How to choose a hair shampoo
Shampoo is one of the most important and basic hair care products. That is why it is so important to correctly approach his choice, to look for the most suitable remedy. Each of us can only use a certain type of shampoo. With the wrong choice of cosmetics, dandruff appears, as well as a characteristic itching, curls are weakened and their loss increases. If the strands are too dry, the surface of the scalp also becomes dry, problems with the hair become inevitable.
Main functions
If you choose the right shampoo, most of the issues related to hair health will be resolved. When choosing a cosmetic product, you should first of all focus on the type of hair and the frequency of its use.
The most important function of a hair wash is to give it a fresh look, as well as to maintain healthy curls. Hair care cosmetics should cleanse the scalp of impurities, tone the strands, remove various impurities, silicone.
In addition, the shampoo should help retain fluid and keratin, increase the elasticity of curls, and protect cuticles.Using a hair wash can help minimize static electricity. Some cosmetics are combined with balms and conditioners, so you can treat the curls a little.
It is important that in the end the hair is not only attractive and filled with shine, but also filled with health. Certain types of shampoos even stimulate hair growth, improve blood circulation, and enrich with vitamins.
How to choose?
The cosmetic market is simply oversaturated with the amount of hair care products. Usually, the number of brands and types of shampoos are dizzying, so it is always difficult to choose the right option.
Before buying, you need to decide what type your curls are.
This problem can be solved by a test prepared by specialists - for example, in the nearest beauty salon. If this is not possible, then you can decide on your own.
The most easily recognizable type is bold. A characteristic shine appears on the strands in a short period of time. Often the owners of such hair are forced to wash their hair once a day or two days, which causes inconvenience and discomfort. Dry hair is too hard, difficult to comb.
What is suitable for the fatty type?
Those whose hair is oily are better suited for washing hair that matches the structure of the curls. Shampoo should not only wash your hair well, but also rid it of its characteristic shine. Cosmetics must be suitable for daily use. Aggressive chemical components are necessarily excluded from the composition of such a hair wash, as they wash away all the existing oil on the scalp.
Natural elements (oak bark, sage, mint) will help normalize the sebaceous glands.The presence of antibacterial substances also puts shampoo in a number of priorities.
What is suitable for dry and colored hair?
A prerequisite for a dry scalp is the choice of a shampoo that is designed exclusively for dry hair types. It is important that the care product contains components that strengthen and moisturize the structure of the curls. If you are going to buy a product, you need to make sure that it is suitable in composition. Honey, calendula and chamomile are among the plants that are desirable in the composition of the shampoo.
For colored and damaged hair, you should choose products for thorough care. Such cosmetics should not cause irritation of the scalp. It contributes to the preservation of the selected shade. After use, the curls should "come to life". The appearance of elasticity indicates that the shampoo is of high quality. UV protection is an added bonus. The same recommendations should be followed for highlighted hair.
What is suitable for dandruff?
If dermatitis occurs, you should contact your doctor. Based on his recommendations, you will need to purchase a hair wash with a therapeutic effect. The most common causes of dandruff include the presence of a fungus, as a result - the rapid contamination of the hair.
Cosmetics that actively fight dermatitis must necessarily contain bifonazole, tar or salicylic acid.
Harmful and useful components
A hair wash can have both beneficial and harmful substances. The most important thing when choosing cosmetic products is a safe approach. It should not harm the hair, good products help.
In the market of modern products for the care of curls, most of the products have a chemical base in their composition. Only a small amount (5 to 10 percent) is based on natural ingredients. The main thing in this matter is that the components are combined with each other.
The most useful substances include panthenol, collagen, vitamin A and E, keratin and herbal extracts.
Panthenol makes hair lighter, it envelops them with an invisible coating. Vitamins help to supply the scalp with the necessary substances, they contribute to the development of hair follicles. Thanks to them, you can also avoid excessive drying of the scalp, give the curls a "live" shine. Collagen helps to retain moisture on curls, lifts them from the roots. Extracts of various herbs tone the hair structure, saturate it with useful substances, some help to clear the dermis in a short time.
To restore hair, experts recommend additionally using a hair mask. So the curls will receive the necessary protection from external influences and will better retain their shape.
The following substances should be avoided in the composition of the shampoo: butylated hydroxytoluene, laureth sulfate and silicones. The first two components prevent the oxidation of fats, as a result of which the hair loses vitality and becomes dry. Often there is an allergy, there are unpleasant sensations. Silicones make the hair split, the hairstyle becomes heavier. Hair is smoothed, a feeling of their healthy appearance is created, but this is a visual deception.
Sulfate Free
Such care products for curls have recently become especially popular. The trend is natural beauty and the absence of chemistry, including in cosmetics.
The distinctive sign of such a product is the letters SLS. The main thing is to be extremely careful, as manufacturers often play with words and can write that hair washing cosmetics do not contain SLS. This is the exact opposite effect. It is important to carefully read the label before buying.
Mild cleaners of vegetable origin are the main components in such shampoos. Thanks to this composition, there is no characteristic itching on the skin, the hair is always clean, it is not necessary to wash the curls so often to make them look fresh. In most cases, the need for frequent shampooing is associated with poor-quality composition of the care product for curls. Shampoo with SLS in its composition it has exclusively natural components - for example, extracts and extracts of medicinal plants, oils and aloe.
Such cosmetics should be chosen according to the following principles:
- Natural cosmetics cost a lot of money.
- A low price, if the product is not on sale, should definitely alert the buyer.
- Foam indicates poor quality and high sulfate content. Real shampoo should be in liquid form (no foam).
It is better to choose only brands that have been tested by time. A new product may have an attractive composition on the label, but it does not yet have a reputation. It is possible that the components may not correspond to reality (or the effect that is described on the package will not turn out).
The main advantages of shampoos that do not contain sulfates include mild cleansing of the hair and scalp, the absence of irritation, discomfort. Such products give the strands a healthier look, restore their structure, and retain color when dyed.Additionally, cosmetics have a positive effect on hair growth.
Sulfate-containing shampoos also have a number of minor disadvantages. They do not wash silicones and other products that were used for styling from curls. Owners of long and thick strands will be forced to wash them several times. It is worth preparing for the fact that the consumption of such a shampoo will be more than usual. Another disadvantage is that curls wean themselves from chemistry for a long time and adapt to shampoos based on exclusively natural ingredients.
How not to make a mistake with the choice?
If you are going to buy a cosmetic product, you need to carefully study the reviews about it. The brands tested by a large number of buyers have a good reputation, so you can safely buy them.
The second thing you should pay attention to is the individual characteristics of a person, his habits (and even the weather conditions of a certain area). For girls or men who are used to washing their hair often, shampoos for regular use are better suited. If the weather is constantly unstable in the city and the curls have to be laid daily, then sulfate-free shampoos may not be suitable, as they will not completely wash off the chemical base. If there are serious problems with the surface of the scalp, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist before buying cosmetics.
How to choose the right shampoo? See below.