Struggling to pick a shampoo that will work for your hair type? Don’t worry - it no matter whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly or kinky, there’s an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner to help keep it looking healthy and fresh.
Ever noticed that even if your best friend swears by her shampoo, it doesn’t always work for you?
It could be because everyone’s hair is different: she might need to moisturize her dry strands while you are desperate to get rid of oil. That means that her shampoo probably doesn’t answer your needs.
To understand what to look for, think about your hair type and any issues you have which your shampoo needs to tackle:
- Hair oiliness/greasiness: if your hair is oily/greasy, look for shampoos promising “deep cleansing.” If your hair is dry, skip the “deep cleansing” shampoos and opt for one with more nourishment.
- Hair length: the longer your hair, the older it is. The more exposure to damaging factors, the more protective conditioning ingredients you need.
- Hair thickness: fine hair needs to use shampoos with lightweight conditioning, to protect hair cuticle without weighing it down and making it look flat or greasy. Avoid shampoos that promise “moisture,” or “damage repair”- these may be too heavy.
Look instead for shampoos offering volume, fullness, or thickness, or a shampoo with deep-cleansing benefits.
- Curliness or waviness: the more waves or curls you have, the drier hair can feel. It’s also more likely to become frizzy. Choose a shampoo that moisturizes or hydrates.
- Styling products: the more you use, the more cleaning you will need. Choose deep-cleansing or clarifying shampoos to remove heavy buildup and give you a fresh start.
- Chemical damage from permanent hair color or chemical treatments: these treatments make hair feel rough by removing your hair’s waxy outer covering, called the “f-layer,” and lifting up cuticle edges. Chemically-damaged hair needs extra care.
Shampoos that promise “damage repair” often have ingredients that target the hair’s surface and help restore its smooth feeling.
- Scalp issues: itchiness, dryness, or flakes can be a sign that your scalp is out of balance. Choose an anti-dandruff shampoo that is clinically proven to target all of these issues. When your scalp’s delicate ecosystem is balanced, these signs of dandruff will start to disappear.
Whichever shampoo you choose, make sure you use it regularly and consistently - around three times a week for most people - to keep your scalp in its best possible shape.
Once you’ve chosen the right shampoo for your hair type, it’s time to think long-term.
The secret to how to get healthier-looking hair actually begins with the scalp. When your scalp is in good condition, it’s better at caring for the growing hair. Scalp issues, like dandruff, can actually cause new hair to be damaged as it grows.
Head & Shoulders is the first shampoo that is clinically proven to improve the quality of your hair, by keeping your scalp in good shape.
For help choosing the perfect Head & Shoulders product for your hair type, try our scalp advisor.