Shampoo Guide

Contents

You might think that having bad hair every now and then is pretty normal. It’s not!

When you are using the right products, you should be able to bring out the best form of your hair. If you often need to fight frizz, dryness, flakiness, hair fall, and other hair concerns, then you should consider the hair care products that you are using right now, particularly, your shampoo.

Your shampoo plays a huge role in maintaining the overall health and appearance of your hair. Dirt, excess oil, and dead skin cells build up on your scalp and cling to your hair. Leaving your hair unwashed can result to dull and limp hair that feels oily to the touch. You can even have dandruff if you don’t wash your hair enough. But more than cleansing your hair and scalp, there are other benefits to shampooing regularly. Find out the benefits of using shampoo and what product is best for your hair type.

What is Shampoo

Shampoo is a hair product that cleanses hair and scalp. It comes in various forms such as a thick liquid, bar soap, and dry powder. Shampoo can be applied to wet or dry hair. It is important to apply the shampoo properly to scalp to get rid of dead skin cells, dirt, and excess oil. Most people use a conditioner right after shampooing. Conditioners should be able to support the effects of the shampoo. Here are the best conditioners you can use to keep your hair healthy and shiny.

READ MORE: Conditioners

There are many types of shampoo that can cleanse hair and scalp. Some shampoos leave your hair shiny while others can make your hair dry. The results depend on the ingredients found in your shampoo. Most shampoo products contain surfactants. These surfactants give the product cleansing properties. However, they can dry your hair too.

Shampoos may contain nourishing ingredients that can improve overall hair health. Some shampoos are made to treat scalp conditions too. These specialized shampoos contain ingredients that address your hair concerns.

Each hair type has different characteristics that make them unique. Depending on your hair type, you should choose a suitable shampoo that delivers what your hair needs most. Make sure to choose formulas that cleanse and nourish your hair.

Brief History of Shampoo

Shampoo originated in India where the practice of boiling herbs and organic ingredients produces an extract that is used for cleansing. The term shampoo dates back to 1762 and is derived from the Hindi word champo, which means to press or to massage. The fruit pulps of Sapindus, also known as soapberries or soapnuts contain saponins, which are natural surfactants. This is why they are common ingredients in soaps. Many herbs and extracts are used to make traditional shampoo in India. Back then, it is a common practice to wash hair and body with these extracts. Essential oils are common ingredients used in the traditional shampoo even back then. Visit the page to find out what essential oils are best for your hair.

READ MORE: Essential Oils Guide

Traders brought the practice back to Europe where they introduced shampoo to their bath activities. Sake Dean Mahomed was a traveler who introduced shampooing to Britain. He and his wife opened the first commercial shampoo bath in 1814. Back then, they advertise the bath as a relief for many body conditions such as gout, joint pain, old sprains, stiff joints, and even rheumatism and paralysis. Due to the success of his business, he was appointed as shampooing surgeon to King George IV and William IV. Since then, the forms and ingredients of shampoo evolved. Hairstylists in Europe used to boil shaved soap and herbs in water to give hair extra shine and a nice fragrance.

Hans Schwarzkopf, a German inventor, in Berlin, invented the first liquid shampoo. However, this type of shampoo is just like soap, where they both use the same type of surfactant, which can be drying for hair. The modern shampoo that we use nowadays was introduced with Drene, a shampoo produced in the 1930s. Its formula contains synthetic surfactants, which are milder for hair.

Other countries such as Indonesia and parts of South America used grains to cleanse hair. Indonesians use the ashes of rice’s husk and straw. It was mixed with water and applied to hair. In South America, they wash quinoa to remove the saponin before cooking. The water with saponin has soapy properties that helped wash hair and scalp.

Benefits of Using Shampoo

Shampooing your hair helps remove dirt and oil that makes it look dull. Regular use leaves hair shiny, soft, and more manageable. However, aside from cleansing your hair and scalp, there are other benefits to using shampoo. Here are the other uses and benefits of shampoo for hair and scalp care.

