Revealed — the art (and science) of choosing the right shampoo

Like everyone else, I too wash my hair twice a week and often try different brands of shampoos to find the one that really suits my hair type. The selection process is often based on other friends’ recommendation or how convincing the salesgirl is in talking me into buying a particular brand of shampoo. While this is what most of us do, I thought of doing a little digging to find out the right way of selecting a shampoo which will not harm my hair. Here’s what I found.

Shampoo basics

Opt for a pH neutral shampoo – Choose one which has a pH between 5-7. These shampoos do not harm the hair and are also excellent cleansers. You can find out the pH of the shampoo on the bottle or if isn’t displayed, check it out on their website.

Choose ammonia-free shampoos – Ammonia is quite damaging to the hair and can open up the cuticles. Using it frequently will leave your hair dry and damaged so it is best to avoid this chemical and opt for shampoos that do not contain ammonia.

Change brands often – Though you may find the perfect shampoo for you, it is best to change your shampoo brand every 4-5 weeks or else your scalp may become resistant to it and not show any results. But remember, changing the brand does not mean you change the type as well. Choose another brand which offers something suitable for your hair type. Also read how to shampoo hair the right way.

Shampoo for different hair types

Though it is difficult to pinpoint which brand of shampoo you should opt for, you can certainly know which type will suit your hair the most and choose one accordingly.

Dry hair

People who have dry hair often find it to be frizzy, rough and unmanageable. And after washing their hair, these problems just enhance more. In order to make dry hair more manageable, opt for creamy formulations. Such shampoos contain oil and fats in a water-based medium. This helps in adding moisture to one’s hair and also softening it to an extent. Also, make sure you condition your mane well post hair wash to lock in the moisture. Using a leave-in conditioner or serum is a good idea.

Greasy hair

Greasy hair gets oily in two-three days and has to be washed more often. This means it needs a shampoo which can easily clear off dirt and oil without making it rough. The best shampoo for such hair type is a mild, herbal one. You can even wash your hair daily using this shampoo. In case you have an oily scalp but dry hair, try these tips.

Normal hair

Perhaps the easiest hair type to manage, normal hair does not pose much of a problem as such. The only hitch is, not many people have this kind of hair which is neither too dry nor too oily. If you are one of the lucky few, you can opt for a mild shampoo.

Hair with dandruff

If you also have dandruff in your hair, you need to use a medicated anti-dandruff shampoo along with your regular shampoo. This is because these specially formulated ones help eliminate dandruff from the scalp. Using them just once a week is enough. Even in anti-dandruff shampoos, make sure you pick one based on your hair type.Here’s all you need to know about using anti-dandruff shampoos.

Coloured hair

If you’ve coloured your locks, you need to take special care of them as using a normal shampoo will fade away the colour easily. In order to protect them, use a specialised shampoo meant for coloured hair. This will be gentler on your hair and also add more shine to it. Don’t forget to use a conditioner along with it and wash your hair only once a week if possible. Here’s more on maintaining coloured hair.

Limp hair

Hair that is limp often lacks volume and weighs down under the weight of the rest of the hair. In order to add more texture to it, use a volumnising shampoo. Also make sure you wash it off well. Any leftover residue will make the hair more flat and limp. Avoid using much conditioner as it can further take away the volume. Here are some home remedies to manage limp hair.

Originally published on www.thehealthsite.com