How well do you know your shampoo? Do You know what it does, and the types that are out there? Yes, I am asking because as we delve into the mechanics of our hair, all the way down to the cellular level we may have forgotten just how important it is to know the products we are using and what they can do for us.
As many of us begin to fall out of love with shampoos, there are still tons more who use them faithfully. Shampoos often take a backseat to conditioners and styling products and I can understand why.
Cleaning is such a basic need that it often gets overlooked in the hair-care game. More of us are concerned with rocking those curls, coils and kinks to sheer perfection but if you start off wrong (with the wrong cleanser) you are doing your hair and health no favors.
So, let’s back up and start off with the basics. Let’s learn about shampoo and the several types on the market. I guarantee you that you will walk away learning something new as we have some of the old, the new and the totally revamped.
What is shampoo?
In a nutshell, shampoos are cleaning formulations made up primarily of surfactants that have the ability to surround oily materials on surfaces and allow them to be rinsed away by water.
Shampoos cleanse your hair of dirt, pollutants, sweat, and product build-up. They are essential in healthy hair care as healthy hair is clean hair. I cannot say that enough! Dirty hair does not grow faster than clean hair and dirty hair can actually impede your hair’s growth.
Now, I know that many (including myself) have sworn off shampoos. Many naturals have adapted to cowashing or cleansing hair with a botanical or cleansing conditioner in place of shampoo.
There are even some women out there cleansing with water only. Personally I am not a fan or advocate but it exists and is therefore worth mentioning.
Ladies and Gentlemen, do your research. Remember that products do not have to be harsh, drying, and full of chemicals to do their job! I have found several all-natural shampoos (through trial & error and many dollars later) that do the job of all the different types of shampoos listed above. My general sulfate-free shampoo I found at nattynaturals.com named Dudu Osum Shampoo. I found a “clarifying” shampoo at justnaturalskincare.com called “shampoo to remove buildup”, also at this website I found a chelating shampoo alternative in the vinegar rinse (the products may seem pricey but they are all-natural and a little goes a really long way!) I have also found a gentle cleansing shampoo that I think works better than any cleansing conditioner or co-wash. All the shampoos cleanse my scalp and hair without stripping or drying my hair. I am actually able to do light finger detangling…if need be with the shampoo in my hair-no tangles! So after 2 years in my “back to natural” hair journey, many websites, blogs, questions and tons of my own research I think I know my shampoos very well 🙂