Your shampoo. Or a short lesson in chemistry and shopping

How to choose the right shampoo for your hair? If he is elected, you can trust the advertising and buy the “most magical universal” option. Or, on the advice of a friend, take the products that helped her solve her hair problems.

But each person has individual characteristics. And if one remedy works for someone, it’s not a fact that it will help you too. That is, this approach is completely wrong.

The selection of shampoo should be carried out exclusively for the existing hair type. Otherwise, she will lose her health and beauty.

Before choosing one or another option, it would be considered correct to ask a more competent question of how to determine your hair type and choose a shampoo. It is the establishment of such a parameter that will help to properly care for them with a reliable and useful detergent. Below we describe in detail what types of hair there are, with recommendations for choosing types of shampoos for each individual case.

Signs and characteristics of different categories of hair

The first thing you need to do before choosing a shampoo for your hair is a test with a hairdresser or trichologist. Knowledgeable specialists will determine the type of strands and scalp, and then, based on this, they will talk about the problems that are characteristic of them, and will recommend a topical remedy.

Table for determining your hair type.

But if there is no opportunity to contact specialists, you can do this yourself by determining the category based on the criteria listed below. There are 4 main types:

1. Normal. This structure usually retains its well-groomed appearance, volume, shine and cleanliness after washing for up to 3-4 days. Styling and combing it is quite easy, as it rarely gets tangled.
2. Dry. This type also remains clean and fresh-looking for a long time. But at the same time, dry strands are difficult to comb, split ends, and have a thin, brittle structure. Most often they become electrified and fluffy. If the scalp is not sufficiently moisturized, problems such as dry dandruff, itching, and irritation may appear.
3. Fat. Such curls are considered the most problematic. They often lose their neat appearance within a day after washing. They are difficult to style, curl and add volume. The only plus is that their owners rarely have split ends. In this case, the scalp may be covered with greasy crusts, and various inflammations in the form of pimples or sores may occur on it.
4. Mixed. In this case, oily roots and dry ends are combined. The scalp quickly becomes dirty and you have to wash it often. This makes the strands themselves even more dry, brittle and split. This type is also susceptible to oily seborrhea.

IMPORTANT! In addition to the main types, there is a painted structure damaged by frequent laying. It is similar in appearance to dry skin and also requires special care.

How to choose the right hair shampoo for a woman?

The main function of shampoo is to cleanse the hair and scalp of dirt and dust, sebum, cosmetics, etc. At the same time, the shampoo should not dry out either the hair itself or the scalp. In addition, the shampoo has additional functions:

• Protect and restore hair cuticle scales;
• Give hair elasticity and strength;
• Retain keratin and moisture;
• Minimize static electricity.

Simply put, shampoo is not only a cleaning product, but also a medicine for the hair and scalp, so you need to choose it extremely responsibly. The modern cosmetics market is replete with a huge number of brands and types of shampoos.

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In order to choose the right shampoo, you first need to determine your hair type.

You can find out your hair type either with the help of special medical tests conducted by specialists or on your own at home.

• Oily hair type is the easiest to determine: you have to wash it more often than once every two days, as it quickly fades and becomes greasy;
• The dry type is also recognizable: difficult to comb, slightly harsh, often with split ends;
• Normal hair type is easy to comb and slowly becomes oily;
• Coloring does not relate to hair types, but is a feature of them, therefore, for colored and naturally light-colored hair, it is necessary to choose a special product;
• Hair damaged by chemicals or disease also requires careful selection of shampoo.

Thus, all shampoos are divided into types according to hair types. Different products have different effects on hair and scalp: shampoo for oily hair bought for dry hair will dry it out even more, and vice versa - shampoo for dry hair bought for oily hair will make it even greasy. Therefore, when choosing a shampoo, you must strictly consider your hair type. Almost every manufacturer of skincare products provides separate types for each type in their product lines, so making a choice is actually not difficult.

