If you thought shampoo isn’t an important step in your hair care routine – think again. Shampoos are often neglected when it comes to hair care. However, choosing the right shampoo plays an almost crucial role in how your hair will look after you wash it. The right shampoo should do more than just clean your hair. It’s important if your hair is going to be healthy or damaged after washing. Still, the question remains – how to choose the best shampoo when you have so many different options, and each of them promises the same – to repair, hydrate, smooth, while all they need to do is wash and hydrate. Also, what to look for in a shampoo.
Shampoos with or without silicone
The silicone story has always been a complex topic in the cosmetic industry. We read about them in magazines, heard about them in the media. The main argument is that silicones are bad for your hair and you should avoid them. It goes as far as that they will most certainly destroy your hair.
We’ve talked about this already. The hair care products like conditioners and treatments should definitely contain silicones because of all the protective benefits for the hair, but as for the shampoo ingredient list – you should avoid it. Simply put – silicones tend to clog pores on the scalp, as they do on your face, for example. Silicones on your scalp build up layer by layer, and it becomes very difficult to clean them. Shampoos containing silicones could lead to greasy hair, hair loss, dry and itchy scalp, irritation, slow growth, dandruff, and even more severe scalp problems.
If you haven’t already, replace your shampoo with a silicone-free shampoo, your scalp and your hair will thank you for this choice.
Extra advice: Many drugstore shampoos use silicones to give your hair a shiny and silky look. Even if you see a “silicone-free” label on your shampoo – check the ingredients list just to be sure there aren’t any bad ingredients in shampoo. As mentioned, you will recognize silicones by ending in –cone, -xane, etc.
Shampoos without sulfates
In the world of professional hair cosmetics, soap-free and sulfate-free shampoos have broad use. On the other hand, when it comes to drugstores, almost every shampoo that people blindly pick from the shelf contains aggressive detergents and harsh surfactants. Check the labels for Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), Ammonia Laureth Sulphate (ALS), Myreth Sulphate, etc.
The thing about sulfates in shampoo is they are the same ingredients that are mainly used in all cleaners – in cosmetics, detergents of any kind, household cleaning products – dishwasher soap, bathroom cleaners, and floor cleaning solutions. Studies have shown that sulfates cause hair dryness, damage, and also scalp problems like dandruff, excessive sebum, etc. Sulfates deprive the hair and scalp of natural oils, making them more susceptible to damage.
Can sulfate-free shampoos really clean your hair?
Sulfate-free shampoos contain mild cleansers that will clean your hair perfectly, and not dry out hair and scalp.
For more information, let’s see what cleaners other than sulfates exist. There are substitutes such as cocamide DEA-MEA, Hydroxysultain, and Cocamidopropyl Betaine. Although they are a better solution than sulfates, they are still very harsh. The best ingredients in hair shampoos for your hair are – Glucosides (example – Lauryl Glucoside, surfactant made from coconut oil, one of the mildest cleaners on the stock), Taurates and Fatty Acid Isethionates, Glutamates, Amino Acid Sulfosuccinates.
As soon as you switch to a sulfate-free shampoo, the first thing you will notice is that they create less foam during washing (precisely because they don’t contain any soap!). It is wrong to assume that more foam means cleaner hair. Just keep in mind that foamy shampoos give you a false sense of cleanliness, but eventually cause dandruff, dry scalp, split ends, and damaged hair.
Shampoo for colored hair
If we look at the ingredient list of professional shampoos for colored hair, almost none of them contain sulfates. Preserving hair color means not washing it away. Sulfate-free shampoos are light and gentle to stop fading your hair color, but it isn’t the only benefit they can give us.
Should adults use baby shampoos?
Baby shampoos are usually recommended to people with sensitive skin. The most suitable shampoos for sensitive hair are just simple baby shampoos free from any potential irritants. The problem with baby shampoos is that other than mild cleansers and some simple ingredients, they usually don’t have any moisturizing ingredients that nourish the hair. This means the use of these shampoos isn’t always the best choice. But they are a better choice than shampoos with sulfates, and it is worth trying out a few if your hair isn’t dyed or bleached or naturally dry.
What shampoo should I use?
There are many types of shampoo for different hair types available on the market. If your hair is naturally dry or dyed and bleached, we highly recommend a good sulfate-free shampoo. It is the best shampoo for shiny hair. Not only does it wash your hair mildly, moisturize but also protects your hair from further damage.
People who need to wash hair every day should consider this type of shampoo because everyday hair washing with aggressive shampoos will eventually lead to dry and lifeless hair.
Do you know how to shampoo your hair?
Do you think you know how to shampoo your hair? Take a quiz:
During washing, do you use more than 10ml of shampoo?
During one wash, do you shampoo your hair several times?
Do you harshly rub hair length with shampoo?
Do you lift your hair in a tangled bun while you wash it?
If you answered yes to any of the questions, hold on until the end of this article. Many people complain about their dry ends, damaged hair, color rinsing, etc. On the other hand, they shampoo their hair with harsh sulfate shampoos several times during one wash as it was the dirtiest hair in the world.
