Guidelines on How to Choose the Right Shampoo
Growing up I was not taught a lot of things about my hair and one of them was shampoo, which one I should buy and what it really does for my hair. There were no guidelines on how to find the right shampoo because there are plenty of options out there; from frizz control to hydrating shampoos, and from enhanced curls to strengthening/balancing shampoos. But here is the good news, there is actually a great way to determine what shampoo to buy and use depending on the state of your hair.
What does shampoo do?
Shampoo is referred to as a cleaning agent, meaning there are tiny, negatively-charged cleansers in shampoo that lifts dirt, oil, and product buildup from your hair. When rinsed, they help carry all that gunk off your strands (hair follicles), leaving your hair feeling clean and refreshed.
Think of a detergent, as it washes off the dirt from all your clothes, likewise shampoo does the same for your hair.
Determine what shampoo to get by your:
Hair Scalp
Defining your scalp is something we usually avoid or rarely think about. If you have an oily scalp your scalp is most likely to be shiny and is bound to have dandruff, and clumps of flakes when itchy.
If your scalp is dry, you will feel a tightening after washing or by itself, and is usually itchy with no flakes.
You are blessed if you have this type of scalp, according to Byrdie a “combination scalp refers to a scalp that's neither dry nor oily and you'll know if your scalp is a combo if it gets oily two to three days after shampooing versus the day after.”
Hair type
First, you must know your hair type, it is important to know what hair type you have because if you apply shampoo made for curly hair on wavy hair, I guarantee you it will most likely not have an impact on your hair. Likewise using a hydration shampoo on hair that is already hydrated is futile.
If you don't know what your hair type is, visit: Hair Types 101: Find the Best Routine for Your Hair Type.
Hair Density
Secondly hair density, this determines whether your hair is coarse (thick), fine (thin) or in between aka medium. This is important to attain because when using heavily formulated shampoos on very fine hair it could damage or have other effects on your hair; “using too much product in thin hair will weigh it down and reduce volume, even if the product is a root lifter.”
What is your hair goal?
Do me a favor, look at your hair. Is it damaged? I know you are well aware when your hair is damaged - dry ends and can’t run ANY brush or comb through it.
Or is your hair frizzy? no matter how much gorilla glue … I mean .. gel you apply, you still see little hairs sticking out like a sore thumb.
This is vital when choosing the right shampoo because using ‘frizz’ shampoo will have zero effect on hair that needs hydration. In comparison to using the right shampoo that caters to colored hair, that will definitely help with the end results you want for that particular hair.
So what shampoo should I get?
For this article I will personally use my hair as an example to determine what shampoo I should get. Now, with all the information provided, I have identified my hair as medium hair with dry scalp, type 2b. My hair is damaged so the goal is to strengthen my hair while moisturizing as well.
Therefore, while in Walmart or scrolling through Amazon, I will be looking for shampoo that is labeled as strengthening and moisturizing for my hair.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right shampoo is essential for your hair care routine, just as you find it important to wash your clothes with the right detergent, it is the same for finding the right shampoo. Hope this article will help in the long run in finding the right investment for your crown!
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