How To Select A Suitable Shampoo And Conditioner For Your Hair?

Dr. KS Prasanna, Director, Institute of Applied Dermatology, Kasaragod, Kerala

Tips for Choosing the Right Shampoo & Conditioner

The shampoo is a hair care product. It is a mixture of detergents, oil and water in varying proportion and used for cleaning the hair and scalp. If all the sebum  is removed, then the hair will look dull, coarse and it will become difficult to comb the hair. A shampoo should beautify the hair through conditioning and cleansing the hair by removing the specks of dirt. The shampoo contains detergents, foaming agent, preservative, fragrances, additives etc. All shampoos are alkaline.

Types of Shampoos:

• Basic shampoos- Depending upon the type of hair.
• Shampoos for normal hair: Contains detergents which give good cleansing and minimal conditioning. This shampoo is suitable for adults with moderate sebum production and coarse hair. However, it is not ideal for persons with fine unmanageable hair.
• Shampoos for oily hair: It provides excellent cleansing and minimal conditioning properties. It is suitable for persons with oily hair and person with dirty hair.
• Shampoos for dry hair: It provides mild cleansing and good conditioning. It is suitable for elderly persons who wish to shampoo daily and damaged hair due to different types of hairstyling.
• Baby shampoos: These are non-irritating to eyes, and it provides mild cleansing agents because babies produce limited sebum. This shampoo is suitable for persons who wish to use shampoo daily.
• Conditioning shampoos: These shampoos are meant for cleansing and at the same time conditioning of hair.
  
• Medicated shampoos: They contain additives such as ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, coal tar etc. Dermatologists prescribe these shampoos and please don’t attempt to buy them on your own.
  
• Professional shampoos: Beauticians use these before doing any hair procedures.

Conditioner: Improves the cosmetic appearance as well as the feel of hair. It is acidic. It induces the adhesion of cuticle to the hair shaft, thereby reducing the inter shaft friction. It makes the hair shiny and soft. It reverses the hair damage by improving sheen, decreasing brittleness, decreasing porosity, increasing strength and repairing degradation in hair protein.

Uses of Conditioner:

• When the hair becomes dry and dull due to excessive removal of sebum by a shampoo.
  
• When different hairstyles like straightening etc. damage the hair cuticle making the hair harsh and brittle
  
• It smoothen the cuticular scale and increases the hair shine (Hair that lacks glow is missing its cuticle)
•  Helps to repair the split ends by temporarily re-approximating the frayed remnants of remaining medulla and cortex.

How to Choose the Correct Shampoo and Conditioner?

 A good shampoo leaves hair manageable, easy to comb and glossy. Use shampoos depending upon your skin type-oily, dry or normal. Excessive flaking (roughness) may require antidandruff shampoos. Excessive dry hair may need oiling. For proper washing, wet hair thoroughly with warm water. The first rinsing acts as a pre-wash to remove dust and water-soluble dirt and hair care products. Then apply shampoo with hand and rinse it properly. Then use the right conditioner. Dry the hair naturally. Comb the hair using a natural bristle brush only after drying. Besides, the quality of hair reflects the diet we eat. A healthy, balanced diet is essential to maintain the hair.