Know Your Scalp and the Shampoo To Go With It

Know Your Scalp and the Shampoo To Go With It

With the number of shampoo brands increasing in the market place, it is highly frustrating and confusing to zero in on a shampoo that will be apt for your hair type. I have always been told that since I was younger, shampoo is for the scalp and conditioner is for the hair. And that is the biggest mistake we all seem to make, we look for shampoos for our hair rather than focusing on our scalps. Knowing your scalp is the most imperative factor when you make a decision to purchase your shampoo.

1.  Oily Scalp:  If your scalp becomes greasy and oily even though you shampooed your hair a few hours ago, you most likely have an oily scalp, no brainer there! Your scalp produces a tad bit more sebum and you will need a shampoo that should target in reducing the oil or at least avoid a shampoo that will create more oiliness. Avoid using shampoos that promote moisture, hydration and smoothening of the hair. Lean towards shampoos that promise volume and balancing of the scalp. The moisture will only add to the oiliness of your scalp and induce more greasiness, while pulling your hair down. And I am sure none of you ladies want that. Shampoos you can purchase:  Pantene Lively Clean Shampoo, Kerastase Specifique Bain Clarifiant Shampoo (a clarifying shampoo for greasy scalp), and Redken Scalp Relief Oil Detox Shampoo.

2. Dry Scalp:  If you endure itchy scalp, dryness and flakiness – you and I both know we are talking about dry scalp.  You are going to need shampoos that will moisturise your scalp and hydrate the dryness you are facing. Avoid shampoos that shout volume and strengthening on their labels. You must do exactly the opposite of the oily scalp, people with dry scalp will need products that will nurture teh scalp with moisturising ingredients. Also, ingredients like tea tree oil and menthol is great for getting rid of itchy scalps. Lean on shampoos that are more moisturising, shampoos without sulphates (since they are very drying for the scalp). With these shampoos, you shall notice less lathering, which is what you need.  Shampoos you can purchase – Morroccan Oil and Alterna Anti-ageing Caviar shampoo are great choices for such scalps.

3. Combination Scalp and Hair:  Okay, so this is the most common sort of scalp people usually have.  What this means is that they have either really oily scalp and dry hair.  Therefore, for this sort of a situation, you are going to remember this – shampoo is for the scalp and conditioner is for the hair. Make use of a shampoo that is going to absorb the excessive oil and use a moisturising conditioner for the ends of your hair. This is a common mistake made by women – we use conditioner on the roots of hair. This pulls the hair down and makes it more limp-y as well as results in the scalp becoming more oily. Sadly enough, the market does not have shampoos that target such scalp condition, and other than using the above method, there is another method you could adapt to – use a shampoo that fits your scalp (oily or dry) and use another shampoo targeted for the ends of your hair. This method would be slightly more expensive, so I would strongly recommend the previous method.

4. Balanced Scalp:  You lucky thing, you! If you have a balanced scalp, as in no oil or flakiness, you are free to use whatever shampoo to your heart’s content.

Try these tips and let me know what you think about them, and I hope this post slightly helps and plays factorial next time when you purchase a new shampoo!

Image Sources: 1, 2

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