There are some helpful checkpoints on how to maintain great hair without buying and trying every hair product.
Hair Types:
If you need to wash your hair every day otherwise it will turn greasy, then you have oily hair.
If you can live without hair washing up to 3-4 days, you have normal to slightly dry hair.
If your hair looks good for up to 5-7 days, then you have dry hair.
Do you need to wash them every day? It depends on you. I would recommend to those with oily hair to wash them daily or in a day.
The most sensitive hair that needs very mild care – fine hair. Coarse hair can get much more abuse due to the number of cuticle layers.
If you color your hair, straighten or curl them permanently, you need more gentle treatment. If you have long hair, the ends are, probably, dry, even if your scalp is oily.
Hair Cleansing & Conditioning:
Shampoo cleanses your scalp & hair from the soil, dust, styling products, sebum, etc. I would recommend concentrating more on your scalp while using shampoo.
Conditioner treats dry and split ends, and moisturizes dry scalp. People with oily scalp should apply conditioner carefully, only on dry or damaged hair ends.
Want to know more about shampoo types, solid and liquid shampoos, and how to choose your very best solid shampoo bar?
Types of Shampoo:
Cleansing shampoo – this one washes all impurities momentarily. So, if you have dry or sensitive hair, do not use this shampoo more than once a week. People with oily hair can use this type of shampoo twice a week or when needed.
Moisturizing shampoo / Hydrating shampoo – these two types exist to lock the moisture in your hair. They contain useful emollients and humectants, herbal extracts, and some great lab ingredients like silicones. Yes, silicones are NOT harmful. They are good for your hair, especially if your locks are messy or dry.
Conditioning shampoo – a 2-in-1 product that not just wash your hair but also acts as a conditioner. Use it more often if you have normal hair.
Baby shampoo – a very mild product with the mildest surfactants possible, designed for babies & toddlers and those adults with thin, fine hair. Enjoy.
Forms of Shampoo:
Powder, or dry shampoo. I do not talk about this type today, only about liquid vs. solid.
Actually, there is no difference between them regardless of what many sites say. Both serve one purpose – to clean your scalp and hair. Both should contain surfactants in their formula. Now, there is a myth debunking paragraph:
Many bloggers call surfactants “detergents” or “chemicals” or even “pesky/poisoned/harmful chemicals”, “nasty things” etc. The truth is – none of the surfactants deserves these awful epithets. Surfactants are chemicals we need to clean our hair. Yes, some of them are harsh but – and THIS is important to understand – they are added to shampoo formulas in qualities that are harmless. That’s it. Besides, there are so many of them, from surfactants for babies to those who have dandruff and oily scalp. Do not panic if you read/hear the next “nasty chemicals” opus – it is just fear-mongering marketing, nothing else.
So, the choice is up to you. If you are a fan of a modern narrative about sustainability, then choose solid shampoo bars. If you are still sorting things out, just know: your favorite liquid shampoo is no less great. It is wonderful, probably.
Eco-Friendly Shampoo Bar with Bamboo Extract by La Salle BOTANIQUE
Choosing the right solid shampoo bar for you, consider:
🌿Never, I really mean, NEVER buy soap as a shampoo. Please don’t use soap on your hair regardless of what they say. Avoid melt and pour soap, ANY soap. You see, soap is an alkaline product. It eventually will damage your hair so much, that you will lose them for good. It does not matter how many good oils a manufacturer adds to such soap – it is still an alkaline product. You do not need to risk your health!
🌿Avoid syndet bars with unmelted noodles (hint: they look like white sprinkles). Proper manufacturing requires surfactant noodles to be melted. Why? Imagine, you bought some frozen food and began to eat it without further cooking. Will it be tasty, healthy, or safe? The same story with surfactant noodles. All solid surfactants must be melted. Bars should look homogeneous. They can look rough or funky but – homogenous.
🌿I do not recommend buying bars with emulsifying wax. It makes your hair feel draggy.
🌿People with dry scalp should use moisturizing and conditioning shampoos. Extracts of chamomile or cucumber can help. People with oily scalps and hair would enjoy products with exfoliating herbal extracts like papaya, bamboo, or honeysuckle. Those who spend a lot of time outside would enjoy green tea extract in the shampoo’s formula. If you have a problem with dandruff, search for willow bark extract, and if you have oily scalp and dry ends, then use a conditioner only on your hair ends.
🌿Essential oils or fragrance oils in the formula, it is your choice. Remember, that essential oils are very concentrated compounds that might provoke allergic reactions. Read labels before your purchase to avoid an unpleasant situation.
🌿When using syndet shampoo bars, don’t leave them in a pool of water. Let them completely dry between washes, and they will faithfully serve you for a very long time.
All in all, liquid or solid, shampoos are great, just know your hair type and the shampoo’s purpose.
Diana Gratigny
