Are You Using The Right Shampoo? (7 Types of Shampoo And What They’re For)

Buying shampoo isn’t as easy as it seems. One look at the shampoo aisle of any store and you’re sure to be overwhelmed with the vast number of choices presented to you, right in front of your eyes. 

If you’ve ever been swayed by a shampoo bottle’s promise and then found yourself frustrated after a couple of weeks because you didn’t see any change, don’t go emailing the brand to complain just yet. Instead, you should try switching to another shampoo instead. You might not be using the right one. 

So, what are the different types of shampoos you can get and are you using the right one for your hair? Read on to find out. 

Mild Shampoo - if you have sensitive skin, chances are that your scalp is quite sensitive as well. If this is the case, regular shampoo could irritate your scalp and make it so dry that it starts to flake. This is where mild shampoo would come in handy. Mild shampoos are formulated to help clean your hair and scalp without the irritation. A good example of mild shampoo you can try if you have a sensitive scalp is sulfate-free shampoo. Check out Hairsense’s collection of mild shampoos here. 

Keratin Shampoo - also called keratin-infused shampoo, this type of shampoo is formulated to help smooth out frizzy hair. Actual keratin treatments take so much time and they can be quite expensive as well. If you want the benefits of a keratin treatment without the hassle or the hefty price tag, using a keratin shampoo regularly will do the trick. 

Shea Moisture Shampoo - shea butter is an ingredient you’ll commonly see in body products like body butters and lotions. However, did you know that shea butter can be quite beneficial for your hair, too? Shea moisture shampoo is perfect for people with dry, damaged hair. It’s deeply-nourishing formula is perfect for people with dry scalps and for people with textured hair (think 3a to 4c hair types). If your hair is ever in need of some serious moisturization, try using shea moisture shampoo. 

Hair Growth Shampoo - this is pretty self-explanatory -- it’s shampoo you can use to grow your hair thicker and/or longer. This type of shampoo uses various kinds of growth-boosting ingredients. Some are natural (aloe vera shampoo, tea tree oil shampoo, etc.) while others are not-so-natural (minoxidil or nioxin shampoo). Shampoos that promote hair growth are also often considered as hair thickening shampoo. 

Anti-dandruff shampoo - got an itchy, flaky scalp? You might be suffering from dandruff. There are tons of anti-dandruff shampoos out there. Unfortunately, when it comes to finding the best anti dandruff shampoo, there’s no other way but to try different brands and different kinds until you find the one that works for you. 

Clarifying Shampoo - did you know that, over time, gunk builds up on your scalp? If left untreated, this can result in some serious scalp issues. To get rid of the gunk, you need to use a clarifying shampoo at least once every week. Clarifying shampoos can be drying if used too often, so make sure you aren’t using it too frequently or that you aren’t using too much of it. 

Dry Shampoo - this is the most unconventional type of shampoo by far, but also one of the most convenient. Dry shampoo isn’t really something that you use every day, nor is it a replacement for regular shampoo. It’s what you can use if you have extremely greasy hair in between washes. 

Color-correcting shampoo - these are shampoos that are meant to tone hair and counteract unwanted pigments in them so you can keep your hair color fresh and vibrant longer. Purple shampoo is one of the most popular types of color-correcting shampoo for colored hair. This is meant to be used for blonde hair. Brunettes, on the other hand, could benefit more from blue shampoo. There’s also green shampoo which is useful for cancelling red undertones in your hair.