Recommendations for choosing shampoo for different types of hair

Any hair cleanser is a combination of cleansing, moisturizing and caring ingredients, preservatives, thickeners and other components. When thinking about how to choose a shampoo based on your hair type, you need to know which combination of these substances will bring maximum benefit in each specific case.

For normal structure

The main task of shampoo for normal hair is to cleanse and maintain balanced functioning of the sebaceous glands. If you choose the wrong composition, the normal type can turn into a dry or oily structure.

Balance Shampoo for the care of normal hair with a neutral pH - about 6.2.

To prevent this from happening, you should choose gentle cleansers that do not block or activate the natural secretion of sebum. Signs of the right shampoo for washing normal hair types are:

• pH level 5.5-7 or marked “optimal pH”;
• soft cleansing components in the composition (laurets);
• formula suitable for frequent washing.

Normal strands also require moisture retention in the rods, without weighing them down. They also need special protection in case of frequent blow-drying and straightening.

A similar effect is achieved by choosing the following additives:

• silicones with a conditioning effect - dimethicones;
• synthetic components - sorbitol and propylene glycol.

ON A NOTE! Stiff, tangled strands after washing indicate the use of too alkaline shampoo, while quickly dirty strands indicate an overly acidic composition.

For dry structure

If you want to know how to choose a shampoo for dry hair, you must first look for products that can additionally moisturize. They should also nourish the roots, protect against excessive breakage and add volume.

Shampoos with proteins perfectly nourish and restore dry hair structure.

All this can be provided by such types of elements as:

1. Proteins (especially keratin). Shampoos containing natural proteins make hair stronger and more elastic. This effect is expressed in easy combing, reduced fragility and hair loss.
2. Substances with fatty acids. These include natural oils and leticin, which nourish and restore hair from the inside. As a result, they become shiny and elastic.
3. Panthenol. This provitamin softens, deeply nourishes, tightens and moisturizes the shafts. It also has a protective effect when using straightening irons, hair dryers and other thermal styling devices.

ADVICE! To wash a dry structure, you cannot select products with a normal pH level, since the acidity becomes alkaline. Therefore, you should choose the right options with a low alkali level or completely alkali-free - pH 4.5-6.

For oily texture

When thinking about how to choose a shampoo for oily hair, many people mistakenly choose products with aggressive cleansing ingredients. Yes, they do a good job of washing away excess sebum from your hair. But this will not eliminate the main cause of this problem - improper functioning of the sebaceous glands.

How to choose the right hair shampoo based on its composition in this situation? It is advisable to avoid products with such components as:

1. Heavy vegetable oils create a greasy film on the rods.
2. Silicones weigh down the curls and cause them to become even more oily.
3. Aggressive sulfates and parabens destabilize the functionality of the sebaceous glands.
4. Conditioners and balms with a high fat content clog pores, causing your scalp to get greasy faster.

Shampoo for oily texture with hop and camellia extracts.

But the presence of these components in the composition, on the contrary, will only benefit:

1. Light essential oils.
2. Vitamin and mineral complexes.
3. Extracts of medicinal herbs (nettle, coltsfoot, calamus, aloe, sage).
4. Antibacterial substances (only for oily seborrhea caused by fungal infections of the scalp).

Most products for washing such strands have an acidic pH level (up to 7). They do a good job of cleansing curls, but they do it too aggressively due to special acids. As a result, after a few hours the curls resemble untidy “icicles”.

ON A NOTE! You can read about the best shampoos for oily hair from different brands in another article.

The most effective, correctly chosen composition for hair prone to oiliness should have a neutral or alkaline pH level of 7-8. If you choose these options, the scalp will not dry out, and the sebaceous glands will begin to work normally.

For mixed type

Experts recommend choosing a combination type product for strands that are oily at the roots and dry along the entire length. Or, you can use 2 different compositions at once.

Selenium and zinc give hair strength, restore its structure and relieve scalp problems.

One of them should be for the sebaceous structure and should be applied only to the roots. The second option, designed to restore the dry type, is to wash the rods themselves.