Nourishes Scalp

READ MORE: Hair Growth Shampoo

READ MORE: Dandruff Shampoo

Hydrates and Strengthens Hair

What Are the Different Types of Shampoo

There are various forms and types of shampoo. Each one has unique properties that help bring out the best in your hair. Here, we break down the differences among these types of shampoo and how they affect your hair.

Types of Shampoo by Form

Shampoo has a lot of forms. However, the most common forms of shampoo are bar shampoos, liquid shampoos, and dry shampoos. Here are the differences among the three:

• Solid Shampoo – Solid shampoo is solidified formula that often comes in a handy shape and size making it easier to apply to scalp. A small bar of shampoo is the most common shape used by brands today. Back then, bar shampoos have the same formula as soap, which is very drying for hair. However, today many brands make gentle bar shampoos perfect for hair wash.
• Liquid Shampoo – Liquid shampoo is the most common form of shampoo. It often comes in a thick and viscous liquid that may or may not have color. Many ingredients can be used to produce liquid shampoos. Sulfate is a common ingredient found in these formulas. But non-drying shampoos may not contain this ingredient.
• Dry Shampoo – Dry shampoo uses starch to absorb excess oil and dirt in your scalp. It is a convenient type of shampoo since you don’t need water to cleanse your hair. Dry shampoos can use other dry ingredients to cleanse and nourish hair too.

Types of Shampoo by Ingredients

Shampoos can be categorized depending on their ingredients. Ingredients are important in choosing the best shampoo suitable for your hair. Many people suffer from scalp conditions and allergies that require them to avoid or look for certain ingredients in their shampoos. However, for some, it is also a preference. Here are some of the types of shampoo categorized by the ingredients they contain:

• Natural Shampoo – Natural shampoos may contain chemicals and botanical ingredients. It is the perfect combination of science and nature, which helps improve hair and scalp health drastically. Many users are afraid to use synthetic ingredients since they can be damaging for hair. However, there are naturally-occurring chemicals that are beneficial for hair and scalp. These chemicals may be extracts from plants or other botanical ingredients.
• Organic Shampoo – What makes organic shampoo different from natural shampoo is that in this formula, there is no trace of chemical. Everything about this shampoo is organic – from the ingredients, methods of growing these ingredients, and even the manufacturing processes. Organic shampoos are much healthier and safer for your scalp and hair. But it is important to remember that it takes time for your hair and scalp to show noticeable results.
• Gluten-Free Shampoo – Gluten or wheat are ingredients that can be found in shampoos. They are particularly irritating for those who are sensitive to gluten. Some users also find that gluten is the primary cause of eczema. Derivatives and gluten grains act as binders that make the formula of shampoos stick together. However, they can trigger allergic reactions too. Gluten-free shampoos do not contain any traces of gluten or wheat.
• Vegan Shampoo – Vegan shampoo does not contain ingredients derived from animals. They must be cruelty-free products too. This means that no animals are harmed to produce and manufacture these products. Various ingredients such as oils, fats, and gelatins may come from animals. While there are alternative sources of these ingredients, you should check where these ingredients come from.
• Medicated Shampoo – Medicated shampoos contain active or potent ingredients that help relieve and treat scalp conditions. Most of these conditions include dandruff, head lice, psoriasis, eczema, hair loss, and fungal infections. Medicated shampoos cleanse your hair while reducing the symptoms of scalp conditions. You can use most of these products for a certain period until the condition of your scalp improves. Hair loss shampoos are perfect examples of a medicated shampoo. They contain ingredients that prevent the deterioration of hair follicles. They also help support healthy hair growth. Visit the page below to learn how medicated shampoos help with hair loss.

READ MORE: Hair Loss Shampoo

Types of Shampoo by Hair Type

Regular shampoos only work for straight and normal hair types. If your hair is not straight or normal, then you should make sure to find a suitable shampoo. Here are the various hair types and what kind of shampoo is best for them.

