shampoo. Not all shampoos are suitable for your scalp type. Shampoos are cleaning agents that can remove excess oils, dirt, and product build-up from your scalp and hair. If you have a healthy scalp, it will be easy to maintain your hair. But if it is itchy or dry and oily, selecting a suitable shampoo for your hair is absolutely essential. Otherwise, it will be difficult to maintain your locks. So, knowing your scalp is the first step in choosing the best shampoo for your hair.

I. Shampoo Options For Oily Scalp

Are you tired of washing your hair daily to control the excess oil production on your scalp? Simply allowing some gap between washes may not give you the results you are looking for. Here is what you should look for in a shampoo for your oily scalp problem:

• Always look for product labels that mention words like volumizing, strengthening, or balancing. These types of shampoos will not add any moisture to your scalp and are more effective at removing extra sebum or oil from your scalp.
• You should avoid shampoos that have highly moisturizing, smoothening, and hydrating formulas. Generally, these products tend to add more moisture to your scalp.
• Washing your hair twice with two different shampoos can also solve your oily scalp problem. This double shampoo method targets the different needs of your hair, like removing excess oil from the scalp and cleansing your hair.
• Adding a clarifying shampoo to your hair care routine can treat your oily scalp. Clarifying shampoos helps in removing product build-up from your scalp. But, you also need to remember that excess use of this type of shampoo can dry out the scalp and worsen your scalp condition.
• After shampooing, try to avoid applying conditioner on your scalp. Apply it only from the middle of the shaft to the ends of your hair. Also, practice good hair rinsing methods to get an oil-free and clean scalp.

Quick Tip

Clarifying shampoos are harsh. Therefore, use them only 1-2 times weekly to remove build-up without stripping away necessary natural oils.

II. Shampoo Options For Dry Scalp

If you have a dry scalp, you may experience uncontrollable itching, which can be an indicator of dandruff, flakes, and hair fall. Harsh chemical hair care products and climatic conditions can make your scalp dry. Furthermore, if you don’t maintain proper hygiene while washing your hair, you increase the risk of scalp dryness.

• If your scalp is dry, you should look for a shampoo with moisturizing properties. Shampoos that are labeled as smoothening, hydrating, and moisturizing will help in adding essential moisture to your dry scalp.
• You should avoid fortifying or volumizing shampoos and hair care products that contain sulfates. They can strip moisture from your scalp and make it dry.
• Always look for products with ingredients like aloe vera, egg protein, shea butter, soy milk, and glycerin. These ingredients can provide essential moisture to your dry scalp (1), (2).

Along with knowing your scalp type, it is important to know your hair type before choosing the right shampoo for your hair. Find out more in the following section.

Get To Know Your Hair Type

If you think that your mane is not cooperative most of the time, a wrong hair care regimen may be one of the reasons. Harsh chemicals in many hair care products can damage your locks and make them dull and lifeless. Also, remember that everyone has a different hair type and texture, and not every shampoo is suitable for your hair type. Let’s have a look at what shampoos should be picked for different hair types:

1. Dry Hair

If you have dry hair, your main focus should be on giving your hair moisture. Dry hair is hard to manage. It is also a sign of hair damage. It can become brittle and prone to breakage. It does not absorb moisture to maintain its texture. Dry and coarse hair gets easily tangled and requires gentle and nourishing shampoos at every step of hair care.

Always remember that you should choose moisturizing and creamy shampoos for dry hair. This hair type is prone to frizziness, and opting for shampoos with moisturizing ingredients helps condition the hair and reduce frizz. Dry hair shampoos work best when they are followed up with a conditioner. A nourishing conditioner with hair smoothening properties helps lock in the moisture after washing it and controls frizz.

Note: Shampoos that contain sulfates can strip away natural oils from the hair and make it drier. Hence, people with dry hair must avoid using shampoos loaded with sulfates.

2. Oily Hair

Excess sebum can make your hair oily and dirty. Oily hair needs to be washed very often to give it a nice shine and reduce its greasiness. If your shampoo is too harsh, you are bound to lose hair. As there is already excessive oil production on the scalp when you have oily hair, you should avoid hydrating, moisturizing, and creamy formulas that can add more moisture and grease to the scalp. You should look for balancing and strengthening formulas in shampoos.

Furthermore, look for shampoos with ingredients like sulfates that can remove oils and dirt and salicylic acid that can break down the excess sebum content.

3. Color-Treated Hair

Colored hair needs special care as it is subjected to chemical treatments. Not all regular shampoos work well on colored hair. So, stay on the safe side and go for shampoos specially manufactured for colored hair! Colored hair needs extra hydration, and you should choose a shampoo that is specially formulated for it. Colored hair should only be washed every few days. Otherwise, it can fade quickly. Also, color-safe shampoos are gentler than other shampoos.

Always look for shampoos with sulfate-free formulas for your color-treated hair. Sulfates can fade your hair color faster. Color-safe shampoos have a lower pH balance, so they cannot open the hair cuticle readily. Some shampoos for color-treated hair have SPF in them which helps in protecting the hair from sun exposure and color fading. Also, look for shampoos with ingredients like amino acids and soy extracts that help in preserving the hair color.

4. Fine Hair

Fine hair has a naturally silky texture and requires less drying time. But, it has less volume to style and more tendency to become oily. If you have fine hair, you should avoid using creamy shampoos and start using volumizing and non-creamy shampoos.