If you choose a special option for a combined type of strands, then it should contain the following components:

1. Proteins. The hair structure consists of proteins. Therefore, the protein components included in shampoos are capable of restoring it. For example, proteins from wheat and silk penetrate deep into the rods and nourish them, preventing dryness and split ends.
2. Substances for normalizing the functioning of the sebaceous glands. These include essential oils of tea tree and cypress, selenium disulfide, zinc, menthol.

REMEMBER! The detergent for washing combined curls should not be too alkaline so as not to overdry them and make them hard. The ideal pH level is 4.5-7.

For damaged and stained

Shampoo for colored hair protects, restores and maintains the shine of color.

The main goal of caring for such strands is their deep restoration and nutrition. This will be ensured by the following additives:

1. Leticin - restores the damaged protein structure of hairs, making them elastic and smooth.
2. UV filter – protects colored strands from rapid color fading in the sun.
3. Dimethicone and cyclomethicone - make hair healthier, reduce fragility and increase elasticity.
4. Conditioning agents. These include hydroxyethyl dimonium chloride, polyquaternium, and guar hydroxypropyl. They tighten the hair shafts, making them smoother and softer.

ON A NOTE! For severely damaged structure due to perm or aggressive coloring, you can purchase the best professional shampoo from the rating, which is located in the article at the link.

For men's

The hair of the stronger sex, unlike women's, has a number of features. Taking them into account, we can answer the question of how to choose a shampoo for a man’s hair.

Typically they have the following specific structure:

1. Increased fat content of the roots due to increased blood circulation and the work of the sebaceous glands, as well as thicker scalp.
2. Early onset baldness due to hormonal characteristics of male hair follicles.
3. Lower pH level of the scalp.

Such shampoos are developed taking into account the characteristics of men's hair using special formulas.

The most effective product for men should normalize sebum secretion, protect against dandruff, hair loss and be suitable for daily use. To do this, you should select the following components:

• ginseng, burdock, citrus extract;
• tea tree oil;
• zinc;
• minoxidil;
• panthenol;
• Niacinamide

ON A NOTE! Some brands produce men's series, divided by type of hair structure. Such products provide even more effective care. Without it, even the most fashionable men's haircut will not look attractive and neat.

What types of shampoos are there?

In modern cosmetology, all shampoos are classified depending on the type of hair and its condition.

1. FOR OILY HAIR . These shampoos contain a large amount of detergents. They perfectly remove excess oil without drying out the scalp. Helps normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands.
2. FOR NORMAL HAIR. They contain less detergents and cleanse hair without affecting the natural secretion of sebum.
3. FOR DRY HAIR. Contains a small amount of detergents. As a rule, they contain moisturizing components that prevent excessive dryness of the scalp and hair.
4. SOFT SHAMPOOS. Mild shampoos are designed for frequent hair washing. They do not irritate the scalp and do not dry out the hair.
5. SHAMPOOS FOR DAMAGED HAIR. They contain components that restore the structure of the hair and protect it from the adverse effects of a hair dryer or iron.
6. ANTI-DANDRUFF SHAMPOOS. Contains components that slow down the development of skin cells and remove dead scales. Using these shampoos too often can make your hair dry and dull.
7. MEDICAL SHAMPOOS. They contain medicinal substances that affect the cause of the problem: dandruff, seborrhea, hair loss.

Rating of the best hair shampoos

Not every woman has several hours that she can spend in the store studying the composition of each bottle, determining the degree of harmfulness and usefulness of the components included in the composition and their correspondence to the hair type. For convenience, you should familiarize yourself with the ratings of the best shampoos for each hair type.

As for the composition, you should know that 5-10% of it in a good product should consist of useful components, such as essential and cosmetic oils, plant extracts, etc. Required components:

• Panthenol , which protects hair with a thin film from ultraviolet radiation and overheating without weighing it down;
• Vitamin E , which produces oxygen and trace elements, promotes growth and blood circulation in the scalp;
• Collagen , which retains moisture and protects hair, as well as giving it thickness and volume;
• Keratin , a protein that restores the structure of damaged hair;
• Retinol (vitamin A), regenerating dry and flaky scalp;
• Health-improving herbal extracts.