Shampoo for Hair Textures

To check your hair texture, hold a strand of hair between your fingers. Slide your fingers from roots to tips. If you don’t feel the strand at all, then you have fine hair. If you feel the strand but it does not have a rough or scratchy texture, then you have medium hair. Coarse hair will have a thick and straw-like texture. Here are the types of shampoo you should use depending on the texture of your hair:

• Fine Hair – Fine hair have a silky and smooth texture that you can barely feel at your fingertips. You don’t need much conditioner if you have fine hair. However, you need to be careful about choosing the shampoo that you will use. Fine hair is prone to increased porosity or oiliness. You might experience lack of volume and tangles with fine hair too. To prevent this, look for a volumizing shampoo that has a mild formula.  
• Medium Hair – Medium hair is just the perfect balance of thick and smooth hair. However, this does not mean that you are safe from hair concerns. Most medium hair tends to hang between fine or coarse hair texture. If you have fine to medium hair, use a shampoo for fine hair. On the other hand, if you have medium to coarse hair, then choose a product suited for coarse hair type. Otherwise, you can just use regular shampoos.
• Coarse Hair – Coarse hair can have a lot of disulfide bonds that make it dry. Disulfide bonds are the kinks of hair that form the curls. The more there are, the curlier your hair is. This makes it harder for the oil from your scalp to travel down to the body of hair strands leading to dryness and brittleness. Non-drying shampoos are best for coarse hair. Cowashing is a recommended practice of washing your hair too. This is the method of washing hair using a conditioner to prevent it from drying.

Shampoo for Hair Types

Each hair type has a unique shape and style that you can bring out by using the best shampoo. Find out what makes each hair type look lustrous and beautiful here:

• Straight Hair – Straight hair is the shiniest and smoothest hair out of all hair types. It has few to no disulfide bonds. The natural oil from the scalp can travel easily towards the tips of your hair. However, there are straight hair types prone to oiliness. For this hair type, choose oil-free shampoos.
• Wavy Hair – Wavy hair is the sweet spot between straight and curly hair. While it’s a blessing to have wavy hair, it can be quite confusing at times too. There are instances that it becomes too frizzy to manage and too limp to have defined curls. There are shampoos specifically for wavy hair types. It is important that you choose a shampoo that can enhance the waves of your hair without making it frizzy.
• Curly Hair – Curly hair has a unique shape that you can be proud of. However, it is also quite hard to manage curly hair especially if it becomes dry and frizzy. Many shampoos can be drying for this hair type. Curl-defining shampoos are the best choices for curly hair.
• Kinky Hair – Kinky hair is so stunning that many people try to imitate its shape. But among all hair types, kinky hair is the driest and most prone to breakage. To keep kinky hair soft, stylish, and resilient against damage, avoid using shampoos that contain drying ingredients. You should try cowashing to protect your hair from breakage. Oil-based shampoos are good for your hair type too.

Types of Shampoo by Hair Concerns

There are many types of hair concerns that you have experienced and may experience in the future. Using the right type of shampoo can help reduce the symptoms of these concerns and treat them altogether. Find out which shampoo you should use if you have the following hair concerns:

