Having beautiful hair requires hair care that always starts with a better shampoo. It is then a matter of finding a product with a good balance of formula that softens and purifies your hair and scalp. But it is not easy to choose among the multitude of ranges on the market. To better guide you in your choice, read this guide on the best shampoos.
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Our selection
"Head & Classic 2 in 1 is a shampoo designed for normal and dry hair. It combines shampoo and conditioner against dandruff, itching and dryness.…"
"Expert Silver Series is a purple shampoo that is perfect for gray and white hair. This shampoo is formulated to provide clarifying results while nourishing…"
"Kerastase Bain Lumière is a daily moisturizing shampoo for natural, highlighted or bleached blond hair types. It has been designed to illuminate and moisturize the…"
"Formulated with horse oil, Horse Oil Shampoo by Pinpoxe treats your hair by repairing all damage to leave it soft, shiny and silky. Perfect for…"
Head & Classic 2 in 1 is a shampoo designed for normal and dry hair. It combines shampoo and conditioner against dandruff, itching and dryness. The shampoo cleanses the hair while providing freshness and intense hydration.
11,12 £ on AmazonHead & Soulders Classic 2 in 1 is made of an advanced and dermatologically tested formula. It features a balanced ph, boosted with antioxidants to care for the hair and scalp. This type of hair care was designed to treat the root causes of dandruff while providing 72 hours of protection against itching and dryness. It's the perfect combination of a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner for a cleansing experience that provides freshness and intense moisture to the hair and scalp.
Expert Silver Series is a purple shampoo that is perfect for gray and white hair. This shampoo is formulated to provide clarifying results while nourishing and protecting hair fibers.
7,18 £ on AmazonWith L'Oréal Professionnel Expert Series Silver Shampoo, you'll get salon-quality results at home. Here you have a purple shampoo specifically designed for white, gray and light blonde hair to bring clarity and shine. It helps neutralize unwanted yellow tones and maintain natural blonde or white color while nourishing and protecting the hair fiber.
L'Oréal Silver Shampoo contains magnesium and anti-yellowing agents to help counteract dullness and brassiness and enhance the fabulous beauty of gray, white and light blonde hair. This shampoo softens and boosts hair, leaving it looking clarified and revitalized with the ultimate in color radiance. Plus, it's perfectly ethical and has not been tested on animals.
Kerastase Bain Lumière is a daily moisturizing shampoo for natural, highlighted or bleached blond hair types. It has been designed to illuminate and moisturize the hair and scalp with its formula enriched with hyaluronic acid and Edelweiss flower.
31,99 £ on CdiscountKerastase Bain Lumière is an illuminating moisturizing shampoo enriched with hyaluronic acid and Edelweiss flower. Ideal for natural, highlighted or bleached blond hair, this shampoo moisturizes and repairs the hair in depth, detoxifying it from pollution and providing ultimate shine.
Characterized by two main active ingredients and flagship ingredients of the brand's absolute blonde range, this shampoo will sublimate your hair. Hyaluronic acid helps to protect against breakage, repair hair damage and fill in gaps or hair fibers. The Edelweiss flower acts as an antioxidant while protecting hair fibers from daily aggressions and pollution.
Formulated with horse oil, Horse Oil Shampoo by Pinpoxe treats your hair by repairing all damage to leave it soft, shiny and silky. Perfect for dry, wavy or damaged hair, the shampoo works against hair loss and helps balance the scalp.
11,55 £ on AmazonAny specific needs?
The best entry-level solid shampoo
The best ally for green people
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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8/10 |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Head&Shoulders, Classic 2in1 Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner
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L'Oréal - Professional Expert Series Silver
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Kerastase Bain Lumière Shampoo 500 ml
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Shampooing Cheveux Naturels, Shampoing à L'huile de Cheval
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Head & Classic 2 in 1 is a shampoo designed for normal and dry hair. It combines shampoo and conditioner against dandruff, itching and dryness. The shampoo cleanses the hair while providing freshness and intense hydration.
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Expert Silver Series is a purple shampoo that is perfect for gray and white hair. This shampoo is formulated to provide clarifying results while nourishing and protecting hair fibers.
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Kerastase Bain Lumière is a daily moisturizing shampoo for natural, highlighted or bleached blond hair types. It has been designed to illuminate and moisturize the hair and scalp with its formula enriched with hyaluronic acid and Edelweiss flower.
