Shampoo & Conditioner: The Basics

hairbymarkbooth
Jun 28, 2016
3 min read

There are thousands of different haircare products out there and it may seem tough to find the ones that are best for you. You could be that person that tries a new shampoo every time you run out, or maybe it's not even that complicated and you just grab what smells good. Investing in the right type of nourishment is the most important step to beautiful hair. I always say that your hair is most important accessory, you wear it every day! Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type will make styling your hair much more manageable and effortless.

Here are a few of the most common questions we get regarding shampoos and conditioners

How often should I wash my hair?

-It's all about your lifestyle! Your body produces oils to hydrate and protect your hair. Over-washing dries out your scalp and your hair. It can cause dandruff and cause your scalp to actually produce more oil. Washing it less can reduce the amount of oil because your body will adjust to the changes and create less oil production. Try washing every other day to let your scalp breathe. If you're more active and outdoorsy, using a light dry shampoo at your roots before you exercise will soak up some moisture! If you workout everyday, try rinsing your hair and using conditioner on the ends but not washing it.

Should I condition every time I shampoo?

-YES! Think of your hair like skin. When you wash your face, you need to rehydrate with a good moisturizer/sunscreen. It's the same with hair! Shampoo strips all the dirt and impurities but conditioner puts back in that missing moisture.

But, my hair is a fine texture, won't conditioner weigh it down?

-It depends. If your hair is really fine and you don't have a lot of chemical damage from color, etc., try a lightweight leave-in conditioning spray. I like Bumble and Bumble's Prep. It won't weigh your hair down at all (trust) and it will still fortify it with the vitamins and moisture it needs after washing.

If your hair is fine, but chemically processed you probably need a little extra help. Try using a deep conditioning mask, like Kerastase Masque Elixir Ultime, once a week to keep the ends hydrated and happy (but still use Prep after every wash!).

My hair is curly...

-Keeping your hair hydrated is the most important thing with curls. Moisturized hair reduces frizz, so you'll be able to give your locks a more defined curl and really enhance your natural texture. Bumble and Bumble's new Curl line is seriously AMAZING and I highly recommend it.

Do I use conditioner on all of my hair?

- Use it where you need it! The ends are always drier than your root area because they've been exposed for a longer period of time and it's further away from the oils in your scalp so they don't get as much natural hydration.

MORE TIPS

Shampoos and Conditioners typically fall into 2 main categories:

Protein-based and Moisture-based.

Protein-based

- If you tend to have a lot of breakage caused by overly-processed hair, reconstructive products contain protein that strengthens and fortifies damaged and/or thin/brittle hair. Although you can get amazing results from this type of product, over-use can cause a build up of protein so its great in moderation. Try switching between protein and moisture every other time you buy a bottle.

Typical Buzzwords indicating they are protein-based: Repair, strengthen, fortify, reconstructing, anti-breakage, protect, rebuild.

Moisture-based

- Hydration is key! Moisturizing conditioners get into the hair strand and fill it up like a dry sponge soaks up water. Although there are lightweight moisturizing conditioners, they can be a tad on the heavier side when compared to protein-based conditioners. Not to worry if you use it from mids to ends and rinse thoroughly.

Typical Buzzwords indicating moisture:

hydrating, "for dry hair", restore moisture, nourishing, quenching, soften.