Volumizing shampoos are the lightest, can build a body in your hair, and lift the hair cuticles. They contain ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein that helps in increasing the diameter of the hair shaft, which, in turn, makes your hair bulky. Furthermore, choose shampoos that are free from silicones as they can weigh down your fine hair strands

5. Curly Hair

If you have naturally curly hair or a perm, you cannot treat your hair the same way as everyone else! So, make sure you pick a shampoo that is either high on protein content or is specifically made for the treatment of your hair type to ensure deep root conditioning and moisturization. Your curly hair is drier because of its texture, and it gets worse in high humidity. If your curls are frizzy, you should opt for an ultra-moisturizing shampoo that helps in reducing frizz and dryness without weighing down your hair.

Shampoos can clean your scalp and hair and also provide some shine and luster. However, you should consider certain parameters before choosing a shampoo. Let’s find out about them in the next section.

What Should You Consider While Choosing A Shampoo?

• Ingredients To Avoid

While choosing the right shampoo for your hair, you should consider its ingredients. Several ingredients in shampoos can contribute to hair loss. Some of them can be irritants and cause scalp inflammation, making your hair thin and brittle. Some ingredients to avoid in shampoo include:

• Alcohol: High alcohol percentage in shampoo can also dehydrate your hair. Alcohol is very drying and may strip away the natural oils of your hair.
• Mineral Oil And Petroleum: Ingredients such as mineral oil and petroleum, which are used as lubricants, can weigh down your hair.
• Sulfates: Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) are the two most common sulfates used in shampoos. They are strong detergents that have good cleansing and foaming properties that create a rich lather. But, their downside is that they can make your hair dull, frizzy, rough, and prone to tangling (3).
• Sodium Chloride: Sodium chloride, also known as table salt, is used as a thickener in shampoos. It can dry out your hair and scalp and cause eye irritation and an itchy scalp. High concentrations of sodium chloride can also cause hair loss (4).
• Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is an antibiotic that helps keep your shampoo safe and shelf-stable. But, high concentrations of formaldehyde can cause contact allergy and rashes (5). It is also considered a carcinogen (6).
• Propylene Glycol: Propylene glycol acts as a humectant and helps nutrients penetrate your scalp. However, it can irritate your scalp (7).
• Artificial Fragrances And Colors: If you have sensitive skin or hair, avoid artificial fragrances and colors in your shampoos. Switch to fragrance-free shampoos to avoid scalp irritation.

• Price

This is another important parameter to consider while choosing the right shampoo. There is a never-ending battle between high-end and drugstore shampoo formulas. Many high-end formulas are free from harsh chemicals but are more expensive when compared to drugstore shampoos. At the same time, drugstore formulas are affordable but typically strip hair of its natural oils. It can be an issue for those with color-treated hair or hair that’s already dry to begin with. Shampoos with sulfate-free alternatives are available at an accessible price point.

Improper washing of your hair with shampoo can cause product build-up which can lead to itchiness and flaking. Lets see how to remove product build-up from your hair in the following section.

How To Remove Product Build-Up

Shampoos are nothing but cleansing agents that can help remove excess oil and dirt from your hair. But, what about the build-up on your scalp due to using several hair care products? A clarifying shampoo is the best option for this issue. It deeply cleanses your hair and scalp.

Quick Tip

Try micellar shampoos. They work on clarifying all types of hair and scalp while restoring shine and bounce.

Furthermore, you can use apple cider vinegar (ACV) to remove product build-up as it dissolves the dead skin cells and debris on your scalp. In this remedy, you need to rinse your hair with a mixture of equal parts ACV and water.

Infographic: Tips To Pick The Right Shampoo For You

Many shampoos on the market make tall claims about the miracles they can do for your hair. However, not all of them are effective. Therefore, it is best to learn a bit about the ingredients in shampoos and how they work so that you can make informed choices because what works as a blessing for one hair type may be a bane for another. To help you choose the best shampoo for you, we have summarized all the important tips from the article into an infographic for quick reference. Check it out!

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is baby shampoo good for adults?

Adults (especially those with sensitive scalps) can use baby shampoos as they don’t contain harsh ingredients that can irritate their scalp.

What is the safest shampoo to use?

The safest shampoo to use is a mild shampoo made with few harsh ingredients and a slightly acidic pH level.

What shampoo has less chemicals?

Organic shampoos made entirely with natural ingredients have few chemicals in them. You can also use baby shampoos as they contain gentle ingredients. Avoid shampoos with SLES, SLS, parabens, phthalates, ammonia, mineral oil, and petrolatum.

Which conditioner is best for hair?

Different conditioners help different hair issues. Look for a conditioner that resolves your hair needs. For example, If you have dry hair, look for a hydrating conditioner containing natural oils.

Should I use a conditioner every day?

No. Using a conditioner every day can leave your hair looking flat and limp. Use it every alternate day or once every three days, if needed.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Dr. Nithya RaghunathMBBS, MD

 

Dr. Nithya Raghunath is a leading dermatologist and cosmetologist practicing at Contura Clinic in Bengaluru, India. She has over 13 years of experience and specializes in various dermatological and cosmetic treatments, including lasers, hair loss treatments, facial rejuvenation, botox, fillers, acne scar treatment, etc. Dr. Nithya also has over 20 scientific publications in various international journals to her credit. She...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

 

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy. She has taken it upon herself to show...more

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach. Her passion for and understanding of all things related to skin, hair, and beauty propelled her to pursue a career in writing....more