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Formulated with horse oil, Horse Oil Shampoo by Pinpoxe treats your hair by repairing all damage to leave it soft, shiny and silky. Perfect for dry, wavy or damaged hair, the shampoo works against hair loss and helps balance the scalp.
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Brand
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Head & Soulders
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L'Oréal Professionnel
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kerastase
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Pinpoxe
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Target audience
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Mixed
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Women
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Women
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Mixed
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Hair type
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Dry Hair
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Natural gray & white
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Blonde, Colored, Sappy
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Dry, Wavy, Damaged
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Basic formula
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Ph Balance & Antioxidants
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Magnesium & Keratin
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Hyaluronic acid & Edelweiss Flower
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Horse oil
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Smell
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Gentle Fragrance
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Fragrance
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Fragrance
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A shampoo is made to clean both your hair and your scalp. In fact, it is the health of your scalp that will condition the health of your hair. Therefore, you should choose your shampoo based on the needs of your scalp, rather than your hair type.
The priority for your shampoo is to take care of your scalp and roots, while the conditioner should take care of your ends. For example, if you have an oily scalp and dry ends (what we call mixed hair), it's best to choose a shampoo that's suitable for oily scalps and leave the moisturizing of your ends to your conditioner.
If your scalp is healthy, you can choose a shampoo that's suitable for your hair type. There are a lot of them: blue shampoos, coloring shampoos, detangling shampoos, moisturizing shampoos, smoothing shampoos, shampoos for damaged hair, curly hair, blonde hair, colored hair, fine hair, curly hair, gray hair, highlighted hair... There is something for every taste and need.
You may very well be in the habit of washing your hair every day. In this case, you should choose a very gentle shampoo (even a baby shampoo), which does not attack your scalp. Choose a product that requires only one application to avoid weighing down your hair. A neutral shampoo, combined with a little essential oil can for example be perfect to keep them in their natural state.
If
you have an easily irritable scalp, favor shampoos with natural components and avoid sulfates and perfumes.If you have long hair, it is best to opt for a shampoo without silicone
. Although this product smoothes your hair and protects it from humidity, it is difficult to remove and often ends up "choking" your ends. From products based on plant extracts to those labeled organic, you will surely find the one that suits you. You'll have the opportunity to both care for your hair, but also protect the environment
Everyone has already noticed that hair (especially blond hair) changes color during the summer because of the sun. But UV rays have other effects: they damage hair fibers and weaken hair. Worse, combined with salt and wind, UV rays break the bonds between keratin molecules. If your hair is sensitive to the sun, you may want to use a protective UV shampoo during the summer.
Shampoos have undergone a revolution in recent decades. Formulas now contain surfactants that wash the hair by eliminating greasy particles, antistatic detangling agents, sheathing or smoothing products, preservatives, perfumes and numerous ingredients that are more or less effective (shea butter, essential oils, vegetable oils, plant extracts, etc.).
But not all ingredients are equal and some can have a negative effect on your hair or scalp. Here are the ones you should be aware of:
Sulfates are very effective washing agents used in most shampoos. They are also used to create the lathering effect that users love so much. There are several types of sulfates, but the ones usually found in shampoos are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).
Lauryl is not Laureth:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is very harsh on the scalp and contributes to drying out your skin.
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate, on the other hand, is much less irritating to the skin, but offers the same foaming effect. So there's no reason to shun SLES.
In short, not all sulfates are bad. You are free to choose a shampoo with SLES, or to choose a sulfate-free shampoo containing less aggressive surfactants such as sodium coco sulfate, decylglucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine or any other betaine derivative.
To counter the effect of sulfates, most shampoos use one or more silicones. Hydrophobic, silicones deposit a film that coats the hair,protecting it from natural oxidation due to water and humidity. They also coat the hair, which helps to style long, curly or frizzy hair.
They are often accused of masking problems rather than repairing damaged hair. But this is a more than debatable accusation. In reality, the only flaw of silicones is that they are polluting, so it's better to use silicone-free formulas that use substitutes (guar gum derivatives, quaternary ammoniums, etc.) that are just as effective.
Parabens are preservatives that ensure the microbiological protection of products, which guarantees the safety of consumers. They have several defects such as being often endocrine disruptors and potentially irritating. It is therefore preferable to choose a shampoo that uses other preservatives.
Nevertheless, the presence of preservatives remains essential in the formula of any shampoo, as for most cosmetic products.
