There are hundreds of shampoo's out there, from the Suave you can purchase at the local pharmacy to designer shampoo's like Kerastas and Philip B. that can only be purchased from speciality salons and stores. How do you choose?
First, know your hair type. It's fairly easy to know what type of shampoo your hair needs if it's permed or colored. If your hair is permed then most likely you're seeing a stylist on a regular basis and he or she has suggested a product for you. If your hair is colored you will want a shampoo that will be gentle on the color and not strip it from your hair. Is your hair dry? Oily? Thin or full and coarse?
What affect do you want the shampoo to have on your hair? Be aware of claims made by shampoo manufacturers. The only thing regulated by the Food & Drug Administration is the list of ingredients on the back of the shampoo bottle. This means that manufacturers can claim their shampoos moisturize or add volume whether or not they do.
Herbs and botanicals smell great, but their affect on the hair has never been proven. Actually most shampoos and conditioners affect your hair only temporarily by leaving product behind on your hair after you wash. They have no long term effect on the condition of your hair at all.
Don't believe that you have to use one manufacturers entire hair product line. It's the same for skin care products. All shampoos clean the hair. All soaps clean the face. All conditioners leave a trace of product on your hair which help keep the cuticle smooth. All moisturizes soften and moisturize the skin. It doesn't matter if you mix and match products, despite what they say.
