Guide to Choosing Good Hair Care Products
The way a person’s hair looks can sometimes reflect their personality. Using the right hair products is one way to ensure that our hair always looks healthy. But with so many hair products available in the market both online and offline, and so many great reviews, how do you know which one is the best for you? Without further ado, here’s a guide to help you choose the right hair care products for your hair!
Contents
1. Know the Texture, Condition and Type of Hair
Everyone has different hair types and textures which can be roughly categorized into; straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair type 3 and type 4. Each of these hair types usually requires different products because they have different needs. For example, someone with fine hair is better suited to using lightweight products so as not to weigh down their hair strands, as well as products that will add volume and strengthen their hair strands. While someone with curly hair will need more moisturizing products to combat dry hair. It is also important to note that your hair type may not fall entirely into one category.
2. Special Needs
Once you’ve narrowed down your product list based on your hair type, condition, and texture, the next step is figuring out what your hair really needs. If your hair is very dry or oily, you’ll want to look for products that can help address those issues. For example, oily hair will need a lighter formula and a gentler shampoo, while dry or damaged hair will need a hydrating product to provide the moisture it needs. Meanwhile, colored hair will need a moisturizing and gentle product, such as a sulfate-free shampoo. For other conditions, such as dandruff, look for products that are specifically formulated for dandruff.
3. Know the Product Brand
Try to find out more about the hair product brand you are targeting, including its advantages and disadvantages. As we know, the number of companies following the natural hair trend continues to increase every year, so you have to be smart in doing research to find out the types of ingredients they use, product formulations, and comparisons of quality, quantity and price.
4. Get to know the ingredients or ingredients of hair products
Once you understand your hair texture and needs, one of the most important things to do before deciding to buy a product is to check the list of ingredients or compositions. At first it may be difficult to read all the names of the ingredients listed because they use foreign terms, but don’t worry because you need to pay special attention to some of the ingredients mentioned at the beginning. For example, if you want to buy a product that moisturizes your hair, then ingredients such as glycerin and aqua (water) should be at least in third or fourth place. The list of ingredients or compositions of a product is arranged in such a way based on the amount, so the further the position shifts, the lower the concentration of the ingredient. Another reason you need to pay attention to the composition is allergies. If you have allergies or are sensitive to certain ingredients, such as aloe vera or nuts, it is certainly important for you to avoid these ingredients so as not to trigger allergic reactions on your scalp.
5. Adjust the product to your budget
If you are familiar with the terms listed on the product’s ingredient list, you will not be easily tempted by the marketing techniques that are usually written on pretty packaging labels. When you know the ingredients you need, you will know what you are paying for and will not waste money on products that most likely will not solve your problems. Your hair may not like the formulation of the product (this is where trial and error comes in), but at least you know that the ingredients in it are good and not harmful to your hair. In general, a well-formulated product will be based on natural or naturally derived ingredients and will be sold around Rp80,000 – 150,000. Regardless, always make sure you read the ingredient list.
6. Not Just Shampoo and Conditioner
Hair care products are not just limited to shampoo and conditioner. Sometimes if you have a special routine or hair problem, you may need products such as dry shampoo, curl cream, hair tonic, heat protector, hair oil or serum, and others that can be adjusted to your needs.
7. Choose Products with These Keywords
With so many choices of products on the market, you may feel confused and don’t have much time and money to do trial and error. To help you choose, you can also look at the label on the packaging and adjust it to your hair condition. Here are some tips:
1. Oily scalp and hair
Avoid labels like moisturizing, hydrating, or smoothening. Instead, choose products labeled volumizing, balancing, or strengthening. Additionally, you can also use a clarifying shampoo once a week to thoroughly remove product buildup from your skin and hair.
2. Dry scalp and hair
The opposite of oily scalp type, you can choose products with moisturizing, hydrating, or smoothening labels. Avoid fortifying and volumizing labels, as well as shampoos with sulfates so that your hair does not become even drier. To keep your hair moisturized, you can also use conditioner every time you wash your hair.
3. Curly hair
Choose a shampoo that suits your curly hair category, but generally you can choose a shampoo with a highly moisturizing or anti-frizz label. Hair that is quite thick and tight curls usually also experiences dryness at the ends of the hair, so don’t forget to always avoid sulfates.
4. Colored hair
Colored hair usually also requires a special shampoo for colored hair that provides moisture and keeps the hair color longer. This hair also needs to avoid sulfate content because it will fade the color faster and make the hair dry. If you are not sure about the condition of your hair or do not have any complaints, shampoo that has a light formula, no sulfates, and a slightly low pH can be a safe choice for caring for your hair. Hopefully some of these hair care product selection guidelines will help you sort out products while saving you time and money. Give it time for a few uses or a few weeks to see if the product works well or not.