These molecules pass through the epidermis and act on the functioning of the hormonal system which they disrupt, for example by mimicking the behavior of a natural hormone. Their effect varies according to the stage of human development. They are more dangerous for children than for adults. They also frequently have a harmful effect on the environment.
Many shampoos contain endocrine disruptors, especially as preservatives (e.g. propylparaben) or UV filters (e.g. ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate).
As we've just explained, the most important thing about your shampoo is that it addresses the needs of your scalp. Here are the most important ones.
Dandruff, more commonly known as dandruff, is small flakes of dead skin that fall off the scalp. One out of two English people is affected by this skin problem. In addition to their unsightly side, dandruff is often associated with itching, redness, as well as a disorder of the sebaceous glands (scalp too dry or too oily).
It is therefore not surprising that anti-dandruff shampoos (also called anti-dandruff shampoos) are the best-selling specialized shampoos in the UK.
The right shampoo: The best solution for dandruff is to alternate between 3 different anti-dandruff shampoos. Indeed, after a few weeks, the fungi that cause dandruff become resistant to the composition of your shampoo. It is therefore necessary to change anti-dandruff shampoos regularly to avoid this problem.
Many shampoos contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). This is a powerful detergent that can cause itching and dandruff problems. So if you have dandruff or a sensitive scalp, it's best to avoid shampoos that contain SLS or other sulfates.
Let's review the main categories of shampoos available on the market to better understand their use and effects on our hair.
These are the classic shampoos in plastic bottles that are most often found in our bathrooms. Liquid shampoos come in a variety of varieties on the market: mild, moisturizing, sulfate-free, anti-dandruff, etc. In terms of composition, they are mostly made up of water, which acts as a solvent and liquefying agent, and are usually made up of 15 to 25% surfactants that allow them to lather well for better scalp washing.
The downside with them is that they contain some potentially allergenic substances in small amounts. Although liquid shampoos are laboratory-tested and certified as being tolerated by the skin, some users, including the more eco-friendly ones, are quite reluctant to use them. In addition, they are not very practical when traveling, as their container is susceptible to leaks.
It is
a type of shampoo that is completely free of chemical agents such as paraben, sulfates and silicone. Its composition is mostly based on plant powders or mineral powders, vegetable oil or vegetable butter, essential oils, water and floral water. However, to ensure a good washing of the scalp, a solid shampoo needs surfactants like SCI (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate) for example. This is a surfactant derived from coconut oil.
The solid shampoo is suitable for all hair types and, depending on its composition, can even do without a conditioner. Thanks to its small size, it takes up little space and fits easily into a handbag. By opting for a solid shampoo, you save on your budget since a bar of solid shampoo corresponds to 3 bottles of liquid shampoo, that is to say approximately 80 washes with a cost not exceeding 3 euros. Finally, solid shampoo promotes eco-responsible behavior, as it puts an end to the use of plastic bottles.
Dry shampoos are revolutionary products generally in the form of sprays that allow you to wash your hair less frequently and give your hair a few hours of cleanliness. We can't tell you enough: washing your hair too often will weaken it in the long run! That's why it's so important to use dry shampoos to space out your washes. Generally composed of oat, rice, starch or corn powders, these atypical shampoos help neutralize the sebum contained in the hair for some time. Thus, your hair will need less washing.
Apart from that, they can also be used to add volume to fine hair, to structure unruly hair and to cover the roots between colorings. However, since dry shampoo only neutralizes sebum, it does not get rid of impurities on the scalp. Therefore, it is important to use it sparingly and not too frequently at the risk of causing itching and dulling the hair fiber.
Shampoo is composed mainly of water, cleansing agents and surfactants that effectively remove excess sebum, dirt and dead skin from the scalp. Most shampoos contain "cationic" molecules that prevent static electricity and facilitate styling. As a result, there is nothing better than a shampoo to clean and care for your hair. For example, if you have dandruff, an anti-dandruff shampoo is best for you.
In any case, you will find a whole lot of shampoos intended for the care of different types of hair (colored, oily, normal, dry, damaged, etc.). Just as with the effects of shower gel on hair, shampoo contains substances that do not benefit the skin.
Some shower gels have 2-in-1 functions and can be used for both body and hair. However, the elasticity, sebum secretion rate, sometimes even the pH and porosity are specific factors of the skin. As a result, its needs differ considerably from those of the scalp. This is why your hair becomes dry and brittle when you use shower gel (even the 2-in-1 ones) to wash it. After washing, it becomes dry, heavy and difficult to manage while the skin is smoother and more moisturized! This is because the shower gel additives, which are so good for your body, are not appreciated by your hair.
