What it is and what it is for?
The skin naturally produces oil that protects hair and hair follicles. Although it is beneficial, over time it builds up and leaves hair oily, causing dirt and small unwanted particles to become trapped, contributing to a bad appearance. Tallow, being an oil, is hydrophobic. Thus, when it comes to washing the root and removing oil, only water will not guarantee the expected result, so we have to introduce the shampoo.
The shampoo interacts with the oiliness of the hair ensuring its removal and, in addition, it also has the purpose of taking care of the hair keeping it hydrated, shiny and silky.
What are the most used ingredients and their function?
Shampoos have several ingredients, the most common of which are:
Conditioning agents, such as dimethicone and cyclomethicone, which are silicon-based oils, which promote silky and hydrated hair, in order to avoid irritation on the scalp after removing all fats. We can find panthenol and citric acid, which are other conditioning agents that promote hair shine.
Thickeners, which are agents that guarantee a creamy and dense appearance to the shampoo, providing a more pleasant sensation to the user.
The modifiers, ingredients that improve the appearance of the shampoo, that is, offer color or texture to the product. Glycol distearate is one of the ingredients used for this purpose.
Foam boosters, ingredients that provide us with a visible result that the product is acting, that is, through the foam that the shampoo produces, it offers a sense of effectiveness. Two types of foam boosters that exist are lauramide DEA and cocamide DEA, derived from fatty acids, which when worked together with triethylene glycol, guarantee the foam a lighter and more consistent appearance.
Finally, preservatives, which are ingredients responsible for maintaining the effectiveness of the shampoo over time, preventing fungi and bacteria from forming in the shampoo.
Which types exist and what are their differences?
Milky shampoos provide the gentlest cleaning. They are generally used in specific treatments, such as for dandruff or other scalp problems. As such, they are suitable for colored hair, as they are less aggressive with color.
Pearly shampoos are recommended for daily use in most types of hair, they can only be ineffective on very oily hair.
Transparent shampoos are more effective than milky and pearly, but not as aggressive. Mainly indicated for oily hair, they are quite efficient without causing hair dryness.
The anti-residue shampoo, from all of the above, is the one that promotes the most thorough cleaning. As such, it is indicated for very oily hair. However, their use should be limited, as they can more easily cause hair dryness.
What is the most used packaging format and what are the most frequent sizes?
The packaging of shampoos suffers little variation, they are usually in bars, bottles or dozers.
In the case of bar shampoo the most used packaging is a box or a small package, and its size can vary between 50g to 150g.
In the case of liquid shampoos, the most common packages are bottles and dozers. Its most frequent amount is 250ml, however, they can vary from 125ml to larger formats like 500ml or 1000ml.
What to take into account when choosing a shampoo?
If you have oily hair, you should opt for a transparent shampoo, as it is able to fight oiliness, but will not dry out your hair.
For fine hair, it depends on whether the hair is thin and straight or fine and curly. In the case of fine and straight hair, these tend to be oilier, so you should choose a pearly shampoo or a transparent shampoo. In the case of fine and curly hair, where the natural oiliness cannot extend along the strands, it is important to invest in nourishing shampoos that are not too aggressive.
In the case of dry hair, the ideal is to opt for a very mild shampoo, but very moisturizing to restore hair strands.
For brittle hair, often caused by the high temperatures of the various hair tools and hair color, you should choose a reconstructive shampoo that will give the hair the necessary nutrients, recovering its shape.
In the case of mixed hair, the best approach is to opt for a specific shampoo for mixed hair or a transparent shampoo.
What are the recommendations for use and tips?
It is very important to make the correct choice of product, that is, evaluate your hair type and look for a shampoo that fits the same.
You should wet your hair very well before applying the product, as it helps it to penetrate better to the scalp.
In addition, to make the product more diluted, a good option is to spread it on your hands first and then pass it on to your hair.
Another key factor is the way the shampoo is massaged into the hair, and should be done gently with your fingertips, never with your nails, to avoid injuring your scalp. After that, it should rinse very well, ensuring that it does not leave shampoo residues on both the scalp and the hair itself.
You can also do a double wash, because the first pass will remove excess impurities and oil, only in the second wash will the hair be completely clean.
What are the pros and cons of using a shampoo?
With regular use of a shampoo, you will be able to greatly improve the health and appearance of your hair.
In addition, shampoos provide shine, lightness and health to hair.
In certain cases, allergic reactions can be triggered by these products. In such cases, it will be important to check the composition of the product and make sure that none of them could be harmful.
What are the reference marks of shampoos?
Regarding the reference brands of shampoos, Schwarzkopf was the brand that started this industry. It has been a successful brand to this day, with several very successful and sold lines, such as BC Fiber Force Fortifying.
Joico is also a reference brand, with its K-PAK line.
Kérastase is currently one of the best brands on the market at the capillary level, with an immense range of highly successful shampoos and conditioners, such as Chronologiste, Blond Absolu, Soleil, among others.
