When your hair is in need of a moisturizing or conditioning boost, a good place to start is by washing it with a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Selecting the wrong shampoo or one that is not best suited to your hair type can leave your hair dry, brittle and unmanageable. On the other hand, going for an appropriate moisturizing shampoo can definitely help keep your hair healthy and hydrated. This is something you would want when going for a date.
Here are some tips that will help you better understand the role of moisturizing shampoo. Moreover, we’ve also provided some things to look out for when choosing moisturizing shampoo and conditioner products for your hair.
The Role Of Moisturizing Shampoo
The primary role of all hair shampoos is to cleanse the hair of excess oil, dirt and impurities. This, in turn, leaves your hair clean and without unpleasant odors. A good moisturizing shampoo should not only cleanse the hair effectively, but do so without upsetting the natural pH balance of your hair.
The normal pH of hair is around 5.0. When this level becomes either too low or too high, your hair will suffers. Higher pH levels result in increased alkalinity, opening up the cuticles and making the hair dry, brittle and dull. When the hair pH becomes too low and overly acidic, hair strands become hard and rough. You definitely do not want this.
Good moisturizing shampoos will keep your hair clean while still maintaining the pH levels to as close as to neutral levels as possible. The shampoos provide balanced cleansing that does not result in excessive dryness or scalp irritation.
Selecting The Right Moisturizing Shampoo
Hair care products’ manufacturers usually promote their product as the best moisturizing shampoo. However, this does not mean any shampoo you come across will be right for you. It helps to be able to know what you are looking for and understand the fine print.
Marketing claims of “moisturizing shampoos” or formulas promising to “lock in the moisture” or ”maximize hydration” may not be as effective as they sound. Never base your buying decision purely on information provided in an ad for a particular moisturizing shampoo. More than this, you should check the ingredients list whenever possible. If you’re unsure of the ingredients of a particular shampoo, ask your hairdresser for advice. You can also check for reviews of different shampoos at trusted websites such as Dry Scalp Gone.
Sulfates in Moisturizing Shampoos
One of the most important things to look for in a moisturizing shampoo is the amount and type of sulfates. “Sulfates” refer to the surfactants or cleansing agents of the shampoo. Truly specialized moisturizing shampoo formulas can cut out sulfates entirely without losing their cleansing effect. Otherwise, you should look for a formula that contains a single sulfate.
Moisturizing shampoos that contain multiple sulfates are a definite no. The more cleansing agents a shampoo contains, the more effective it is at removing buildup and impurities from hair. Over-cleansing your hair is not something you want if you want your hair to be gently cleansed and the natural oils not over-stripped.
Some of the common sulfates present in moisturizing shampoo formulas include sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate. The harshest of these are ammonium lauryl sulfate and ammonium laureth sulfate. These sulfates are meant to clean hair that has excessive buildup of oils and dirt. A good moisturizing shampoo should not contain these sulfates, as they are not conducive to moisturizing and will just dry your hair out.
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a more gentle cleanser, and sodium laureth sulfate is gentler. Moving on, laureth sulfates are gentler than the lauryl sulfates. Other gentle surfactants to look out for include tricedeth or sodium myreth, lauryl polyglucose, isethionate, and cocamidopropylbetaine.
Generally, the ingredients list for a moisturizing shampoo or conditioner are listed from the highest content to lowest content. If the particular moisturizing shampoo you want has high levels of sulfates or cleansing agents, avoid buying it. The product may not be the best shampoo for your hair needs. A good moisturizing shampoo should not over-cleanse or over-strip your hair. A high ratio of sulfates to emollients is unlikely to give you good results.
Some product manufacturers indicate a range of beneficial and moisturizing ingredients (such as conditioning oils and plant extracts) as “in purified water” or “in water”. This can be very misleading due to the high water content in all shampoo formulas. The information can mislead you into thinking that the particular moisturizing shampoo contains high levels of these ingredients when in fact very little is present in the formula.
Fragrance of the Shampoo
Another thing to consider when choosing a moisturizing shampoo is the fragrance or scent of the formula. While there is no real right or wrong with this one, most people prefer moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that leave the hair with a pleasant odor. Generally, you should avoid products that have a strong chemical smell.
There is debate around whether general purpose moisturizing shampoo brands are inferior to salon and professional brands. In general, professional salon brands of moisturizing shampoo are more likely to contain a higher ratio of moisturizing emollients (moisturizing ingredients such as fatty acids and conditioning oils) to cleansing sulfate detergents. This can result in more effective results. However, this is not to say that a moisturizing shampoo that you purchase from the drugstore or supermarket will automatically be less effective.
You will usually pay more for a salon brand, and some people may not feel this higher price is justified unless they see significantly better results from a less expensive product. Generally , if you take the time to look through the ingredients and are satisfied with the price, you should be able to find a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner without having to try too many products.
