Shampoo and Conditioner | Daily Hair Care

WHAT'S IN A SHAMPOO?

Shampoo is a relativity new concept. Historically people used body soap to wash their hair, which due to the residue, left their hair dull and their scalps itchy meant that they didn't wash their hair often. Around the early 1900's, chemists started experimenting with products, and soon after, shampoo's hit the market. It wasn't until the 70's that people started to lather up their heads with any real frequency. 

   These days, shopping the shampoo aisle can be quite perplexing  there are products for every complaint, from dandruff to frizz. They span over a huge range of prices. While I believe shampoos with more natural ingredients are worth the extra money, a lot of bloggers have tested and have proved there is little difference from the lowest prize range and the very tip top. So next time you're browsing this aisle, remember, you don't need to spend a small fortune on a bottle of shampoo. 

   Keep in mind that shampoo is for cleaning your scalp, not your strands of hair, so focus the product on your roots. If you have oily hair, chose a shampoo that is clear - those that are creamy or pearlescent generally contain more conditioners, which you do not need to apply to your scalp. Many grease-fighting varieties contain astringent ingredients that are helpful, like tea-tree or citrus oil or herbs like rosemary and sage. 

   If your scalp is flaky, you should look for products that fights dandruff. The active ingredient in these is usually 'zinc pyrithione', which has anti fungal properties. Other products actually slow the rate at which your cells die and need to be sloughed off. 

   If your scalp feels tight and itchy, look for a moisturising shampoo that's packed with hydrating ingredients like shea butter and nut oils. This can help combat flakiness. 

WHAT'S IN A CONDITIONER?

Unlike a shampoo, conditioners can change the quality of your hair, since they coat and adhere to the cuticle of the strand and lend it all sorts of properties. Again, conditioners are not changing your hair's inherent properties - just modifying the outer layer. Conditioners with lots of humectants deliver moisture; those with lots of panthenol  attach to overly fine hair and create an illusion of volume; those with polymers make hair look sleek and glossy and untangled; and those with heat-adsorbing polymers protect your hair from curling irons, blow-dryers and straighteners. 

   Because conditioners are packed with ingredients that are intended to attach to the strand, you don't want to apply conditioner to your scalp - instead, deposit a majority of it on the bottom two thirds of your hair, specifically the back of your head, where the hair is most directly exposed to the elements. 

   Every month or so, I like to wash my hair with a clarifying shampoo to help strip some of the residue left by conditioners. Excessive build up can eventually start to make my hair look and feel limp. I also always ask for a gloss or deep conditioning if I have just had my colour done  It makes a difference in keeping my hair looking healthy longer. 

Which shampoo and conditioner do you use? 

Do you find one works better than another? 

xx