Ah, so many shampoos, so little time! They sud, foam, and lather; most of the time, at least. Shampoos have come such a long way. Remember when you were lucky to find more than 2 brands of shampoo in the hair care aisle of the grocery store?
We have grown by leaps and bounds since then (thank the heavens!) with a copious explosion of shampoos for every hair type and texture available. Behind the suds and bubbles, shampoos enjoy a long history that proves that the foamy stuff has a vital place in modern bathrooms.
Shampooing is such a critical step in our hair care routine that we do not think twice about it. It is no wonder that the market is so saturated with different products. There is just about every type of shampoo under the sun available today; shampoo that has been blended with beer, hard water shampoos, clarifying shampoos, and even organic ones.
But which shampoo is right for you? Do you ask your hairdresser or go with the TV and online adverts promising to give you the bounce you’ve been looking for? Perhaps you should just opt for that brand on special offer at the store (because money)?
While it can definitely be intimidating at first, you should know that there is a shampoo out there for every person. Even though they all do the job of making your hair cleaner, shampoos have varying levels of active ingredients that are designed to target particular hair issues depending on the individual’s hair type.
Using the right shampoo for your hair type is what will make the difference between healthy, silky hair and a frizzy, unmanageable mane. So if you are looking for the best shampoo for your needs, here are specialty shampoos you didn’t realize you needed:
Clarifying shampoo: Great for product buildup
Clarifying shampoo is just like your regular shampoo only that it is fortified with stronger active ingredients making it slightly more intense than your regular shampoo. Because of these ingredients, clarifying shampoos are ideal for anyone that uses too much product in their hair.
A clarifying shampoo is formulated to help you remove product buildup, which can weigh your hair down if left unchecked. Anyone with limp, greasy hair can benefit from clarifying shampoo to eliminate the deposits. You should only use your clarifying shampoo once or twice every week-any more than that and it will make your hair frizzy.
Moisturizing shampoo: Great for dry hair or curly and kinky hair
Moisturizing shampoos are used for exactly that- adding moisture to your hair. If you have one of those hair types that are characterized by dryness and dandruff, you will need a moisturizing shampoo for enhanced shine, comfort and to keep your hair looking healthy.
A moisturizing shampoo is the most common type of shampoo. Although it works great for dry and kinky hair, it should never be used for oily hair as it can make things worse.
Chelating shampoo: Great for intense and thorough cleaning
While chelating shampoos or hard water shampoos are very similar to clarifying shampoos, chelating shampoos are designed to eradicate the minerals and metals that are deposited in our hair from hard water use.
Like clarifying shampoos, chelating shampoos have to be made with active ingredients that can sort out the damaging effects of hard water. Be sure to use them once or twice a week as they can do more damage than good if they are used too frequently.
Keratin shampoo: Great for damaged, brittle hair
Keratin refers to the structural building block of human hair. As such, you can imagine what wonders it would do if you are looking to restore your hair’s overall health. If you have been coloring, flat ironing, blow-drying and heat styling regularly, your hair is likely to as a result of heat damage.
If you have any dull patches, they will not only leave your hair looking frizzy and tangled but your hair will also look duller and become harder to manage. The good news is that you can fight the power with any shampoo that is fortified with keratin protein.
Color protecting shampoo: Great for those with colored hair
You’ve already spent a fortune having your hair professionally colored so it makes sense that you’d want to keep your hair looking great for as long as possible before it needs any touch-ups. One of the best things that you can do to protect the lifespan of your colored hair is to pick the right shampoo.
Color protecting shampoos are important for anyone with color-treated hair because they moisturize and clean, without stripping the color. Additionally, the provide UV protection that protects the color in the hair from sun damage.
Sulfate-free shampoo: Great for anyone with naturally soft hair
Most shampoos are made using harsh chemicals known as sulfates. Sulfate-free shampoos are well, sulfate-free. Although sulfates are essential for getting your hair clean, they are also responsible for stripping the scalp and hair of its natural oils.
Sulfates aren’t as bad or as scary as they are perceived; some people actually need sulfates because of their hair type. You shouldn’t have to use them, however, if you suffer from skin sensitivities and don’t want to end up with dry hair or allergic reactions.
You should generally avoid using sulfate shampoos if you have dyed or kinky hair. People with frizzy hair should seriously consider sulfate-free shampoo as they can help to maintain the hair’s natural oils while leaving your hair feeling more moisturized.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to finding the right shampoo, it is all about getting your ingredients right. But we all know that’s easier said than done. If you have ever given the back of a shampoo bottle a once over, then you might have noticed the mystifying variety of multi-syllabic ingredients and chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
Some assume that all shampoos are created equal- but they aren’t. If you select the wrong shampoo, you could end up doing more damage than good as your hair may be stripped of its natural oils or worse damaged with no hope of repair.
