Healthy Shampoos

The purpose of shampoo is to clean the hair, and healthy shampoos will do so without damaging the hair follicles or cuticles. Beyond this basic criteria, determining whether a shampoo is healthy or not depends on factors relating to individual hair care needs and preferences.

Standard Ingredients

The most common detergent in shampoo is ammonium lauryl sulfate. The detergent bonds with dirt or oil in the hair and is rinsed out with water. Other detergents may be added to enhance or alter the effects of the main detergent. Cocamidopropyl betaine is a mild detergent with anti-static and moisturizing properties. Sodium chloride (table salt) or ammonium chloride is sometimes used to thicken shampoos, but it can sting the eyes. In higher-end shampoos, rather than salt, more expensive thickeners are used.

Extras

Special herbs, honey, fruits or exotic protein sources are often incorporated into shampoo to make the product more appealing in terms of sight and smell. These ingredients have little effect on how well a shampoo cleans or conditions your hair. The biggest factor in the realm of "extras" is likely to be smell, since it remains on the hair after it has been washed.

Everyday Shampoo

If you wash your hair everyday, it is essential to use a gentle shampoo, preferably one that states explicitly that it is intended for everyday use. If you think of your hair as a kind of fabric, you may consider what kind of detergent you would use if you had to wash a delicate sweater every day.

There are many gentle shampoos available so finding one to use should be pretty easy. The challenging part is finding a product that can be used everyday without stripping the hair of its natural oils or leaving behind a residue on the hair. Generally, the cheaper the shampoo, the less likely that gentler, more expensive ingredients are in it. One excellent shampoo intended for every day use is Aveda's Shampure. It is extremely gentle, has a clean herbal scent and leaves the hair soft and shiny.

Mixing It Up

It's a good idea to mix a new shampoo into your rotation every now and then, especially if you tend to use one product all the time. No matter how good a shampoo is, if you use it daily and without interruption, it may leave residue on your hair or scalp that only another shampoo can clean off. Alternatively, you may need to mix a moisturizing shampoo in to your rotation once in a while during cold or dry months or if you hair has been treated or processed in any way.

Conditioning

Conditioner is applied after shampoo to keep the hair moist and healthy. It is particularly useful to people with long hair, since long hair is more fully exposed to wind, sun and other elements that can dry hair and make it split or crack. Conditioners are helpful for softening the hair and allowing it to be more easily combed. A good technique for applying conditioner is to put it primarily on the ends where hair tends to be dry and prone to splitting, working it lightly through the rest of the hair and scalp.

References

• Ingredients---Shampoo