Choosing the right shampoo for your hair can be a tough decision. Dry hair, dull hair, straight or frizzy, everyone looks for the perfect hair product that suits all their needs. But with the number of hair care products available in the market, you might just get confused and pick the wrong one. So here are some tips to help you make the right choice –
Know your hair/scalp type
Like your skin, your hair may be dry, oily, or normal. It may also be straight, frizzy, curly, wavy, or something in between. Each hair type requires special treatment. Let's take a look at the requirements for different hair types.
- For oily hair, you need to choose a shampoo which has gentle cleansing properties and can be used regularly as people with oily scalps tend to show oil on the second day after a wash too. This will ensure a reduced amount of oil in your hair daily, so your hair can look clean and naturally shiny every day.
- For normal hair, use a shampoo with mild cleansing properties and wash your hair every second or third day. This will help remove any accumulated dirt over the days as the Indian climate is dusty and polluted.
- Dry hair needs a shampoo with essential oils that can nourish the scalp and reduce dryness. Thick and dry hair tends to gather a lot of dust as well which can result in itching, so the shampoo needs to have both cleansings as well as conditioning properties.
Avoid chemicals that can harm your hair
While most commercial shampoos may seem beneficial at first, the chemicals they contain may harm your hair in the longer run. Let’s take a look at some of these chemicals that you should avoid -
They can irritate and inflame your scalp leaving it bereft of sebum and other necessary oils. The most common culprits in this category are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).
These also cause irritation and inflammation. They are also suspected of causing cancer and hormonal imbalance. Some common
parabens include ethylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben.
While silicones are known to add volume to your hair, they have been recently identified by the government of Canada as toxic and are still under observation.
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Behentrimonium Chloride –
This common ingredient found in many hair products irritates the scalp and eyes. It also goes by the name Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride.
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Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) –
Known as allergy triggers, these two chemicals can cause extreme itching and irritation on the scalp. They also cause your hair to lose vital components like keratin resulting in dry, lifeless, and brittle hair.
This chemical is used in hair products as well as in antifreeze finish for wood – need we say more? It can deprive your hair of its
natural oil and make it lifeless and dry. In fact, any alcohol should be avoided as a general precaution.
The Dilemma
While the ingredients contained in shampoos and other hair products do provide temporary relief from hair problems, they can harm you if used extensively over long periods. The question then is – whether you should forego the benefits for the sake of precaution – or vice versa. The solution to this dilemma is to use
organic ayurvedic products. Ayurvedic shampoos have amazing cleansing properties and herbs like Vatajata and Amla which help in fighting dandruff, dryness, any scalp irritation, and also boost your
hair’s growth and nutritional levels. They are also paraben and sulphate free which ensures your hair remains beautiful and healthy without the use of chemicals. So follow these
tips and watch your hair bloom!
