When it comes to shampoo, there is no one-size-fits-all solution – especially if you’re looking to make the most of your precious locks. Choosing the right shampoo for your hair type is important for keeping your hair in optimum condition – but of course it’s not always totally obvious which shampoo is best for your hair type. Nevertheless, since healthy looking hair starts in the shower, you’ll want to be sure you’re hopping in with the hair products that suit you best.
In order to do it will help to know what type of hair you have, since not all hair behaves in the same way. For instance, it makes sense that Afro hair would require a totally different set of products and care protocols than fine, straight hair. So if you’re mistakenly using shampoo better suited to a different hair type, you’re almost certainly not doing your hair any favours.
That’s exactly why we put together a guide to help you to figure out how to choose the best kind of shampoo for your hair type...
Choosing the right shampoo for your hair
There are various different types of hair, but the main hair types are generally considered to be:
- Straight hair
- Curly hair
- Wavy hair
However, those categories aren’t the full story and it’s probably fair to say that ‘type’ covers a few different factors. For example, whether your hair is fine, or thick. Condition is another factor to consider when picking the best shampoo for your hair type. Fine, straight and damaged hair will behave differently to thick, straight and healthy hair. Colour-treated, aging hair will have a whole different set of needs to young, natural hair. So to help you make sure you’re using the right shampoo we merged the various categories into three simple ones; this way you can identify your hair’s needs, first and foremost.
- Dry, damaged or colour-treated hair
Years of overheating and styling can really take its toll on your hair. It doesn’t take long for your hair to dry up, lose vibrancy and snap at the ends. If you are looking for the right shampoo for dry or damaged hair, you’re going to need a moisturising product. Something rich and ultra-conditioning that can smooth out your frazzled, dry hair and give it shine - while protecting it from further damage!
Similarly, colour-treated hair is more likely to become brittle and dull, especially if you’ve coloured it repeatedly. When choosing a shampoo for colour-treated hair, opt for one that promotes vibrancy; ideally it will contain ingredients that don’t strip out your colour, but do moisturise your hair effectively.
You can’t go wrong with TRX2® Advanced Care Protective Shampoo. It has been designed specifically to repair and protect stressed and dyed hair. Containing rice and black oat extracts, it is the perfect shampoo for hair repair; these extracts improve the surface of damaged hair, stop hair proteins from breaking down further, and reduce lipid oxidation. Hydrolyzed rice protein, biotin and panthenol combine to strengthen your hair and give it that much-needed gloss… and with every use this shampoo protects your colour and volumises effortlessly.
- Curly, wavy, thick or unruly hair
Those with curly, wavy or thick hair know how out-of-control it can get; you are more likely to battle the dreaded frizz than those with other hair types. If you’re looking for a shampoo that tames wild hair, something rich with anti-frizz ingredients and nourishing plant extracts will work wonders. Also, unruly hair can often be quite dry, so you’ll want a shampoo with hydrating ingredients that will promote softness, lock in moisture and smoothen those wild strands.
Note that for these hair types it’s not necessary to wash your hair daily. You’ll want to preserve the natural oils on your scalp, as these will also help to keep frizz and flyaway hairs in check.
We recommend TRX2® Advanced Care Volumising Shampoo, thanks to its frizz-busting ingredients, hydrolysed soy and rice proteins. These are natural volumisers, but most importantly they reduce frizz and improve manageability.
- Fine or ageing Hair
If your hair is naturally fine, it’s probably more prone to breakage… and that can be frustrating. What’s more, hair tends to get weaker as we age, so you’ll need a shampoo that fortifies your hair by reinforcing the structure, as well as promoting new hair growth by giving the scalp all the nutrients and stimulation it needs. If these issues sound familiar, look out for thickening, strengthening formulas.
We think that one of the best shampoos for fine hair (or aging hair) is TRX2® Advanced Care Volumising Shampoo. This shampoo can save thin, limp hair from frizz and dryness, and with its blend of naturally-based ingredients, it enriches your hair while infusing it with weightless volume. It also contains anti-glycation (an anti-ageing ingredient), anti-inflammatory, and anti-free radical properties… all of which benefit the scalp and hair while delaying the effects of ageing!
You may also love TRX2® Advanced Care Stimulating Shampoo, which promotes hair growth. It contains soya bean polyamines to stimulate hair follicle cells, and caffeine and biotin, which aid your scalp in producing plenty of hair. It’s undeniably one of the best hair growth shampoos available for your hair type.
Whatever your hair type, there is one more thing we think is very important: that when picking a shampoo, you go for something that is SLS/SLES-free, silicone-free and paraben-free. None of these chemicals do your hair and skin any good, so it’s always smart to aim for something as natural as possible, and ideally with plenty of natural plant extracts. Since Oxford Biolabs care very much about health, all of the shampoos in our range tick these boxes.
Likewise, our shampoo products are dermatologically tested (making them suitable for all skin and hair types) - but never on animals. We hope this guide has helped you to choose the right shampoo for your hair type. Let us know if you have any questions about our products… and we wish you every success in making the best of your hair!
