Shampoo Selection Guide: What to look for in a new shampoo?
With rows of shampoos claiming they’re the best, picking the right bottle for yourself can get tricky. Trial and error with hair care can be a dangerous game to play. That’s why it's best to find the right shampoo for your hair type and concerns right away. Here are a few factors you can check off while you’re trying to map your way to the perfect bottle.
Sulfates
Sulfates are one of the most obvious, yet crucial things to consider while learning how to choose a shampoo for your hair. Unlike the common narratives, sulfates are neither the hero nor the villain. Their role changes according to each hair type. And just like we do with skincare, considering our hair concerns before shampoo selection is essential to get things right. If you have an oily scalp that is often prone to dandruff and buildup, sulfates may be the right thing for you. Sulfates, or surfactants, are powerful cleansing agents that take off the buildup and other residual impurities off of your scalp. So if you’re looking to choose a shampoo for hair that’s oily, sulfates may come in handy. We recommend the Amino Mint Shampoo by Redken to cleanse the oily scalp while nourishing the lengths. On the flip side, if you have a dry scalp with extremely damaged, brittle hair, it’s always wise to go sulfate-free with your shampoo selection. Sulfates, being a strong cleanser, may strip off the little oil of your scalp altogether and leave your lengths dried. Try damage repair shampoos like Redken’s Acidic Bonder Concentrate for such hair types.
pH Balance
An underrated factor of hair care, pH balance is integral when learning how to choose a shampoo for hair. The pH level of your shampoo is important for balancing a healthy scalp and hair. Naturally, your scalp has a pH level of around 5.5, slightly acidic. While you try to choose a shampoo for your hair, make sure that its balanced pH close to this level helps to maintain the scalp's natural barrier, preventing dryness and irritation. All shampoos by Redken come in a pH-balanced formula that keeps your scalp health intact. These shampoos also minimise hair concerns like frizz. So next time you’re wound up with shampoo selection, try to pick the labels that are ‘pH-balanced’ to maintain a healthy scalp and luscious lengths. If you have especially frizzy lengths, the Frizz Dismiss Shampoo by Redken is here to rescue you with its pH-balanced formula that tames frizz and increases the manageability of your lengths.
Strengthening proteins
If you’re aiming to strengthen your hair or at least maintain its health, protein-infused shampoos should be your go-to. A large portion of your hair is made up of a protein called keratin. Protein-infused shampoos with ingredients like Amino Acids and Arginine help you strengthen dry, damaged lengths, like Redken’s Extreme Shampoo. Shampoos with fortifying agents like proteins improve your hair structure and give you lengths that have better structure and resilience. If breakage, dryness, and weak lengths are your concern, let proteins be your shampoo selection parameter.
Scalp-care agents
You may have figured out how to choose a shampoo for hair length but give your scalp another thought. Your scalp health largely determines the strength of your lengths too. Once you select a sulfate or non-sulfate shampoo, go on to look for other scalp care ingredients that will help you remove product buildup or dandruff. If you have a flaky or dandruff-prone scalp, look for ingredients such as Piroctone Olamine to soothe any irritation. Redken’s Scalp Relief Dandruff Shampoo is one such fit for your shampoo selection process. Product buildup is another common enemy of your scalp. If you style often or simply notice heavy buildup on your scalp, look for clarifying shampoos that can help you build up hard water minerals, excess oil, and pollutants, like Redken’s Hair Cleansing Cream.
Color-care shampoos
If you have color-treated hair, it’s vital to learn how to choose a shampoo for colored hair. Shampoos that are meant for color-treated hair are specially designed to protect your lengths while extending your shade’s longevity. Apart from color protection, look for pH-balanced, gentle, nourishing, and protein-infused shampoo to keep your hair's strength intact even after coloring. Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo is one such option that works to enhance your hair shine while cleansing it gently. Purple shampoo, a fun concept, is essential for your shampoo selection if you’ve gone blonde. Color-depositing purple shampoo negates any brassy, yellow tones and lets your blonde shade look fresh and nourished for longer periods. Try the Redken Color Extend Blondage to get fresh, light hair that’s nourished with salicylic acid.
Learning how to choose a shampoo comes easy once you know your hair type and concerns. With these narrowed down, you can simply check off the right boxes and find the perfect bottle that solves all your hair concerns. Always pair your shampoos with a repairing conditioner or a hair mask to keep your lengths moisturised. Additionally, you can look for ingredients such as natural oils, vitamins, and UV filters while trying to find the right shampoo.
For more hair care tips and nourishing hair products, visit the Redken website.