Have you ever browsed through the shampoo aisle in the stores and get confused over which shampoo to get? Well, you are not the only one. A lot of people struggle with finding the right shampoo for their hair and they end up choosing a shampoo that is not suitable at all. If you want to find the right shampoo for your hair, here are a couple of things you need to consider first.
1. Choosing a Shampoo for Your Scalp Type
Before choosing a shampoo, you must first understand your scalp type. Generally, there are two scalp types: oily scalp and dry scalp. You could also have a normal scalp, where it is not too dry nor too oily. In that case, you can just choose your shampoo based on your hair type.
Oily Scalp
If you have an oily scalp, the shampoo that you use should be able to remove excess oil from your hair, without compromising the hydration level. Clarifying shampoos are typically used for really oily hair because they work great against oil, dirt, and hair product residue. However, the clarifying shampoos can be quite strong so avoid using too much of the product in one wash.
You can also try using non-moisturizing shampoos so that your scalp will not overproduce the natural oils. Shampoos that are volumizing, strengthening, or balancing are more effective at removing excess oils, making them perfect for oily scalps.
A tip for shampooing oily scalp would be to spend more time getting the product into the scalp. This will help to break down the oil on your scalp and remove any dirt that can cause sebum production. It is also important to rinse well to remove all product residue from your hair.
Remember that people with oily scalps tend to have oily hair so if you suffer from oily hair, this is where you should place your focus on.
Dry Scalp
If you have a dry scalp, look for a shampoo that can add moisture to the scalp. Anything moisturising or hydrating would work great. You should always try to avoid shampoos with sulphate, but even more so if you have a dry scalp because it can cause more dryness.
Avoid any clarifying or fortifying shampoos as well because these shampoos are meant to remove excess oils from the scalp and hair, so they are not suitable for dry scalps.
Even if your scalp is dry, you should still spend time massaging the shampoo into your scalp. The idea here is to exfoliate the scalp to remove any dead skin and increase natural oil production, which is important for those with dry scalp.
Dry scalp is also tied to dandruff, flaking, and itchiness, so if you suffer from these problems, you should pay more attention to the type of shampoo that you use.
2. Choosing a Shampoo for Your Hair Type
There are many hair types, but they are typically categorized as thin hair, thick hair, straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, and coloured hair. Coloured hair is also considered damaged hair because doing any sort of colour and heat treatment to your hair can damage it, causing it to be brittle.
Thin/Fine Hair
If you have thin or fine hair, you should look for shampoos that are lightweight and volumizing. This will help to boost your hair strands to give more body to your hair. Avoid any shampoo that adds too much moisture because that can cause your hair to be even flatter.
Thick/Coarse Hair
For those with thick and coarse hair, you would want to get a shampoo that can add moisture and smoothness to the hair. A shampoo that is hydrating or moisturizing would be the best choice in this case. You also consider using conditioner to add more hydration and smoothness to the hair.
Straight Hair
If you want to maintain the silkiness of your straight hair, try a shampoo that is rich in moisturizers to smooth out the hair. These shampoos also help to seal the cuticle, which can help keep straight hair hydrated.
Wavy Hair
For wavy hair, try a shampoo that will not dry your hair out nor be too moisturizing. Something like a balancing shampoo would be great, and it can also help to add smoothness to your waves, without making them flat.
Curly Hair
Shampooing curly hair can be quite difficult because the product you use will depend on your hair condition. Generally, you would want to look for something very moisturizing, like a conditioning shampoo or a co-wash. This will help to keep your hair moisturized, which will control the frizz and maintain the curls.
Coloured/Damaged Hair
If you have coloured your hair or if it feels damaged and brittle, you should look for a strengthening shampoo. They are also called fortifying shampoos and they work great in improving the condition of the hair. If you want to maintain the vibrancy and colour of your hair, go for a colour-safe shampoo.
In Conclusion
Choosing the right hair care product for yourself can be a tedious process but it is important if you want the best results. By understand your scalp and hair type, you can easily find a shampoo that is suitable for you and your hair problems.