Products Advice Know Your Products Choosing Shampoo & Conditioner
Choosing Shampoo & Conditioner
11 questions for you to ask yourself, with some useful information to help you choose the correct shampoo and conditioner for your hair and it's needs.
1) Are the mid-lengths and ends normal, dry or brittle (split ends)?
When choosing a conditioner, you should consider how the condition of your mid-lengths and ends are, as this is the main area where you should apply your conditioner.
Normal - If the mid-lengths and ends are normal, then most conditioners will be OK to use on your hair. As well as the conditioners for normal hair you can also consider conditioners
for: Volume, Moisture & Shine
Dry - If your mid-lengths and ends are dry, the best conditioners for you would be Moisture Based Conditioners and Shine Conditioners, as these can replace lost moisture and add shine and softness to dry hair.
Brittle - If your mid-lengths and ends are brittle, and you have split ends, then the best conditioners for you are Protein Based Conditioners as these will strengthen and repair the structure of the hair while temporarily sealing the split ends.
2) Is your scalp dry, normal or oily?
Generally when you choose your shampoo, you should choose one depending on how your scalp is rather than your hair.
Dry - If your scalp is dry the best option would be to use a Moisture Based Shampoo, and if there are flakes on the scalp then an anti-dandruff shampoo would be best.
Normal - If your scalp is normal you don't have to worry too much about which shampoo you use, as most shampoos will be ok for you. You may want to try:
Oily - If your scalp is oily, ensure you use a light Oil Control Shampoo and conditioner, and nothing that is going to add too much extra moisture. After shampooing your hair use a Light Conditioner or a Leave-In Spray Conditioner which wont add too much extra moisture to the hair.
Cleansing products for oily hair:
3) Do you use lots of styling products?
If you use lots of styling products such as hair spray, gel, wax, mousse etc, then the chances are that there will be some degree of product build-up on your hair and scalp.
Most products are water soluble which wash out of the hair fairly easily, but some products are water resistant and require a specific shampoo to remove the product from your hair.
If you do use lots of styling products and have a build-up then the best cleansing products to use are Clarifying Shampoos and conditioners, as these help to remove anything which may sit on the hair such as dirt, pollution and of course; styling products.
Try doing a dry shampoo as it works rather well at removing product.
Simply apply the shampoo, preferably a clarifying one, to dry hair and massage as if it were a wet shampoo, rinse well and then apply another lot of shampoo and then shampoo and condition as normal.
Failure to remove products out of your hair can result in it looking dull, lifeless, flat and tacky.
Failure to completely remove heavy products from the scalp may lead to hair thinning, as the new hair gets blocked in the follicles and can grow back in on itself.
4) Do you go swimming a lot and need to remove chlorine?
If you swim in pools that are treated with chlorine, you should invest in some clarifying or chlorine removing products, as chlorine can notoriously dry hair out.
A good tip to keep hair protected is to:
1) Wet your hair before swimming
2) Apply a clarifying conditioner
3) Place a swimming cap over your hair
This should stop some of the chlorine from being absorbed into the hair.
After swimming it is best to use a Clarifying Shampoo and conditioner to remove any traces of the chlorine out of your hair.
Once a week you should use a clarifying treatment which is left on the hair for a few minutes to give it a more thorough nourish.
5) Do you often straighten or curl your hair?
If you straighten your hair with Irons or use heated Curling Tongs on a regular basis, make sure you use a Heat Protector, as the chances are there will be some degree of damage to your hair.
Direct heat can burn the hair and cause it to lose moisture and protein, and the loss of moisture and protein can cause the hair to become dry, break and split.
The best cleansing products to use are repair or protein based ones, as they will replace some of the lost essential nutrients to the hair.
Use a Repair Treatment on your hair at least once a week if you regularly use heated appliances on your hair.
6) Do you have colour on your hair?
If you have colour on your hair, it is best to use products specially formulated for Coloured Hair, to ensure it stays as vivid, vibrant and fresh for as long as possible.
Blondes - For blonde colours, especially if bleach is used, it is important to keep hair very hydrated by using moisture based Shampoos and Conditioners.
Hair treatments and masks are essential if your hair has been lifted very light, as this can be one of the most damaging processes for your hair to go through.
A heavy moisture and Repair Treatment is great for thicker hair and a Protein Treatment for finer hair.
Reds - Red colours are the most prone to fading out of all colours. The lighter or brighter the red, then the more chance of fading.
To ensure you get the least amount of fading, make sure your hair is in fantastic condition before using red colours and use good colour saving Shampoos and Conditioners.
Some shampoos out there are specifically designed for red hair as they contain ingredients to keep the red looking fresher for longer.
Brunettes/Dark - These colours tend to last quite well in the hair as they aren't as damaging, and healthy hair retains colour better.
Use Colour Shampoo and Conditioner to keep the colour looking radiant, and use a colour treatment once a week to keep the hair shiny and healthy looking.
7) Is your hair naturally curly or coarse?
Naturally curly hair tends to be a lot drier than most other hair types. This means when it comes to shampoos, conditioners and treatments, the heavier and more moisturising the better. There are shampoos out there which are specifically designed for curly hair and are made with more moisturising ingredients.
Look out for:
Curl Shampoos and Conditioners
Leave-in Conditioners Especially Cream Based Ones
Heavy Moisture Shampoos and Conditioners
Hot-Oil Treatments
Coarse hair tends to be similar to curly hair in the way that in needs lots of moisturising and heavy treatments to soften and condition.
Shine Sprays are good to give extra glistening to dull coarse hair.
8) Do you have a sensitive scalp?
If you have a sensitive scalp, it may be that some shampoos and conditioners are too harsh or strong for you, and may cause itching and flakiness.
There are many products out there now that are formulated to be kinder to the scalp and contain more natural ingredients.
One of our products which soothes a sensitive scalp is 'Nioxin's: Scalp Revitaliser'. It is a product which has been designed with a sensitive scalp in mind and can be used to moisturise a dry flaky scalp whilst creates a cool feeling on the scalp.
9) How often do you wash your hair?
If you wash your hair every day, or sometimes twice a day if you go to the gym etc, it is important to use a Shampoo and Conditioner Made for Everyday Use.
Everyday products are made to contain just the right amount of ingredients to ensure your hair gets exactly what it does and doesn't need on a daily basis, such as not too much moisture and not too heavy.
10) Is your hair thinning?
If the answer is yes then there are many products out there now for hair that is thin or thinning.
One of our stocked ranges called 'Nioxin' has been around for years and is a top seller in America. It is designed to:
Remove any product build-up off the hair and scalp,
Add essential nutrients into the scalp,
Encourage the blood flow into the hair follicles to feed and nourish them.
11) Do you want lots of volume?
The best cleansing products that encourage hair to be fuller and more volumised, are shampoos and conditioners which are:
Thickening Shampoos / Conditioners
Using these types of products will ensure that the hair is not weighed down flat, with too much heavy moisture.
