How do I Choose the Best Shampoo Products?

Reading labels will help you find the best shampoo products for your hair. Before you do that, however, you'll have to know what your hair type is, such as oily, dry or normal. This isn't too difficult to figure out if you wash your hair, then monitor how greasy or frizzy it gets in the following days. If your hair is color-treated or permed, it will require different shampoo products because of the chemicals used in these processes. If you want to change or enhance the texture of your hair, such as create more body or waves in straight hair, a curling shampoo would be best.

Curling shampoos make straighter hair respond better to styling. If you have curly hair and want to keep it from becoming too frizzy or dry, look for labels that mention that. No matter your hair type, you can also find shampoo products to add shine or to reduce tangling after washing if you want these qualities.

Dandruff, which is scalp flaking, may be able to be controlled through a shampoo product made to treat it. You may have to try different products to find one or two that work best. If you have another issue, such as hair suffering from harsh chemicals due to swimming in chlorine pools, look for shampoo products made especially to treat the problem.

If you wash your hair daily — something not recommended by all beauty experts due to possible drying effects — then you should at least choose a very mild shampoo as well as a conditioner. Some adults like to wash their hair with baby shampoo, but it may work better on fine rather than thick hair. While there are shampoo products that feature both a conditioner and a shampoo in one bottle, many people find that these combination products don't work as well as using separate shampoos and conditioners. For the best result, it's usually important to use a shampoo and a conditioner as a set in the same brand and type. Some people find that alternating brands of shampoo and conditioner sets each time they wash their hair gives them a better result that staying with the same set.

Remember that no matter which shampoo and conditioner products you choose for your hair, your haircare techniques also make a difference. Using heat styling tools such as blow dryers, curling irons and hair setters can cause damage to strands. Air-drying hair after using the shampoo products that best match your needs can keep your hairstyle looking great. Hair shouldn't be styled when it's wet as strand breakage is likely to occur.