A good shampoo, in addition to a set of useful components, must meet the following criteria:

• Passive, soft base (base) of the product, ideally based on soap nuts and soap root;
• Absence of butyloxytoluene (BHT), sodium lauryl, silicones and other aggressive chemicals;
• The presence of natural ingredients: mint, oak bark, nettle, sage, horsetail, chamomile, calendula, honey, etc., as well as antibacterial components.

Shampoos that meet all these requirements usually have a high cost and can only be found in organic stores or professional lines from well-known brands. Sometimes, in order to save money, it makes sense to purchase shampoo for cleansing and use good masks to restore and strengthen hair.

For volume

The rating of shampoos for fine hair is divided into three categories: professional (luxury products), mid-price segment and budget. Each category has its own properties.

• Professional cosmetics (Collistar, L'Oreal, Wella, Kerastase, Vichy and others) thicken and strengthen the hair structure, giving it volume thanks to expensive polymer compounds;
• Medium-segment pharmacy lines (Paul Mitchel, Cora, Nature Gate and others) use the power of natural ingredients and other developments;
• In the mass market, among the budget lines, there are good offers from Pantene, Herbal Essenses, Shamtu and other brands of shampoo for hair volume.

The main criteria for choosing a shampoo for volume should be such substances in its composition as:

• Provitamin B5, which thickens hairs by covering them with a film;
• Keratin - for compacting the structure without weighing it down;
• Silk proteins - smooth and strengthen hair;
• Vegetable oils and extracts.

Fine hair can also be dry, oily, normal or mixed. In view of this circumstance, shampoos for them can be different: some are aimed at normalizing the type, others at moisturizing or volume, which is why the variety of shampoos for fine hair is so great.

One of the best professional luxury products that add volume to fine hair is L'Oreal Professionnel Volumetry Salicelic Acid+HydraLighht .

The French shampoo has been in the top sales for a long time and guarantees a push-up effect for 72 hours. In addition to superactive complexes of substances, it contains salicylic acid. L'Oreal Volumetry not only hydrates hair and makes it look full, but also adds softness and shine, along with excellent rinsing without dryness or breakage.

Bottles are available in volumes of 250, 500 and 750 ml, the smallest on the Russian market costs from 780 rubles.

Syoss Volume Collagen&Lift has firmly established itself in the middle price segment .

The volumizing shampoo contains hydrolyzed keratin, collagen and apricot kernel oil. Paired with an express conditioner from the same line, Syoss Volume Collagen&Lift gives the thinnest and thinnest hair strength and shine, removes static and gives it volume and silkiness.

A 500 ml bottle of the product will cost customers 252 rubles. It is considered one of the highest quality in its segment.

When it comes to inexpensive shampoos, you can’t go past the well-known Russian brand Clean Line .

The phytokeratin complex for root volume contains decoctions of natural herbs and perfectly strengthens and nourishes the hair and scalp. In combination with a balm for fine and weakened hair on wheat and flax, the product provides effective care.

A 250 ml bottle costs from 100 rubles.

Despite the huge number of options, it is impossible to definitely recommend any of them. Trichologists recommend changing brands, especially in the case of problem hair, to avoid addiction. It is also recommended to use samples to understand which shampoo is suitable for your hair and which is not.

For colored hair for smoothness and silkiness

Dyed hair requires special care. Shampoos for them are distinguished by a softer composition and the presence of special substances in it to strengthen hair health and protect against ultraviolet radiation and chemicals. In addition, they also fix lasting bright color and return a bright natural shine to the hair.

Such brands of shampoos for colored hair as:

• Luxury brands: Egomania, Kerastase, Dikson;
• Middle price segment: Matrix, John Frieda, Kaaral;
• Budget class: L'Oreal Elseve, Natura Siberica, Kleona.

One of the best can rightfully be called the Israeli Egomania Shampoo Argan Oil for Dry & Colored Hair .

