For your hair, choosing the correct shampoo can make all the difference. Selecting the ideal product for your hair type might seem overwhelming with so many options available. Making an informed choice can be aided by knowing what ingredients are present in shampoos.
Each shampoo has a unique combination of ingredients that fulfill particular functions. While some ingredients moisturize or add volume, others aid in cleansing. You can choose a product that meets the needs of your hair by understanding what to look for on the label.
Whether your hair is dry, curly, oily, or straight, the type of shampoo you should use depends greatly on it. By being aware of the most prevalent ingredients, you can select hair care products that offer the ideal balance of care and avoid those that might not be good for your hair.
Knowing a shampoo’s ingredients and how it suits your hair type will help you choose the best one. Sulfates, silicones, and natural oils are a few examples of ingredients that can help clean, nourish, or shield your hair. Understanding the functions of each ingredient allows you to select a formula that specifically targets your needs, be they balancing, strengthening, or moisturizing your scalp. With this information, you can choose the ideal care for your particular hair type and steer clear of products that could damage your hair.
- What you need to know about hair shampoos?
- Composition: harmful and neutral components
- Shampoo selection parameters
- Professional shampoos
- Sulfate-free shampoos
- Mass-market shampoos
- Pharmacy lines
- Video on the topic
- Shampoo composition how to choose the best shampoo for hair
- Hair shampoo, which one to choose? Harm of shampoos. How often to wash your hair with shampoo?
- HOW TO CHOOSE HAIR CARE?
What you need to know about hair shampoos?
Water and surfactants, or surface-active substances, make up between 50 and 80 percent of the composition of any shampoo. The remaining portion is made up of different additives, including thickeners, silicones, preservatives, fragrances that enhance the shampoo’s qualities, and natural ingredients like oils and extracts.
Composition: harmful and neutral components
- Almost every shampoo contains lauryl (SLS) or laureth sulfates (SLES), they allow the product to foam better. The components are widely used in cosmetology and are considered safe, but in some cases they can increase the risk of increased scalp sensitivity and contribute to the appearance of dry hair.
- To increase the shelf life, each cosmetic product contains parabens (Parabens), they fight the growth of bacteria and fungi in shampoos, but can also cause redness and become a common cause of allergic reactions.
- In order to soften the effect of shampoos and create a thick structure of the product, cocamides (Cocamide) are added to the formula. They can often be found in products marked "Restorative". But sometimes cocamides act in a negative way and can cause skin irritation, stimulate the appearance of dandruff and itching.
- Diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) cannot be considered useful components, are products that in some cases can contribute to the destruction of hair keratin and make curls dry and brittle.
- Most shampoos also contain formaldehyde. It is this component in large doses that can contribute to the weakening of the hair bulb and its loss.
Advice: test a small amount of shampoo on your skin and let it sit for a few minutes before using it on your entire body. It is best to decline to use the product if redness develops.
There is a belief that the shampoo included in the composition Silicon is also dangerous because it builds up in the hair and dulls its luster over time. Still, the ingredient offers several benefits: it keeps moisture in the hair structure, lessens breakage, and makes combing easier.
Components that are neutral
Look for the following ingredients on the label that gently cleanse the head and support healthy hair in order to maintain healthy hair:
- Sodium cocoyl isethionate — is the mildest surfactant and is less harmful to hair.
- Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate — a mild emulsifier, combines good foaming and thickening properties.
- Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate — has antioxidants, softens hair, moisturizes skin.
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine — absorbs the irritating effect of other surfactants, has antistatic properties.
- Decyl Polyglucose — a polyglucoside consisting of useful substances: sugars (glucose) obtained from corn starch, and coconut fatty acids.
- Sodium Sulfosuccinate — has a stable pH. Can be used in high concentrations without causing irritation.
- Magnesium Lauryl Sulfate — a mild surfactant, does not irritate the skin and eyes.
Shampoo selection parameters
In general, shampoos can be categorized into four categories: mass-market, pharmacy, sulfate-free, and professional.
Let’s examine each type and assess its advantages and disadvantages.
Professional shampoos
These shampoos are meant to be used in salons or in accordance with a professional stylist’s recommendation.
Professional hair care products are made with serious formulas and ingredients that are designed to improve hair condition. These formulas are too costly to be used in the creation of low-cost products, so they do not qualify as mass-market goods.
Stylist and artistic collaborator at L’Oréal Professionnel
Sulfate-free shampoos
As the name implies, sulfate-free shampoos are devoid of sulfates.
These products have the obvious benefits of helping to keep the hair cuticle smooth, extending the effects of keratin straightening, and preserving color after coloring.
However, hair may start to lose volume and feel more fatty after switching abruptly from sulfate shampoos. Sulfate-free shampoos are less cost-effective to use than conventional products and may not always be able to eliminate dandruff.
Mass-market shampoos
The primary purpose of shampoos found in typical retail stores is to rid the head of impurities. And they do a fantastic job finishing this task.
However, it is best to avoid expecting tender care or, more specifically, treatment from them.
The cheapening of such shampoos’ composition is the cause. You can ascertain that they made savings on the product’s recipe by looking at the following elements:
- Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate,
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate,
- Ammonium Laureth Sulfate,
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate.
These materials produce a lot of foam, but they harm and deprive the top layers of hair of protection.
Pharmacy lines
Prescription shampoos are designed to treat specific issues, such as dandruff or hair loss, in curls because we visit the pharmacy when we need treatment. However, other methods should be used for smoothness and brilliance.
| Shampoo Ingredient | What It Does |
| Sulfates | Cleans hair by removing dirt and oil, but can be harsh for dry or sensitive hair |
| Silicones | Add shine and smoothness, but may build up over time |
| Parabens | Preserve the product"s shelf life, but some prefer to avoid them |
| Natural Oils | Moisturize and nourish hair, great for dry or curly hair |
| Proteins | Strengthen hair and repair damage, ideal for weak or damaged hair |
| Fragrance | Adds a pleasant smell, but can irritate sensitive scalps |
Understanding a shampoo’s ingredients is the first step in selecting the best one. You can choose a product that suits your needs and hair type by understanding what each component does.
Be mindful of components that provide advantages, such as nourishing oils or fortifying proteins. Steer clear of harsh chemicals that could irritate or damage your skin.
Experimenting with various formulas to determine which one suits you best is also beneficial. Since every person’s hair type is different, it might take some trial and error to find the ideal fit.
You can design a shampoo regimen that maintains the health, strength, and aesthetic appeal of your hair with a little knowledge and perseverance.
