What is the best shampoo for you?
Struggling to pick a shampoo that will work for your hair type? Don’t worry - it doesn’t matter whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly or kinky, there’s an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner to help keep it looking healthy and fresh.
Ever noticed that even if your best friend swears by her shampoo, it doesn’t always work for you?
It could be because everyone’s hair is different: she might need to moisturize her dry strands while you are desperate to get rid of oil on your scalp. That means that her shampoo probably doesn’t answer your needs.
To understand what to look for, think about your scalp and hair type and any issues you have which your shampoo needs to tackle:
Hair & scalp oiliness/greasiness: if your hair is oily/greasy, look for shampoos promising “deep cleansing.” If your hair is dry, skip the “deep cleansing” shampoos and opt for one with more nourishment.
Hair length: the longer your hair, the older it is. The more exposure to damaging factors, the more protective conditioning ingredients you need.
Hair thickness: fine hair needs to use shampoos with lightweight conditioning, to protect hair cuticle without weighing it down and making it look flat or greasy. Avoid shampoos that promise “moisture,” or “damage repair”- these may be too heavy.
Look instead for shampoos offering volume, fullness, or thickness, or a shampoo with deep-cleansing benefits.
Curliness or waviness: the more waves or curls you have, the drier hair can feel. It’s also more likely to become frizzy. Choose a shampoo that moisturizes or hydrates.
Styling products: the more you use, the more cleaning you will need. Choose deep-cleansing or clarifying shampoos to remove heavy build-up and give you a fresh start.
Chemical damage from permanent hair colour or chemical treatments: these treatments make hair feel rough by removing your hair’s waxy outer covering, called the “f-layer”, and lifting up cuticle edges. Chemically damaged hair needs extra care.
Shampoos that promise “damage repair” often have ingredients that target the hair’s surface and help restore its smooth feeling.
Scalp issues: itchiness, dryness, or flakes can be a sign that your scalp is out of balance. Choose an anti-dandruff shampoo that is clinically proven to target all of these issues. When your scalp’s delicate ecosystem is balanced, these signs of dandruff will start to disappear.
Whichever shampoo you choose, make sure you use it regularly and consistently - around three times a week for most people - to keep your scalp in its best possible shape.
Once you’ve chosen the right shampoo for your hair type, it’s time to think long-term.
The secret to how to get healthier-looking hair actually begins with the scalp. When your scalp is in good condition, it’s better at caring for the growing hair. Scalp issues, like dandruff, can actually cause new hair to be damaged as it grows.
Head & Shoulders is the first shampoo that is clinically proven to improve the quality of your hair, by keeping your scalp in good shape.
For help choosing the perfect Head & Shoulders product for your hair type, try our hair and scalp advisor.
DO I NEED ANTI-DANDRUFF SHAMPOO?
Let’s start with some easy identifiers. There are a number of ways to single out dandruff as the cause of scalp itch, but we’ll focus on the 2 big ones.
SIGNS YOU NEED ANTI-DANDRUFF SHAMPOO
If you find you’re nodding your head to either of the below, Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Shampoo will be your best friend - if removing dandruff is something your best friend was willing to do.
Flakes of skin on your scalp. If you part your hair so you can see through to your scalp, you’ll notice flakes of skin sitting on, or close, to your scalp. Sometimes these flakes are trapped in your hair close to the root and can be tricky to pull out.
Your scalp is itchy, red and dry. If notice your scalp is dry and red, you could have dandruff – or at least the early signs of it. Dandruff symptoms, like itch, dryness and scalp redness act as signals that your scalp skin is out of balance or stressed. Eventually, this could lead to dandruff flaking.
Dandruff is the commonest cause of scalp flakes, itch, dryness and redness. Roughly 50% of adults and teens will experience dandruff.
Anti-dandruff shampoo is key to restoring scalp balance, and preventing a dandruff flare-up. If you think you might have dandruff, try using anti-dandruff shampoo exclusively for two weeks. If your condition does not improve, check with your doctor; you may have a condition that requires a different treatment.
HOW ANTI-DANDRUFF SHAMPOO WORKS
Dandruff shampoo protects your scalp from Malassezia globosa, a fungus that lives on everyone’s scalp. When Malassezia breaks down scalp oil, it creates a substance that can affect the skin.
When used regularly, the active ingredient in anti-dandruff shampoo helps block those effects in-between washes, so your scalp can stay balanced and comfortable.
WHAT IS THE BEST DANDRUFF SHAMPOO?
The best dandruff shampoo for you will vary depending on your specific hair type and needs, but there are certain things you should always look for. Above all, you should look for one that you’ll love using every time you wash your hair, because dandruff is a recurring condition that can be treated but not cured.
Lots of people don’t realize it, but dandruff is caused by a fungus that is present on everyone’s scalps.
So, if you want to keep those locks looking fantastic and free of pesky flakes, your best chance is to make friends with a good anti-dandruff shampoo which has been specially developed to protect your scalp from the dandruff-causing fungus.
But with so many shampoos on the market, how do you choose the right one for you?
1. CHOOSE A SHAMPOO YOU WILL LOVE USING REGULARLY
The key to preventing dandruff flare-ups is to use dandruff shampoo and conditioner regularly to protect your scalp, even before you notice flakes appearing. Itch and dryness can be early signs of dandruff, so pay attention to these cues that your scalp needs extra attention. Keeping your scalp in good shape every time you wash should be a priority. But using anti-dandruff shampoo doesn’t need to be a chore – you can still have the great looking hair that you love. Head & Shoulders has the power of an anti-dandruff shampoo with the fresh fragrances and moisturizing properties of a beauty shampoo.
2. LOOK FOR A CLINICALLY-PROVEN SHAMPOO
Many shampoos claim to fight dandruff, but few are willing to prove how well they work with clinical testing. Head & Shoulders is highly effective at controlling dandruff flaking. Our unique formulas have been dermatologically tested and clinically proven at independent research facilities around the world. Some shampoos use ingredients which come from homeopathic remedies which aren’t proven to work on dandruff. A shampoo with a clinically proven active ingredient will treat dandruff much more effectively.
3. LOOK FOR EXTRA BENEFITS FOR YOUR HAIR
Don’t settle for a shampoo that says it will treat flakes but leaves your hair feeling terrible. Whatever your hair type, we have a wide range of shampoos for every possible need – whether you want a volume boost or smooth & silky hair. And if you need help choosing, why not try our hair and scalp advisor to find the perfect product for you?
And by caring for your scalp, Head & Shoulders is the first shampoo proven to improve your hair’s quality. Scientists have discovered that dandruff and scalp issues can actually damage hair’s structure. Using Head & Shoulders every time you wash helps keep your scalp in good condition, so it’s better at caring for the growing hair. That means you can finally have your best hair.
4. TURN TO THE SHAMPOO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TRUST
Head & Shoulders is the world’s most trusted shampoo brand*, so if you want to keep things as simple as possible, you can just go straight to the Head & Shoulders aisle. We’ve been working hard to earn your trust with over sixty years spent in scientific research and testing. Delivering on our promises has made us the World’s #1 shampoo brand*, so you can feel confident that whichever shampoo you choose from our range it will keep you flake-free.**
If you’re new to the range, our Head and Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo is a great place to start. It’s our classic formula with a clinically proven dandruff-fighting active ingredient, a fresh scent and moisturizers to keep hair looking shiny and full of life. And what’s more, you can use it on coloured hair.
So, there you have it – the easiest guide ever to picking your perfect anti-dandruff shampoo. Now, go and show off those locks!
(* P&G calculation based on Nielsen sales data)
(** Visible flakes with regular use)
