How to Choose the Correct Shampoo and Conditioner For Your Hair Type (shampoo and conditioner)

shampoo and conditioner

Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner is imperative to promote healthy hair and scalp. With all the the claims that companies have these days it can be hard to know what is good for your hair type. The list below will give a guide for which shampoo and conditioner is good for each hair type.

Shampoos

Dry: Egg shampoos with softeners and protein components are recommended for dry hair. It needs shampoos which are creamy and not clear, have mild detergents and rich conditioners and hence shampoos which have shea butter or lanolin seem to help manage dryness better. Herbs like comfrey which is rich in protein when present in shampoos helps to make hair look thicker and smoother.

Oily: Citric juice or malic acid component in shampoos helps manage oily hair better. Other desirable ingredients in shampoos are chamomile, tea tree oil and sage oil. Protein and balsam shampoos are not recommended for oily hair as they tend to increase the oiliness. A drop of patchouli essential oil when added to shampoo helps reduce sebum production.

Curly/Coarse: Creamy moisturizing shampoos come highly recommended in the management for curly or coarse hair. Shampoos containing wheat germ oil, shea butter and nut oils such as macadamia nut oil or even coconut oil are good. Protein based shampoos and shampoos with silicone or almond oil help detangle and soothe out frizziness.

Fine/Limp: Clear and gentle shampoos are ideal for fine or limp hair. Shampoos containing panthenol are considered the best it helps in making hair strands look thicker. Ingredients such as glycerine or collagen in shampoos help maintain moisture balance. Using clarifying shampoos and shampoos with lesser amount of conditioning agents helps manage to it to look less oily.

Colored/Treated: Colored hair needs to be washed with color protection shampoos that can help preserve the color and retain moisture as well. Moisturizing shampoos with gentle cleansers are advised. Color enhancing shampoos and shampoos with UV filters help in maintaining the color as well.

Conditioners

Dry: Humectants are compounds that help in retention of moisture in hair and moisturising conditioners or deep conditioners that contain humectants work well. Conditioners which contain dimethicone, panthenol or silicone and essential oils such as jojoba oil also help in adding gloss.

Oily: Conditioners which are oil free are the ideal choice for oily hair. If the it has a tendency to become extra greasy ,look for acidifying conditioners and conditioners which have tea-tree oil that help in absorbing the extra oil and prevent the hair from being weighed down.

Curly/Coarse: Ultra-moisturizing and creamy conditioners that contain humectants and compounds such as cetyl or stearyl alcohol ,panthenol, methicones and botanical products such as shea butter and avocado help smooth, untangle frizz, soften to make it more manageable.

Fine/Limp: Protein conditioners or volumising conditioners are the ideal products to choose for fine or limp hair. These conditioners coat the shafts with protein for a fuller and smoother look.

Colored/Treated: Rich and thick conditioners that help in retention of color are recommended in the management of treated hair. Conditioners that contain silicone are better avoided as they tend to strip the color making it look dull and lifeless.

shampoo and conditioner