The most effective types of shampoo for your hair

When choosing a hair shampoo, it is essential to understand the purpose of shampoo, how it relates to your scalp and hair type and how it can be used . Some people may think that shampoo is strictly just a cleansing formulation for hair, but it’s also very important to think about the scalp when selecting shampoo. Shampoo is formulated to clean both your scalp and hair of oil, dirt and the product build-up. Simply perceived it in this way: shampoo is designed for your scalp and your hair’s roots, and conditioner is intended for the hair ends. Hence, it is extremely important to choose the shampoo best suitable for your scalp and the conditioner based on the conditions that your hair ends are in. When it comes to the routine of your hair care practices, one size will not be fitting for everyone. It is possible to have a break in-between washings but those with oilier hair will have to wash every day. So , how do you get the ideal balance of washing days and days off? Read our previous article “How Often Should You Wash Your Hair” for more details on that. Let’s dive into the different kinds of shampoos that you can find lining up in the hair salons and the aisles for hair care.

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Different types of shampoos

  1. Regular shampoo

A regular hair shampoo is formulated for those who don’t have specific needs for their hair or treatments. Regular shampoos are gentle cleansers made of simple ingredients designed to target and remove normal sebum production and not to strip the scalp’s natural oils and hydration. They also will not remove shine from your hair. Hence, regular shampoos are formulated to treat normal, oily or dry hair.

  1. Everyday shampoo

Ladies with greasy hair will tend to wash their hair more frequently and that’s the reason everyday shampoo is formulated. The everyday shampoo acts as a gentle cleanser with much less surfactants in comparison to regular shampoo. They’re also soap- and alkaline-free, making their daily use more sustainable and practical. Similar to regular shampoos, the everyday shampoos could contain only a few conditioning agents.

      3. Clarifying Shampoo

If you’re a frequent user of many different styling products on a regular basis, it will be the perfect timing to get a clarifying shampoo. Clarifying shampoos will perform deep cleansing by removing build-up on the hair and scalp due to prolonged use of products like styling products, silicones and hair conditioners or masks. However, clarifying shampoos can be very harsh and aggressive. Therefore it is recommended that you ensure to follow up with a conditioner and use it just once a week. Although clarifying shampoos are still considered a safe product to use, overusing could also cause your hair to become frizzy and dry.

  1. Anti-breakage shampoo

Anti-breakage shampoos are specially formulated to treat damaged or long hair. They are designed to gently cleanse your hair and provide an attractive shine or gloss. They can help to restore the hair’s pH balance as well as repair hair damage. It is possible to use anti-breakage shampoo to improve any frizzy hair as well as have stronger, healthier hair.

  1. Purifying Shampoo

If you are concentrating your needs specifically more on the scalp and less on the hair, the purifying shampoos will certainly provide gentler, cleansing and antimicrobial advantages. The purifying shampoos are specifically formulated for individuals whose hair are prone to dandruff that originated from the scalp. The most common botanical ingredients used in these kinds of shampoos are dandelion, extracts of willow bark and tea tree oils.

  1. Dry shampoo

Technically, dry shampoo actually cannot be considered a shampoo as its function is just to absorb oils from hair instead of actually cleansing the scalp or hair. Dry shampoos can come in liquid, powder or even aerosol spray forms. Ideal for in-between washing days, apply small amounts of the dry shampoo by spreading it across your hair’s roots for the absorption of grease and oil in the hair and scalp. It’ll instantly absorb the sebum away from your roots and make your hair look and smell better and fresher than ever. It’s also important to keep in mind that using only such dry shampoo products for extended periods of time could result in excessive product build-up and adverse impacts on the scalp and hair.

  1. Moisturizing Shampoo 

One of the most common important reasons for weak or dry hair is an absence of moisture in the scalp. If the scalp does not produce enough oil and fails to keep moisture in the scalp, the resulting effect will be brittle and dry hair strands which may lead to hair dandruff issues. This is when you should apply the moisturizing shampoo. You don’t need to have dry hair in order to benefit from this as moisturizing shampoos are also able to improve the strength of your hair and make it appear shiny and healthier. The only instance where we wouldn’t advise a client to use a moisturizing shampoo is when they have oily hair.

  1. Volumizing Shampoo

As the term already suggests, the volumizing shampoos are formulated specifically to boost the hair volume of thin or fine hair. They are made from lighter formulas, in order to not make your hair heavier and weighing down. The volumizing shampoo functions by opening the cuticle of the hair which encourages hair growth. Certain volume shampoos also contain the protein keratin in them as an active ingredient which can strengthen the hair strands from the roots up to the hair ends.

  1. Colour-treated hair shampoo

If you’re having coloured treated locks, it’s also likely that you’re dealing with drier hair, faded colour with a deficiency of moisture. This is why it’s essential to choose a shampoo that is specifically formulated for coloured treated hair. Contrary to other shampoos, a colour treated hair shampoo is made up of ingredients that don’t will not cause your hair’s colour to fade. This keeps your hair healthy, hydrated and safe from damage.

  1. Curly Hair Shampoo

If your hair is naturally curly, then you’re likely to be aware that different shampoos are formulated differently for different types of hair including curly hair. Curly hair types tend to be more dry and frizzy than other types of hair and this is the reason it’s very important to ensure there are super-hydrating ingredients in your curly hair shampoo. A shampoo for curly hair gently cleans frizzy hair, creating a smooth and shiny appearance.

So , which kind of shampoo is suitable for you?

The simplest way to find out the answer is by analysing your scalp condition.

If you’ve got an oily scalp…

  • Beware of shampoos that contain hydrating smoothing, moisturizing formulation or they are specifically designed for curly hair. They are too moisturizing for the already oily hair.
  • Check for labels that state strengthening, volumizing or balancing. They’re more effective at eliminating excess oil and non-moisturizing.
  • A clarifying shampoo is your ideal companion if you have oily hair or scalp. However, be cautious not to use it too often as it can cause excessive dryness on your scalp.
  • Make sure to spend more time massaging the hair shampoo into your scalp and hair so that the oil can be broken down thoroughly and also remember to rinse your scalp and hair well and thoroughly.
  • After shampooing, please stay clear of applying any conditioner to your oily scalp. Focus on your mid-shaft as well as ends of your hair before rinsing out the hair well.

If you’ve got a scalp that is dry…

  • Do not use strengthening, fortifying or volumizing shampoos. These products could strip your scalp of the vital moisture it needs.
  • If your hair is just slightly dry, with little or no flaking or itching, check out the shampoo labels that encourage hydration, moisture or smoothing.
  • Do not use shampoos with Sulfates. They can be extremely drying for your hair and scalp.

If your scalp isn’t oily or dry, select your shampoo depending on your hair type and the desired outcomes…

  • Moisturizing shampoos are formulated to add moisture, shine as well as smoothness to the hair. They’re also suitable for curly, thick or coarse hair that is lacking moisture.
  • Volumizing shampoos are ideal when your hair is limp. They will give your hair an extra boost without weighing your hair down.
  • Anti-breakage shampoos work best for damaged or over-processed hair. They can also strengthen those brittle, weakened and highlighted or coloured hair.
  •  A regular shampoo can be an excellent middle of the road option. Regular shampoos will not provide too much moisturization effect and they also will not dry your hair out.
  • The curly hair shampoo is extremely hydrating and has ingredients that can reduce frizz but without the curls being weighed down .

Selecting the right shampoo for your hair can be an overwhelming job however, with our guide to all kinds of shampoo, your haircare game will be winning within a matter of minutes!