• Limp and Oily Hair – Limp and greasy hair is the result of overproduction of oil in your scalp. You might think that using harsh or drying shampoos is the solution, however, it can trigger the excessive production of oil. For limp and oily hair, it is important to use balancing formulas that help control oil production in your scalp.
• Brittle and Damaged Hair – Brittle and damaged hair is due to lack of hair elasticity. Many factors can make hair dry, brittle, and damaged. Using harsh products, styling with heating tools, lack of moisture, and lack of nourishment are all primary reasons why your hair gets brittle. Moisture is important in keeping hair elastic and resilient against damage. For brittle and damaged hair, you should also use protein-enriched shampoo. It helps repair hair damage.
• Frizzy Hair – Frizziness makes it hard to manage hair. It becomes rough to the touch and unable to hold a smooth shape. Smoothing shampoos work well to tame frizzy hair and make it easier to manage. It gives hair a shiny and silky smooth texture too.
• Grey Hair - A lot of things such as genetics, biological aging, and using bleaching products can affect hair color. If you are experiencing premature greying of hair, check your hair’s porosity. This is the ability of your hair to retain moisture and pigmentation. Porous hair gets dry easily and has a faded color. Grey reducing shampoos help strengthen your hair while maintaining the gray hair color.
• Hair Loss – Hair loss is a common concern especially for men. When the hair follicles are permanently damaged, they stop growing hair leaving bald patches on the scalp. There are shampoos that stimulate the scalp to grow hair again. Castor oil is a popular ingredient in various anti-hair loss shampoos. It contains ricinoleic acid, which is linked to many of its therapeutic effects. 
• Hair Fall and Breakage – Hair fall is a sign that your hair and follicles are heavily damaged. There may be a build up of dirt, oil, and product residue on your scalp that clogs the follicles, preventing them from growing hair. It often affects how your scalp provides nutrients and oil to the strands too. By removing the buildup and nourishing the scalp, you can promote healthy hair growth. Anti-hair fall shampoos contain ingredients that strengthen hair and improve its resilience against damage.
• Dandruff – Dandruff happens when there is a buildup of dead skin cells and dirt in your scalp. They become visible when the flakes become loose and fall. Dandruff can make your scalp itchy and irritated. The best shampoo to treat dandruff is one that helps detoxify hair. Shampoos that contain dandruff-fighting ingredients such as tea tree oil is good for you. Shiny Leaf Tea Tree Oil Shampoo is a recommended product that alleviates the symptoms of dandruff while maintaining the shine and strength of your hair.

READ MORE: Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

Choose the Best Shampoo for Your Hair

Don’t let your hair suffer from dryness or frizziness. Choose the right shampoo that will bring you one step closer to your hair goals. Every woman’s hair is her pride. Your hair can change your looks and aura. When choosing your shampoo, consider these factors below:

• Hair Type and Characteristics – As discussed above, your shampoo must suit what your hair needs. Your hair type reacts differently to certain ingredients and formulas. The best way to make your hair stylish and manageable is to tackle the primary concerns with your hair type.
• Texture – Hair texture is all about the surface consistency of your hair. It also factors in the density of the strands. Fine hair tends to have silky smooth texture while coarse hair has a rough texture. Their density can vary, but it is common for fine hair to be thin and coarse hair to be thick.
• Porosity – Porosity of hair is its ability to retain moisture. Moisture is not the oil that your scalp produces. It is what makes your hair shiny while protecting it from dryness. The moisture in your hair is made of water. When your hair has high porosity, it easily gets dry. You can improve the porosity of your hair by using protein-rich shampoos.
• Elasticity – Elasticity is what helps your hair withstand breakage. When your hair is elastic, it can stretch up to its limit before bouncing back to its original shape. The less elastic your hair is, the higher the chance for it to break. Improve your hair elasticity by using hydrating shampoos.
• Hair Treatments – You should also take into account the recent hair treatments that you had. If you had a color treatment recipe, look for shampoos that help make hair color last longer.
• Preference Over Ingredients – Your preference is important in choosing the perfect shampoo too. Choose shampoos that contain the ingredients you are looking for. You can also look for the scent, color, and viscosity that you prefer. Most of all, you can pick which type of shampoo suits your taste. Whether it’s organic, vegan, cruelty-free or natural – you have the final say.
• Lifestyle – Your lifestyle affects how your hair looks and feels. One great example is your hobbies or profession. If you are a surfer, then your hair might get bleached and feel dry to the touch. Investing in the right shampoo will help maintain the shine and strength of your hair as you go through your daily activities.

Your hair is your crowning glory. Make sure that you keep it shiny and lustrous. Captivate the people around you with your luscious tresses. Make sure to use the best products that will deliver nourishment and hair care needs to where they are needed the most. Discover how high-quality shampoos improve your hair care routine. Visit the collection below to find out.

READ MORE: Shampoos