How to pick the best shampoo for your hair type

By Geeta Rao19 February 2020

Whether you have curly hair you can't control anymore or dry frizz that shows up every morning, we've finally figured out how you can pick the shampoo that's perfect for your hair

Still wondering what the best shampoo for your hair type is? Shampoos used to be lowest in the pecking order of hair care and styling. Conditioner is where all your money went before—but not anymore. Shampoos now come with built-in conditioning, care and optical benefits so you can ensure your hair starts in top condition from the first step. The mistake most people make is not identifying their hair needs correctly, but if you want to get the best out of your shampoo, choosing one that's right for your hair is a must. Under hair types, you'll find oily, dry and frizzy. Then there's hair texture that is split into fine and limp, thick and coarse, and big and curly. Hair can also be coloured, highlighted, keratin-treated or straightened. Hair that is exposed to chemicals changes character. Damaged hair usually looks over dry and full of split ends and trust us, you never want to see those hair shafts under a high-tech diagnostic machine. Here's our complete guide to finding the best shampoo for your hair type. Worry not, we are spoiled for choice—there is literally a shampoo for every hair need, type and texture.

What to look out for when choosing a shampoo for your hair type

1. Best shampoo for oily hair

If your hair is oily, you need a shampoo that can attack oil and the excess dirt that oily hair attracts. Biotique's Green Apple Purifying preservative-free formula is the best shampoo for an oily scalp as there is no oil rebound or excessive stripping of hair. L'Oréal Paris' Extraordinary Clay shampoo has three clays to rebalance an oily scalp while moisturising dry lengths.

2. Best shampoo for dry hair

Dry hair needs the opposite kind of care and while oil-based shampoos seem like a paradox, they work by leaving a light protective sheen on your strands. The Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo and Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Shampoo with six oils come equipped to add some life, so they're the best shampoo for dry hair. Tresemmé's Keratin Smooth Shampoo works to tame frizz and smoothen the appearance of split ends (PS: nothing can reverse split ends, and the only way to get rid of them is a haircut).

3. Best shampoo for thin hair

Kiehl's Rice and Wheat Volumising shampoo is lightweight and protein-rich and helps limp, thin hair appear thicker, without being weighed down. Aesop has a fennel seed, rosemary and mint volumising shampoo that ensures fine hair gets some body and bounce.

4. Best shampoo for curly hair

Curly hair needs extra care and experts recommend you dilute your shampoo if you are not using one specifically for curly hair. Try Living Proof's silicone-free Curl Conditioning shampoo that comes with time-release conditioning properties (it works on your hair while in the shower and even after your rinse) to keep yours looking their best.

5. Best shampoo for damaged hair

Damaged hair needs much more work because it is not just the appearance you need to take care of, but also the nourishment of both scalp and ends. Repair shampoos mask and protect the hair shaft from further damage by coating it. The downside is they can cause product build-up with prolonged use. Try the Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair shampoo for instant results. If you prefer going the Ayurvedic way, then Kama Ayurveda's Sanobar Shampoo with orange and cypress essential oils is specifically formulated for dry and damaged hair. For deep care, try John Frieda's Full Body Full Repair Shampoo with omega 3-rich inchi oil.

6. Best sulphate free shampoo

Sulphate-free is one of the latest haircare buzzwords. It means your shampoo does not have sulphates—the detergents that cleanse but that can strip hair dry. Sulphates give shampoo its foaming effect and are good for deep cleansing, especially for very oily hair. Those without it are recommended for treated hair and coloured hair, as they don't strip hair colour. They are also recommended if you have a sensitive scalp or very frizzy hair. Take caution though—they don't lather much, so don't make the mistake of over-shampooing in hopes of the lather to show up. The Kérastase Bain Chromatique shampoo for colour-treated and highlighted hair is a star product. It is sulphate-free, has UV filters to prevent colour fading plus neutralisers for water damage. Yes, water, especially hard water can be terrible for hair. The Wella Elements Sulphate-Free Renewing Shampoo promises to restore moisture to brittle, damaged hair.

Should you be changing your shampoo often?

Hair can change with the season. Anyone who has struggled when perfectly well-behaved hair turns stubbornly frizzy in the monsoons will know that feeling, making it important to change your shampoo when the weather changes. There is the theory of shampoo build-up and it is quite true that shampoos that have silicone, sulphates, and a whole load of other ingredients will eventually leave deposits on your scalp. The only way to deal with this is to switch shampoos every month or two or rotate between two or three shampoos.