An exquisite professional product with argan, almond and lavender oils, as well as minerals from the Dead Sea, cares for chemically treated hair delicately, gently, but intensively. Nourishing the strands, enriching them with vitamins and strengthening the shade occurs without drying or tangling. Contains no parabens or sulfates. The shampoo has as wide a range of beneficial effects as possible.

For a 250 ml bottle with a dispenser you will have to pay about 1100 rubles, but the result is worth it.

The ideal balance of price and quality can be called Matrix Biolage Colorlast .

Shampoo from the American brand Matrix contains ceramides, UV filters and orchid extract, which together take care of hair color, maintaining depth and brightness for about nine weeks, protecting hair from brittleness and dryness, perfectly washing and giving it volume.

Available in 50, 250 and 1000 ml bottles. The average price for a 250 ml bottle is 680 rubles.

Among the expert shampoos in the budget segment, L'Oreal Elseve “Color Expert” with a laminating effect should be highlighted.

The French brand L'Oreal offers a budget but high-quality solution for colored hair - a laminating composition with linseed oil for color brightness and ten-week protection against fading. In addition, the shampoo intensively nourishes the hair, smoothing, adding shine and healing the structure of the hair and scalp.

Supplied in bottles of 250 and 400 ml, the price for a small bottle is 170 rubles.

Shampoo for colored hair must be chosen wisely, according to the shade of your hair. Dark color needs cocoa butter, cinnamon, chestnut, hazelnut. Light - chamomile, honey, nettle, citrus.

For blondes

When choosing a shampoo for blond hair, dyed or natural, it is better to rely not on price categories, but on the specifics of the brands. The basis of any tinted shampoo for blondes are violet and silver pigments, the purpose of which is to remove yellowness from the hair, lighten it and give it a cool tint.

The key properties of such a product are activity and safety. When choosing, pay attention to the composition of the shampoo, which should exclude hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, which are harmful to hair. The packaging should contain the inscriptions “Grey” and “Silver”, indicating the presence of lightening and gentle pigments.

The top shampoos for blondes include products from famous brands such as:

• Schwarzkopf Color Freeze Bonacure Silver Shampoo;
• Londa Color Revive Blonde & Silver;
• Estel Prima Blonde;
• Concept Blond Anti-yellow;
• Matrix Total Results Atrix Total Results Color Obsessed So Silver.

Schwarzkopf performed well with its excellent complex shampoo Bonacure Silver.

Bonacure Silver not only neutralizes the yellow tint, but cleanses and strengthens the hair roots, giving them vitality with vitamins and maintaining the balance of moisture and salts thanks to a pH of 4.5. The product acts at the cellular level, restoring elasticity and elasticity to the hair.

The average price of a 250 ml bottle is 390 rubles, which makes the product even more attractive.

Londa Color Revive Blonde & Silver is another example of a well-known composition for blondes.

This tinted shampoo contains lavender extract to neutralize golden yellow tones. The quick and long-lasting effect of the shampoo has won the love of the fair sex. Due to the softness of the hair and the quality of the shade of the result, the product can be considered professional.

The average price of a 250 ml bottle in Russia is 469 rubles.

It is impossible not to mention the silver shampoo from the line for blondes from Estel - Prima Blonde .

Like Londa or Schwarzkopf products, Estel Prima Blonde not only fulfills its main task of eliminating the straw shade, but also cares for the hair, cleanses and nourishes with a vitamin complex.

The product belongs to the professional category due to its excellent evenness of hair tone and protection from external influences. For a bright shade, regular use is necessary, but the result will surprise you not only with the durability of the color, but also with the ease of combing after washing.

The price in Russia is about 410 rubles per 250 ml.

For natural hair

The erroneous opinion that any shampoo is suitable for natural hair has ruined more than one hairstyle. Yes, in the case of natural color, there is no need to select a care product with pigmenting or corrective properties, but this does not eliminate the need to take into account the type of hair.

