Using The Wrong Shampoo? How to Choose Shampoo for Your Hair Type

Using the wrong hair shampoo is an issue that nearly everyone deals with – though they may not be aware of the problem. And with so many different shampoos available, it isn’t hard to grab the wrong one off the shelf. You may even fall victim to misleading advertisements or fancy labels. But don’t be discouraged because this article will help you figure out if you’re using the wrong shampoo and how to find the best shampoo for your hair type.

If you’ve been using the wrong hair shampoo, you might have a few problems such as dry hair, frizzy hair, flaky scalp, oily scalp, breakage or faded color.

However, these symptoms are also beauty issues that can be caused by other products like gel, mousse, dry shampoo, leave-in conditioners, cream, milk, hair spray or texturizing powders.

Knowing all of this, it’s tricky narrowing down what exactly is causing the problems, but shampoos can help alleviate some of the issues caused by hair styling products as well.

Are You Using The Wrong Shampoo? How to Find the Best Shampoo for Your Hair Type

How to Choose Right Shampoo for Your Hair Type

Before we discuss which type of shampoo is best for your hair, let’s focus on some other hair and shampoo related problems.

Are You Using The Wrong Shampoo? How to Find the Best Shampoo for Your Hair Type

Stay Away from Sulfates

Shampoos that contain either Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) can cause a lot of issues not only with your hair but also with your face and hands.

Sulfates aren’t only found in shampoos, but also body and face wash as well.

Some side effects of these ingredients are eye irritation, tangled hair, scalp irritation, split ends, frizzy hair, and swelling of the hands, arms and face.

Long story short, be cautious and aware of the ingredients in the shampoo you are using.

Clarifying Shampoo to Clear Away Buildup

If you think your hair is misbehaving because of the styling products you use, then it’s time to use a clarifying shampoo to rid your hair and scalp of the unwanted mess that can build up, and cause a greasy or flaky scalp.

You should even think about switching to a different styling product when you run out of your current one.

Nearly all of the professional product lines offer a clarifying shampoo, as do the drug store lines, and they all work in the same manner.

If you have colored your hair recently, beware of using clarifying shampoos too often because they can cause your color to fade faster.

To be safe, don’t use clarifying shampoos for the first two weeks after you’ve colored your hair, and limit usage to once a month to keep your hair color from fading. If you still have build-up from hard water or swimming, consult your hair stylist for a stronger treatment.

Are You Shampooing Too Often?

A big problem that you may have is shampooing too often.

Shampooing should only be done when you have a need to. It usually doesn’t need to be washed every day, and you may even only need to wash it every three days or so depending on your personal needs.

Dry shampoos can also be overused, and if you’re using them too frequently, you’ll dry out your scalp!

Dry shampoos are great for in-between days or after a visit to the gym; just be sure to only use them when you need to.

Now that you know what causes hair to misbehave, you can better understand how to treat all of the issues that can come from over-styling or excessive shampooing.

If you don’t use any hairstyling products, or if you use them so infrequently that you’re positive it’s the shampoo, the following information will greatly improve your next visit to the shampoo aisle.

Examining your Habits and Hair

A lot of shampoos have harsh detergents, fragrances, and other chemicals that harm your hair.

So before buying a shampoo simply for the scent, buy one that will actually clean your locks without causing more damage!

The first step is to pinpoint your specific hair type, texture, color, thickness, how often you shampoo, how often you use heat tools if you color treat or chemically alter your locks, and if you have split ends or dandruff.

Do you have oily, dry or normal hair? If you’re unsure, ask your hairstylist for his/her thoughts. It can be difficult finding the right shampoo because most of us will have more than one symptom, so there is a lot of trial and error involved in finding the perfect shampoo.

Here is an easy-to-follow guide for finding the right shampoo for you.

Shampoos for Different Hair Types

  1. For Normal Type
    For a normal type, you’ll want to find a shampoo that is made for normal hair because it won’t rob you of the natural oils. Just be sure that you’re not shampooing too often because doing so will cause dry hair.
  2. For Oily Type
    If you have an oily type, you will want a shampoo that uses tea tree oil, sage oil, or chamomile so that you can remove the oil from both your strands and scalp. Again, it’s important to only shampoo when it is needed! You’ll find that clarifying shampoos often have these ingredients, so read the labels to be sure that they’re safe for regular use.
  3. For Dry Type
    Dry type needs a moisturizing shampoo that has oils and shea butter because they’ll nourish dry hair strands. It’s also great to consider homemade remedies for dry hair.
  4. For Fine Type
    A volumizing or thickening shampoo is best for those with fine type. Volumizing shampoos cause the strands to swell and be lifted, while the conditioners provide a coat of protein on the hair strand to fill in gaps in the cuticle. You can also use volumizing conditioner if your hair is damaged or limp.
  5. For Dry, Flakey or Itchy Scalp
    Dandruff shampoo is ideal for these scalp irritations because it relieves you of these symptoms and moisturizes your scalp, which lessens the flakes. Don’t forget to check some homemade remedies for dry scalp.
  6. For Curly Type
    For curls and kinks, look for a moisturizing shampoo with a protein base. Make sure to look at the ingredients list; the sooner you read protein, shea butter, glycerin or glycerin, the better off you’ll be!
  7. For Color Treated Hair
    If you color or bleach your hair in any way, it’s important to use a shampoo that is color-friendly so you don’t cause the color to fade away. Here you will find more information how to maintain colored hair.

Have you ever tried shampoo-free your hair?

As for shampoos in general, they should keep your locks clean without taking the oils down the drain with them. So keep your hair healthy by only shampooing when necessary and limit the use of hot tools.

Pin it for later!

How to Choose Shampoo for Your Hair Type

Shampoo & Your Hair Type

Related Articles


Recent Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *