Shampoos typically consist of an intricate mixture of surfactants designed to lower surface tension between water and soil particles, and allow for them to become “wrapped up” before being rinsed away by the rinse cycle.
Conditioning ingredients used in shampoos include silicones, fatty alcohols and glycerin; anti-dandruff shampoos may contain antifungicides (e.g. ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione) to kill fungus and reduce loose dandruff.
Everyday shampoo
This shampoo was developed for daily cleansing without stripping hair and scalp of its natural oils, with low pH and gentle surfactants that help preserve the lipid layer of the scalp to defend against environmental stressors such as pollution and UV radiation. Plus, its comforting blend of Neroli, Mandarin Orange, and Vanilla fragrance add a delightful scent that adds sweetness to everyday shampoo use. Plus it is free from fillers such as pore-clogging fillers while its formulation features Turmeric Root, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Jojoba Esters along with Fragrance containing Phenoxyethanol which are potential skin irritants!
TikTok users will have noticed that drugstore shampoos have recently made a comeback, with their popularity becoming clear. Sulfates and silicones, once considered skincare nasties, have now become revered for their ability to create shiny locks with lots of sudsy body. But which should you select?
Deep cleaning shampoo
Like a juice cleanse, this formula deep-cleans to eliminate build-up and impurities from your locks, ideal if you use many styling products or live in an area with hard water, both of which can leave behind heavy residue build-up. Our tester found it gentle yet still effective at providing a thorough cleanse for her color-treated strands.
This sulfate-free shampoo uses natural ingredients to efficiently eliminate dirt, sebum and styling product buildup from hair and scalp without stripping essential oils that protect it. Honey and willowbark extracts work together to purify both scalp and hair without stripping essential protective oils that make up their foundation.
The vegan shampoo infuses hair with moisture for an exquisite silky feel and soft lather, perfect for daily or between-wash conditioning use. At GH Beauty Lab chemists test all shampoos using high-tech lab equipment as well as consumer testing panels in order to evaluate how effectively they lather, condition and fulfill claims made about them.
Medicated shampoo
Medicated shampoos are special products designed to treat scalp conditions like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. These shampoos contain therapeutic agents like ketoconazole, coal tar, salicylic acid or selenium sulfide that reduce flaking, inflammation and itching on the scalp while controlling excessive oiliness or hair buildup.
While itchy and flaky scalps may simply indicate dry skin, they could also indicate more serious dermatological conditions like dandruff, psoriasis or Malassezia fungus infection. Some specialized shampoos such as pyrithione zinc shampoo for dandruff may be purchased over-the-counter while others require prescription from your physician.
Ketoconazole shampoos are powerful antifungal shampoos that effectively treat dandruff by decreasing Malassezia levels and inflammation. Salicylic acid shampoos help by exfoliating your scalp to eliminate skin flakes from landing onto clothing; selenium sulfide shampoos (commonly sold over-the-counter as “blue” products) offer relief from itching while possibly helping slow skin cell death.
Two-in-one shampoo
Two-in-one shampoo may seem like an efficient and timesaving way to take care of your hair needs; less clutter in your shower, fewer bottles to keep track of and one simple lather-and-go routine are all benefits of switching over. Unfortunately, though, 2-in-1s don’t do as good a job at cleansing or conditioning hair as two separate ones would.
Shampoo and conditioner utilize different kinds of ingredients; shampoo uses surfactants to clean while conditioner contains emollients and conditioning agents that bind with the hair shaft, according to cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos. Combining incompatible products into one formula leads to product buildup that necessitates regular clarifying shampoo treatments in order to get rid of buildup.
If you suffer from scalp conditions like dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, 2-in-1 shampoos alone may not provide sufficient moisture due to lacking the right ingredients to address those concerns. Therefore, for maximum benefit and control over your hair care routine use 2-in-1 shampoo in tandem with an individual leave-in conditioner; that way you have fuller control and can maximize results from it.
