How To Choose The Best Hair Shampoo & Conditioner ?

Choosing hair shampoo & conditioner can be very difficult because there are literally hundreds of them. Pay a visit to any cosmetics store in the locality and you will have an option to choose from dozens of brands and variants. There are no direct rules to choose a hair shampoo & conditioner. There are, however, certain parameters that you can check in order to make an informed decision about the selection of shampoos and conditioners.

Read on to find detailed information on some key parameters regarding the selection of hair shampoo and conditioner.

Look for the Right Ingredient Combination When Choosing Shampoos and Conditioners

It can be pretty confusing to choose hair shampoo and conditioner based on the type of ingredients they have. However, the knowledge of ingredients can help you a great deal in making the right selection. Do not go after the marketing pitch of a shampoo or conditioner but remember to learn about various ingredients.

For coarse and curly hair:


Curly hair is usually dry because the oil supply does not reach the end. It is usually due to the reason that oil produced at the hair shaft is prevented from reaching the tip of the hair.

For coarse, curly hair, you should go for creamy and moisturizing shampoos.

Shampoos for curly hair should contain shea butter, germ oil and nut oil.

Also, conditioning curly, coarse hairs should be a regular practice. Men and women with coarse hair should look for conditioners that especially made. An ultra conditioning moisturizer is what curly, coarse hairs need.

For fine, oily hair:

Men and women with fine, oily hair prefer to avoid an "oily" appearance. So it is important to avoid creamy shampoos. Creamy products are suitable for coarse, curly hairs only.

For frequent washing, one can look out for products that contain panthenol. This ingredient is known to improve the thickness level for each hair strand. During frequent washings, one can use a dry shampoo or talcum powder for best results.

Conditioners are not so important for limp haired women. You can just skip a conditioner if you can easily comb through hair after are finished washing them. Always go for a mild conditioner if you have oily, limp hair. Spray conditioners can be great as they don't reach the scalp so easily. You do not have to lather your hair more than once unless they are "extra oily".

For processed hair:

One of the biggest problems with processed hair is that roots tend to be oily and ends are drier. This behavior makes the task of washing processed hair very complicated. Technically, you have to moisture the end part and cleanse the shaft.

In such cases, it is advisable to wash your hairs with an ordinary shampoo at least once in a day. A shampoo should be used to cleanse the scalp area. Use a strong conditioner after washing your hairs with a shampoo.

Do not apply the conditioner to the scalp area. People with processed-colored hairs are especially concerned about preserving the color. While some companies have come up with specific shampoos capable of preserving the color, many people continue to believe that such products are just marketing fads. Try a few products before you use them for colored hair.

As far as permed or relaxed hairs are concerned, you can use any type of shampoo. Just make sure that the shampoo is applied to roots only. Through rubbing followed by a burst of cold or lukewarm water is recommended. For processed hair, you should never use conditioners that have silicone. This ingredient is well known to cause damage to colored hair.

For dry and damaged hair:

As far as dry and damaged hairs are concerned, it is advisable to choose creamy shampoos. Clear shampoos are not suitable for damaged and dry hair at all. Regular conditioning of dry and damaged hairs is required. An ultra-moisturizing conditioner is just right for damaged and dry hair. Learn how to treat dry hair.

Price of the Product as a Guiding Factor

For many people, price is the guiding factor when selecting particular hair shampoo and conditioner. You may wonder if there is some real difference between a $5 shampoo available at a nearby shop and a $25 shampoo or conditioner offered by a salon. The difference may or may not be significant for you. Inexpensive shampoos are known to have certain foaming agents that cause dryness.

As long as you have oily hair, inexpensive shampoos with such foaming agents are just fine. However, men and women with damaged hair should definitely look for more expensive shampoos and conditioners. Damages including those caused by sun rays and chlorine may aggravate if your choice of shampoo and conditioner is not right. It is advisable to go for a salon product if your hair appears damaged even after trying inexpensive products.

Purchasing Shampoos and Conditioners for Children

You have to be careful of purchasing "safe" products for children. There is no point of going after cute bottles. Forget about lovely colors and interesting poems written on bottles as well. All these factors shouldn't count when you choose a particular shampoo or conditioner for children.

The most important thing to remember is that a shampoo or conditioner has to be free from fragrance and colors. Even if children are adamant on purchasing products of specific brands, parents should try to get shampoos and conditioners that are free from such ingredients. Even if a product has been labeled as "mild", you should look for the list of ingredients before making a final decision.

For specific problems like dandruff, you need to purchase shampoos for exfoliation, soothing and anti-inflammatory action.

Shampoos are generally used to get rid of dirt and product buildup from hair and conditioners simplify the process of combing, add appealing shine and protect hairs from getting dry.

Your overall appearance is greatly affected by the kind of hairs you have. Choosing the right type of shampoo and conditioner is important to have great hair.

You can also check our article where you can find some recipes for shampoos and conditioners and learn how to make your own hair mask and do not forget to see the full list of hair care articles, where you will surely find information you need.