In the case of natural color, hair type plays a much more important role. In the rating of shampoos for natural hair, we should highlight lines for each type:

• Best for Oily Types : Selective Alghe Marine, Loreal Professional Pure Resource, Mulsan Cosmetic Sleek and Shine;
• Best for dry hair : Vichy Decros Neogenic, Organic Shop Egg, Planeta Organica Secrets of Arctica;
• For hair growth : Biomed Hairtherapy, Kapous Professional Biotin Energy, Vichy Decros Neogenic.

Italian Selective Alghe Marine is perfect not only for oily, but also for weakened hair.

The product formula is based on sea brown algae, which reduces the secretion of sebaceous substances and improves the condition of strands along the entire length. The product provides gentle cleansing and gives hair tone. But the main advantage of Alghe Marine is the antiseptic effect it provides, which helps fight the proliferation of harmful bacteria on the scalp and irritation as a consequence of oiliness.

A 1-liter volume bottle on the Russian market costs from 640 rubles.

Vichy Decros Neogenic is an excellent product for those with dry and brittle hair.

A professional product from the world-famous cosmetics company Vichy gives hair thickness and density thanks to the patented formula of the Stemoxidin molecule. Stem cells are restored under the influence of the product, accelerating the hair growth cycle.

Moisturizing and filling with energy occurs after 21 days of using the product, when the activity of more than 33% of the follicles starts. There are no parabens or silicones in the shampoo, making it as natural as possible.

The price on the Russian market is about 639 rubles per 400 ml.

Biomed Hairtherapy is an energy shampoo that actively promotes hair growth.

Despite the fact that the shampoo is aimed at damaged hair, it is also actively purchased by those with healthy hair. The shampoo is famous for its ability to accelerate hair growth. It contains vitamin E, aloe extract and proteins, and the formula is anti-allergenic, which has been proven by multiple tests. Biomed Hairtherapy is a professional medical stimulating shampoo.

The price of a 250 ml bottle in the Russian Federation is about 1177 rubles.

For damaged hair

To choose a good shampoo for damaged hair, you need to know what properties a restorative shampoo has. In particular, he must:

• cleanse;
• Fill follicles with macroelements;
• Increase blood circulation;
• Give hair shine;
• Prevent hair loss;
• Soothe the scalp.

Doctors do not recommend using the same shampoo for a long time, periodically changing brands so that the hair does not have time to get used to the composition. In this case, the effect will last for a long time.

The best brands of restorative shampoo are:

• Professional brands : Kerastase, Wella, Joico;
• Mid-price segment brands : L'Oreal, Estel, Kapous;
• Budget brands : Natura Siberica, Garnier Botanic Therapy, Vitex.

Fusion shampoo from Wella Professionals is created specifically for damaged hair.

The intensive product easily washes the hair, increasing the strength of the strands and their resistance to damage, revitalizes and protects the follicles with EDDS technology. The shampoo contains silk amino acids, which protect against harmful environmental emissions, cares for, restores and revitalizes hair.

The average price in Russia is 1960 rubles for 250 ml.

L'Oreal Professionnel Pro Fiber Restore shampoo is also designed to restore damaged hair.

The product of the famous French brand L'Oreal is intended for severely damaged hair. Active components included in the unique formula of the product: aminosilane (a silicone silicon compound that binds the hair layers into a three-dimensional network, strengthening and restoring follicles), a cationic polymer (enveloping the cuticle with a protective film) and the Aptyl 100 complex.

The price of this unique product in Russia is from 1080 rubles per 250 ml bottle.

Among the budget shampoos for damaged hair, we should highlight the product of a well-known Russian company - Natura Siberica Alladale .

Hair care product from Natura Siberica is based on Scottish thistle extract, which moisturizes curls and protects them from drying out. Another natural ingredient included in the shampoo is Siberian juniper, which helps strengthen the hair structure and follicles in particular. The company's products are famous for their organic origin and excellent regenerating and protective properties.

You can buy shampoo at a price of 350 rubles per 250 ml bottle.

Choosing a shampoo is not difficult if you know your hair type and carefully read the composition on the package, understanding what the components are intended for. If one type does not suit you, you can always try another and, as a result, select several that best suit your requirements.

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