There are more and more types of shampoos on the market, and the price difference is also getting bigger. Sometimes it's really difficult to make a decision. The product packaging and TV advertisements all claim great results. So, when we hold a bottle of shampoo in our hands at the supermarket, how can we obtain information from the similar ingredient lists to guide our purchase? How much of the advertising is just hype? How do we choose shampoo?
Regardless of price, cleanliness is the most important
No matter how enticing the advertising slogans may be, the cleaning ingredients are definitely the most important components of a shampoo, besides water.
Ingredients like LAS and AES, which may seem unfamiliar, are actually surfactants. Similar to laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid, surfactants work by combining with and removing the oil and dirt from the objects being cleaned. This is the main ingredient in cleaning agents, including shampoos.
Of course, different surfactants have different levels of irritation and cleansing abilities. Currently, MES, a green ingredient processed from natural palm oil, is a more effective and gentle cleansing agent.
Soft and shiny hair is not difficult, hair care is difficult
The TV advertisements for shampoos have not changed much over the years, and the most classic ones always feature glossy, smooth, and shiny hair.
In reality, it is not difficult to achieve smooth and shiny long hair. Usually, adding oils can achieve a softening effect, and adding common moisturizers such as glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, and sodium pyrrolidone carboxylate can make the hair appear smooth and not rough.
Lanolin, lanolin derivatives, and others can effectively adsorb onto the hair, replenishing oil and forming a thin oily film that inhibits the evaporation of moisture, giving the hair a moist and glossy appearance.
Adding some anti-static agents such as dodecyl trimethylammonium chloride, sodium stearate, or sodium laureth sulfate can prevent hair from becoming charged easily in seasons like autumn and winter, when static electricity is common. Choosing products with these ingredients will reduce the chances of "hair-raising" moments.
Therefore, these ingredients mainly directly change the "physical properties" of the hair itself. As for claims of deep nourishment and inner repair, you can just listen to them without taking them too seriously.
Cooling, anti-itch, and anti-dandruff - Special ingredients to look for
Cooling, anti-itch, and anti-dandruff effects are not that complicated to achieve. Adding some peppermint to the ingredients will naturally cool and dry the scalp after washing.
By adding salicylic acid or salicylate, undecylenic acid derivatives, selenium sulfide, hexachlorophene, polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex, and certain quaternary ammonium compounds, the speed of cell keratinization and the rate of epidermal metabolism on the scalp are reduced, resulting in less dandruff.
For those who suffer from severe dandruff, it is possible that there is a fungal infection as well. It is recommended for these individuals to see a dermatologist. As we all know, to fight an infection, it is important to determine what is causing it first.
Repairing damage and reducing split ends - The role of vitamins
Vitamins such as vitamin E and vitamin B5 can penetrate the hair through the shampoo matrix, giving the hair a glossy appearance, maintaining long-lasting moisture, repairing hair damage, and reducing split ends, while lubricating the cuticle layer without causing hair tangling.
In addition, amino acids such as silk peptides and hydrolyzed proteins also have some nutritional and hair repair effects. Whether you need these functions or not, you can pay attention to them when choosing a shampoo.
What are the effects of Chinese herbal medicine?
Common Chinese herbal extracts used in shampoos, such as ginseng, dong quai, aloe vera, polygonum multiflorum, seabuckthorn, and saponin, can promote scalp blood circulation and hair growth (e.g., ginseng) or have a nourishing and hair-darkening effect (e.g., polygonum multiflorum). However, it is difficult to know how much of these ingredients are added to the shampoo.
Tips
It is clear that feeling a little dry or excessively smooth after washing your hair cannot be used as the sole criteria to evaluate the quality of a product or determine if your hair has been nourished. The primary duty of a shampoo is to clean, and the rest depends on what kind of hair quality you desire.
