Taking good care of your hair means that you have to use the right hair care products. It’s important to know which products work for your hair because it saves you time, money and effort.

Using the wrong haircare products are a waste of money because they do not provide good results, and worse, they may also damage your hair – and going to the salon for hair fixes costs a lot of money.

Here’s how to determine which haircare products are right for you.

Shampoo

Shampoo is used to clean your hair and scalp. You hair needs to shampooed as often as necessary. It’s not enough to use just any shampoo. Choose one that is appropriate for your hair type.

For instance, if you have oily hair, do not use a shampoo for dry hair. There are tons of different brands and types of shampoos in the market created specifically for various hair types.

The main ingredient of shampoo is water. It is named first in the list of ingredients which means it is the primary ingredient. Another main ingredient of shampoos are surfacants. Surfacants help remove oil. Some shampoos also contain some kind of conditioner.

Chemically, shampoos are either alkaline or acidic. The following are some of the common types of branded shampoo:

1. All-purpose shampoos – are low alkaline, very mild and do not strip your hair’s artificial color.

2. Acid-balanced shampoos – can be used for all hair types and won’t harm chemically-treated hair.

3. Medicated shampoos – are created specifically for certain hair and scalp types or conditions.

4. Clarifying shampoos – are designed to remove product residue or build up.

5. Anti-dandruff shampoos – as the names suggests, these shampoos are designed to get rid of or prevent dandruff. Anti-dandruff shampoos contain anti-fungus or germicide agents.

6. Conditioning shampoos – contain small amounts of various types of conditioners.

7. Color shampoos – contain color molecules that help maintain color treated hair.

8. Shampoos that enhance naturally curly hair.

9. Straightening shampoos – they do not necessarily make hair straight, but rather, keep your hair’s straight shape or form.

Choose one that suits you hair best.

Conditioners are Rinses

Conditioners are different from hair rinses. Naturally, each is used for a specific purpose.

Conditioners are mainly used for damaged or dry hair. They penetrate the hair more than rinses and remain on your hair longer. There are a number of conditioner types:

1. Instant conditioners – coat the hair and restore lost moisture and natural oils. Instant conditioners are usually left on the hair for a minute or two (depending on instructions) and then rinsed off.

2. Normalizing conditioners – are used after the chemical treatments to bring hair back to its normal ph level.

3. Body-building conditioners – are used for flat, fine or limp hair. Body-building conditioners contain protein and are left on the hair for about 10 minutes.

4. Moisturizing conditioners – are used for dry, brittle hair. Certain procedures such as blow drying, ironing, crimping or curling, chemically treating or coloring can make hair dry and brittle. Thus, it is important to keep hair moisturized. Moisturizing conditioners form a protective barrier to lock moisture in the hair. Follow instructions during application.

5. Leave-in conditioners – leave-in conditioners are applied after you step out of the shower. They are left on the hair until it is washed again. Leave-in conditioners help keep hair tangle-free and shiny. They also protect the hair when blow drying and help keep moisture.

6. Reconstructors – are more intense conditioning treatments. They are created for hair that are severely dry and/or damaged. Reconstructors help restore the hair’s lost protein and moisture. For best results, use a clarifying shampoo first to remove any buildup on your hair. This will enable the reconstructors to penetrate the hair better. Leave this conditioner on for 10-20 minutes.

Rinses or cream rinses on the other hand, affect mostly the hair’s surface. They usually just coat the hair and are rinsed off immediately. Cream rinses help manage tangles and make the hair shiny. The types of cream rinses include:

1. Vinegar and lemon rinses – simply make hair shine and remove product residue.

2. Cream rinses – cream rinses make hair softer, shinier and makes tangles easier to manage.

3. Medicated rinses – are designed for scalp conditions including dandruff. They are best used with a scalp massage.

Hairstyling products

There are hundreds of hairstyling products available in the market. Here are some of these products and what to watch out for in them.

1. Gels – gels are used to hold hair in certain style. They come in a range of strengths which basically translates to style-staying power. Make sure to choose one that is water-based and has low alcohol content. Alcohol can quickly dry hair.

2. Mousse – it’s like a soft foam that is dispensed in an aerosol spray can. A light weight styling product, mousse gives hair volume, support and movement. Best applied on wet hair.

3. Pomades or wax – pomades or waxes are very heavy and oily and can leave residue. These products however, give hair texture definition and shine. Pomades and waxes are best for thick, coarse hair.

4. Straightening gels – relax hair for a smoother, straighter look

5. Silicone shine – makes hair shiny and glossy. Choose one that is non-oily. Too much can make your hair look greasy. 

6. Thermal styling – apply onto hair before blow drying to protect from dryness.

7. Root spray – is applied to the roots only. It adds volume and lift to your hairstyle.

8. Hairspray – comes in two kinds: aerosol and non-aerosol. Hairspray is applied after you’ve finished styling you hair. This is because once you apply it, it sets your hair in place and you won’t be able to make anymore changes.

9. Spray oils – gives hair shine and moisture. They are different from spray shines. Use sparingly as they are very oily. Make sure to choose one that is appropriate for your hair type.