How to shampoo your hair properly
The proper way to wash your hair is to apply a small amount of shampoo into your palm, diluting it with water, and then rubbing it on the scalp. As far as the length of the hair is concerned, it will cleanse with the rinsing foam. I guarantee that it isn’t mandatory to rub your hair length harshly in order for it to be clean. Just distribute the foam from your scalp down the hair length and it will be clean.
Many will argue, but the fact is, in order for your hair to be sparkly clean, there’s no need to shampoo it several times during one wash. This, of course, doesn’t apply when you dye your hair or try to wash out something from it, like oils or hair styling products. In your regular hair care routine, there’s really no need to do it twice or more. If you really need to, then twice is more than enough, and, we can’t stress this enough: you should only wash the scalp!
Also, be sure to wash away any retrains of shampoo from your head. The shampoo isn’t a nourishing product. It isn’t desirable for it to stay in your hair. Rinse shampoo at least for five minutes.
How to choose the right shampoo for your hair type
When it comes to choosing the right shampoo, you must consider both your hair and scalp type. The same goes for conditioners and hair masks – the hair type and current hair condition are more important. However, looking after your scalp is extremely important when it comes to keeping your hair healthy. Chances are (chances but not rule) if you have dry skin on your face, your scalp will be dry as well, and vice versa. Similarly, if you have an oily face, you will have an oily scalp too.
Greasy scalp, dry hair – what to do?
Some people have a greasy scalp, but dry ends. In this case, just treat your scalp with adequate products, and in the next steps of hair care, you will nourish your dry hair as well.
Aggressive and harsh cleaners won’t help you deal with oily hair – this goes for your face, as well as for scalp. Overdrying your scalp with harsh shampoos won’t help you with your problem. On the contrary – it can stimulate even more sebum. That also means that you shouldn’t wash your hair every day, even if you have an oily scalp. However, you should be more careful and spend more time when shampooing hair – in order to break up the oil. Shampoo only the scalp, not the ends.
Dry scalp, dry hair – what to do?
Dry scalp seems better in comparison to oily scalp. In reality, there’s a big problem here as well. Other than choosing a mild shampoo, be sure to choose the shampoo with moisturizing ingredients made for the dry scalp (not just dry hair!).
People with dry scalp and dry skin often have a problem with itchy scalp, dandruff, or scalp psoriasis. If you are one of them, make sure to be extra careful not to dry the scalp even more. You should also consider buying some professional products intended for people with dry and sensitive scalps like Nioxin products.
Normal hair and scalp
If you are one of the lucky ones that have a normal scalp, you shouldn’t forget to take good care of it. The mild shampoo will work for you as well and will help you maintain your current condition.
Head skin problems and medical products
If you have more or less serious problems with your hair, such as seborrhea, dandruff, itching, increased hair loss, allergies, scalp condition, you should contact your doctor. Trying different shampoos from drugstores can cause more problems for you to deal with.
Shampoo-like products you must have
In the end, we will mention popular “shampoo” products, and explain their usage.
What’s dry shampoo?
There comes a time when you simply don’t have enough time to wash your hair, although it looks greasy and lifeless. Sometimes, you just want to delay washing for an extra day. In these situations – reach for dry shampoo.
Usually, they come in powder on spray form. They soak up oil, dirt, and grease, and leave a nice smell in your hair. Just spray them on the root and crown area, brush away in a few minutes and you will be ready to go. You can use them even on clean hair, to refresh your look, add volume, or style it, etc. Of course, keep in mind – dry shampoo can never replace real hair wash. Using too much of it will clog hair follicles and worsen conditions such as dandruff, dry scalp, etc. But if you use it occasionally – it is a great product.
What does purple shampoo do?
If you have bleached hair, which is turning to yellow (and you want to avoid being yellow), this is a must-have for you. They usually are on the more aggressive side, which means you should not use them every time you wash your hair. But, they will refresh your hair color, postpone the need to dye your hair, and help you maintain a good and healthy look.
What about natural hair wash?
On the internet, you will find all kinds of articles giving you advice on how to avoid chemical products, make a shampoo using kitchen ingredients or not wash your hair at all for long periods of time.
Your long hair guru wouldn’t recommend these methods. Not in a million years. First of all, you can never know what kind of reaction you can have to a silly internet recipe. Secondly, and more importantly (hair) cosmetics industry evolves to help you solve any problem that you have. There is a really great number of products that are mild, and actually good for your hair. Keep that in mind before you reach for an egg, vinegar, or even flour. Your hair and scalp will be thank you for it.
The ultimate facts for hair wash
- Shampoo can’t repair damaged hair, but choosing the right shampoo is still a very important step in hair care. The right shampoo will prevent more damage and dryness.
- When it comes to the choice of shampoo – rely more on the ingredients list than on the label – they can be deceiving, especially drugstore products
- Although there are great advantages of silicones in general hair care, they aren’t welcome in shampoos.
- The way you wash your hair is extremely important, so pay attention – a small amount of shampoo is enough, shampooing once or twice is more than enough, and shampoo just the scalp and not hair length!