Looking for the Right Shampoo? Here's 9 Things to Know

August 9, 2023

Are you having trouble finding the right shampoo? Join the club! Even when you understand your hair type and the condition of your hair (such as dry ends, extra care needed after sun and the sea, etc.), finding the right solution can be a nightmare. The moment you find the shampoo of your life can be quite exciting though, as with the right balance of moisture and shine, your hair might end up looking better than ever.

What Is My Scalp Type

It all starts with knowing what kind of scalp you have. If your scalp feels tight after washing (or just tight), you might be dealing with dry scalp. Same applies if your scalp is itchy (with or without flakes). On the other hand, oily scalp may be shinier, and dandruff can have flakes that appear clumped together. Finally, if it doesn’t feel like one or another, consider yourself to be a lucky person because you might have a combination scalp (it gets oily two to three days after shampooing versus the day after).

Scalp Type vs. Hair Type

Even though your hair is dry, you might have an oily scalp. Does that mean you are qualified for greasy hair? No. It means you have oily scalp and dry hair, which is very common.

Shampoo is basically for your scalp and roots, while conditioner is for the ends of your hair. If you are facing oily scalp and dry ends, you should choose a shampoo best suited for an oily scalp, while the conditioner should take care about the moisturizing part and therefore apply on your dry ends.

It All Sounds Very Good, but in Reality…

Your friend told you about the best shampoo ever. You’ve read every listicle with the best conditioners. You bought the product and at the end you were left with huge disappointment? Pretty standard, unfortunately. There isn’t a product that fits everyone. If you want to find one for yourself, you will have to start something that might be a long quest and you will need to invest a bit of time, patience and money, but in the end, it will be worth it.

A Quest for the Perfect Shampoo Begins

First decision to make is choosing between professional and drugstore hair care. Why should you splurge on an expensive salon product when you can buy a shampoo at the drugstore for a fraction of a price? While someone is able to find the right shampoo and conditioner at the drugstore, others might struggle because their scalp and hair has different needs and requires extra care. In any case, once you try a professional haircare product that fits you, it will be hard to turn back to the drugstore “alternative”.

Is Professional Hair Care Better Than a Drugstore?

The main difference between professional and drugstore hair care is that professional products contain a higher percentage of active ingredients, natural extracts, more proteins, vitamins, and other substances that make hair healthier. Professional hair care is also better because of the ingredients they don't contain. Harmful ingredients that may make your hair look shiny at first but have a negative long-term effect on your hair.

Staying Away From the Bag Guys

Are you ready to stay away from harmful ingredients? Remember, they can create a couple of positive effects in the short run, but much more bad outcomes in the long run. This is the list of unwanted ingredients: alcohol, mineral oil and petroleum, sulfates, sodium chloride, formaldehyde, propylene glycol, artificial fragrance and colors.

Tips to Pick the Right Shampoo

We won’t tell you what is best for you simply because it's not possible. But, there are some useful hints on how to start looking according to your scalp type as we said shampoos should be mainly concentrated on your scalp and roots.

Oily scalp

Look for labels that say “volumizing”, “balancing”, or “strengthening”. Avoid "moisturizing", "hydrating", and "smoothing" formulas. Add a deep cleansing shampoo to your weekly routine. Avoid regular conditioning and only apply it from mid-shaft to hair ends.

Dry scalp

Look for "moisturizing", "hydrating", and "smoothing" formulas. Look for ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, egg protein, glycerin, and soy milk. Avoid labels that mention “fortifying” or “volumizing” and avoid sulfates.

9 Things to Remember

Your scalp type is not necessarily your hair type, so make sure to know both of them
Think of shampoo as a treatment for your scalp and roots rather than for your hair
Decide if you will search for a professional product or a drugstore shampoo
Avoid harmful ingredients as they are ruining your hair in the long run
No product fits everyone, so don’t follow recommendations blindly
You can’t judge a product based on one time use
Particular product can show positive effects, but have long term negative results (meaning: check the ingredients)
If possible, buy a smaller size and see if the product works for you
Talk to your hairdresser - a professional should be able to help you.