Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Hair Care Products

Shelves of shampoos, masks, serums and sprays all promise better hair, which makes choosing harder, not easier. The good news is that most people need only a few well-chosen products. This guide explains how to match products to your hair and scalp so you can buy with a clear purpose.

Start with your scalp and hair, not the label

Two questions narrow the field quickly. First, how does your scalp behave: does it get oily within a day, feel tight and dry, or flake? Second, what are your lengths like: fine and easily weighed down, thick and dry, curly, colored or heat-styled?

Dermatologists generally advise choosing a shampoo and conditioner formulated for your hair type. Shampoo does its main work on the scalp, where oil and residue collect. Conditioner does its work on the lengths and ends, which are older and drier than the hair near the roots.

The core products most routines need

Shampoo

A shampoo that suits your scalp is the foundation. A mild everyday formula such as Gentle Daily Shampoo suits frequent washing, while a clarifying product such as Scalp Care Shampoo is useful when styling products build up.

Conditioner

Conditioner smooths the outer layer of the hair so strands slide past each other instead of tangling. Fine hair usually does better with a light formula; thick, curly or dry hair often needs something richer.

An occasional treatment

A weekly mask or a leave-in product is optional. It is most useful for hair that is dry, colored or regularly heat-styled.

How to read hair product claims

In many countries, shampoos and conditioners are regulated as cosmetics: they clean and improve appearance. Terms such as “repairing” or “strengthening” describe how hair feels and looks after use, not a change in how hair grows. Products that claim to treat a condition, such as dandruff or hair loss, are usually regulated differently because they contain active ingredients. Reading the label tells you which kind of product you are holding.

Simple rules for buying well

• Buy for a need. Decide what problem you are solving before you shop.
• Change one thing at a time. Give a new product two to four weeks before judging it.
• Check the ingredients if you have reacted before. Fragrance and some preservatives are common triggers of irritation.
• Do not judge by price. An inexpensive product that suits your hair beats a costly one that does not.

When a product is not the answer

Sudden shedding, bald patches, a sore or very itchy scalp, or flaking that does not settle are reasons to see a doctor or pharmacist. Cosmetic products cannot treat an underlying condition.

The bottom line

Choose shampoo for your scalp, conditioner for your lengths, and add treatments only when your hair needs them. You can browse our hair care range by product type to find products for each step.

Sources

1. American Academy of Dermatology. Tips for healthy hair.
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hair Products.
3. MedlinePlus. Hair problems.