How to find the best curly hair shampoo?

Shampoo is the primary product in hair care. Although it is advised that those with curly hair should not wash their hair too frequently, choosing the right shampoo is very important. Generally, the best shampoos for those with curly hair are those without sulfate, paraben, and silicone (SLS). However, there are more ingredients to be mindful of when selecting a shampoo. Here are some tips for choosing a shampoo for healthy and beautiful curly hair.

Tips for Choosing Shampoo for Curly Hair

Curly hair requires special care to stay healthy and beautiful. The right shampoo can help care for and maintain the health of curly hair by cleaning, moisturizing, and strengthening it. A suitable shampoo can also prevent hair from becoming tangled, dry, and brittle. Therefore, it is important to choose a shampoo that matches the type and needs of your curly hair.

1. Avoid Shampoos with Sulfate

Sulfate ingredients produce foam that is often equated with cleaning oil and dirt. However, using shampoo with sulfate will also wash away the natural oils in your hair, causing your curly hair to become dry and frizzy.

Common sulfate ingredients found in shampoos:

• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
• Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES)
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate (ALS)
• Ammonium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (ALES)
• Sodium Myreth Sulphate
• Ethyl PEG-15 Cocamine Sulphate

There are increasingly more sulfate-free shampoos available on the market. Happy hunting for the right shampoo for you!

2. Avoid Shampoos with Alcohol

Curly hair desperately needs moisture to keep its curls intact. Alcohol in shampoo products essentially serves to clean the scalp and hair and as a carrier agent that helps other active ingredients work. However, the light and volatile nature of alcohol can make the hair drier, frizzier, and more tangled.

You can start paying more attention to the composition of hair care products you buy. Not all types of alcohol have a negative impact on hair. For example, some types of alcohol, such as cetyl and lauryl, make hair softer and more manageable.

Meanwhile, types of alcohol like benzyl alcohol, propanol, ethanol, and some others, are the kinds of alcohol that could potentially make your hair drier and more brittle. However, if you don’t have the time and are not sure about determining the type of alcohol used, it’s best to avoid all products containing alcohol.

3. Use a Hydrating Shampoo

Curly hair tends to be drier and more brittle than straight hair because its shape makes it difficult for the natural oils from the scalp to evenly reach every strand of hair. As a result, curly hair is prone to tangling, breaking, and splitting. A hydrating shampoo can help address this issue by providing the extra moisture needed by curly hair. Generally, hydrating shampoos contain ingredients that can nourish, soften, and protect curly hair from damage, such as coconut oil.

4. Choose Shampoo with Natural Ingredients

Choosing a shampoo with natural ingredients will make your hair shine even more. Choose shampoos with natural contents like aloe vera and coconut oil. You can also add other natural oils as a vitamin for the scalp. If you have free time, you can use aloe vera and pure coconut oil as a hair mask.

Natural ingredients can be a good source with a low risk of side effects to get more nutrients than those found in commercial product ingredients. Generally, natural ingredients can also soothe the scalp and maintain a neutral pH in the hair.

5. Pay Attention to the pH Level in Shampoo

Products with a high pH level can increase the negative electrical charge on the hair surface, causing friction between hairs and making your curly hair tangled. Using shampoo with too high a pH level will also make your hair duller. It is recommended to use shampoo with a pH level not more than 5.5. 

Unfortunately, the pH level or acidity level is often not listed on the product packaging. It’s better to browse and find out before buying the shampoo you want.

Another way to determine the pH level of a product is by using litmus paper. If the shampoo you use tends to be liquid, the result will come out quite quickly. However, if the texture of the shampoo is thicker, it will take longer to see the results. Litmus paper cannot show an accurate pH level, but at least it can give a rough idea of how acidic or alkaline the shampoo is.

6. Slip Shampoo

Having curly hair will often lead to tangling. When untangling hair without the correct technique, your hair will fall out and break. Use slip shampoo to help untangle your tangled hair.

“Slip” refers to “slippery.” Slip shampoo contains ingredients that add a lubricating effect to the hair, making it easier for you to untangle knots even just with fingers. Using slip shampoo will also save you time and the use of conditioner.

7. Check the Protein Content in Shampoo

Protein is needed for curly hair care, but a high protein content can make hair dry and stiff. The type of protein commonly used in making shampoo is wheat protein. Unfortunately, this ingredient can reduce moisture and damage the elasticity of the hair.

Knowing the protein content in shampoo cannot be done at home and must be done with special tools and techniques. But you can check the shampoo’s ingredient list, see if there are ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein or soy protein listed.

Have you found the shampoo you’re looking for? Or are you disappointed that the shampoo you were eyeing doesn’t meet the criteria above? Don’t give up on continuing to find out, okay?

These are some tips for choosing shampoo for curly hair and caring for the scalp that you can try. However, it is important to remember that the condition of everyone’s hair and scalp can vary, depending on factors such as climate, pollution, lifestyle, and hair care habits. 

Therefore, don’t lose heart if the shampoo you’re interested in turns out to be less suitable for you. Keep being curious and love yourself!

Writer: Vinca Letsoin