How can you get the fabulous bouncy, shiny hair that everyone wants? It is vital to your hair’s overall appearance to have the right amount of scalp oil. If you don’t have enough natural oil, your hair will appear dry and lifeless, but having excess oil will make your hair look flat and greasy. There are several types of shampoos available such as homemade, organic, hair loss, dry shampoo etc… and each one servers a different purpose and the ingredients varies.
Regardless of its type and the ingredients used, shampoo has a simple duty – to get rid of excess oil, pollutants, and the remnants of hair care products. Since the hair closest to the scalp has the most oil, you should use more shampoo for that area and apply less on the remaining hair. A conditioner replaces the oil stripped by overstyling and exposure to heat and protects the hair against more damage.
You first need to figure out what type of hair you have in order to choose the correct shampoo or conditioner. For example, is your hair mostly dry or oily? For very dry hair, you need to choose a shampoo formulated especially for it. Such shampoos have more essential fatty acids which form bonds that keep your hair moisturized. The acidity level is also important, so look for a shampoo with a low pH. A shampoo with a higher pH can cause the hair cuticle to open up, creating a loss of moisture. Dry hair requires the right conditioner to stay healthy. Find a moisturizing conditioner and remember to use it following each shampoo. If your hair is dry, you should always use the cool option as you blow dry.
The correct shampoo for oily hair is one that provides deep cleansing to remove the unnecessary scalp oil responsible for limp, lackluster hair. Be sure to get a shampoo that is not too harsh, since overstripping the scalp can trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Select a conditioner designed to work on oily hair and use it only where you need it, such as any dry spots and on the ends.
Do you have hair that is color treated, very curly, or kinky? Shampoos and conditioners created for dry hair also work well for people with curly hair since both types need moisture.
Kinky hair reacts best to a shampoo and conditioner high in protein. But how do you know if a shampoo contains enough protein? Look at the ingredients on the bottle and see if “protein” is near the beginning of the list. Color treated hair needs protection from heat and light exposure to avoid fading, and there are shampoos and conditioners made for this problem. They are available in most salons for a modest price.
Using a clarifying shampoo can clean away the buildup of hair care products that make your hair look weighed down, dull, and greasy. To restore your hair’s luster, try washing with a clarifying shampoo about once in every 10 days.