In conclusion, in order to take care of the skin's hydrolipidic filter and avoid skin sensitivity to bacteria, it is better to use a shower gel adapted to your skin type. Similarly, to avoid weakening the hair, the use of a shampoo adapted to your hair type or effective in treating your hair problems is highly recommended. On the other hand, if you are looking for a compromise between the two, you will find 2-in-1 shampoos on the market that also act as shower gel. However, you should know that their effectiveness leaves something to be desired insofar as they are basic washing solutions that have no hair or skin specificity.
It can be tempting to settle for a 2 or 3 euro shampoo, but buying a good shampoo makes all the difference.
To take care of your hair
It is obvious that you want to take care of your hair. The first way to do this is to choose the right shampoo. Know that you need to take care of your scalp, just like you take care of your skin. Protect it from external aggressions, but also nourish it with the right products.
Because hair is a seductive asset
To seduce, you need to feel good about yourself and your hair. If this is your goal, you must take care of your hair, especially if you have a long hair. Having beautiful hair will help you feel beautiful and confident. Using the right shampoo for your hair is the best way to achieve this.
To repair your hair
Using a shampoo is extremely helpful when you want to repair your hair. It's one of the most effective ways to do this, especially if it has been through a long series of straightening or coloring. With so many different shampoos to choose from, you'll be spoilt for choice.
When you don't have time to use other treatments
In case you don't have time to apply different products for your hair, you should know that using one shampoo can replace a whole range of conditioners and masks. Also, if you're in a hurry, using a dry shampoo will save you a lot of time.
To beautify your color
If you have colored hair, there's nothing better than a shampoo to revive your color! Using a product specifically designed for this purpose will allow you to enjoy the tone you've chosen for several weeks. It will also help you do less coloring so that you don't damage your hair too much.
In our opinion, the best brands of shampoos in 2022 are :
Schwarzkopf has been making shampoos since 1903. This means that the company has almost 120 years of experience! Today, Schwarzkopf offers a wide range of shampoos, mainly for consumers. While L'Oreal is #1 in sales worldwide, Schwarzkopf makes, overall, shampoos with less harmful ingredients, and with a better quality/price ratio.
Created in 1909, L'Oreal is the world leader in shampoo. Given the diversity of their lines, you can find both average shampoos as well as excellent shampoos. Overall, it is one of the best consumer brands.
Kéranove Naturanove is an innovative brand at Eugene Perma, placed under the sign of natural beauty. It consists of a range of colorings with plant-based phytopigments and a line of certified organic shampoos & care products. Their products offer an excellent quality/price ratio for organic.
Bioderma is a dermatological product brand. Although they don't specialize in shampoos, their mastery of the dermis allows them to create shampoos that effectively respond to problems caused by the scalp.
Watermans is a high-end English shampoo brand. All their products are sulfate-free, paraben-free, palm oil-free and cruelty-free. Even though their products are too expensive for normal hair, they make excellent, highly effective specialty shampoos.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Place your shampoo in a suitable place
Most of the time, shampoo is left in the bathroom, on the edge of the bathtub or shower tray. This warm and humid environment encourages deterioration. The best thing to do is to create a special space, such as a small wall cupboard, to store your shampoo away from all light, heat and humidity. Most importantly, remember to always reseal the cap after use.
Mix your shampoo with sugar
Add a teaspoon of sugar to a dab of shampoo, and mix it on your palm. Then apply the mixture to your scalp, using a circular massage. Not only will this exfoliating cream get rid of your dandruff, but it will also promote cell renewal.
Apply your shampoo twice
The specific active ingredients in the shampoo work best on hair that is free of impurities. That's why it's best to do two shampoos for more effectiveness. The first time, it will clean your hair by removing all external agents such as dust, hairspray, etc. The second time, it will allow your hair to get the most out of its active ingredients.
Let your treating shampoo sit
If your shampoo is meant to treat certain hair problems, you should not immediately rinse your hair. After the second application, leave the shampoo on for two to three minutes on the lengths and ends. This will boost its nourishing, purifying or softening effectiveness depending on the product's virtues.
Build your homemade shampoo
Melt a tablespoon of Marseille soap powder, or grated Marseille soap, in a double boiler. Then add a teaspoon of olive oil and honey. After stirring the mixture, pour 100 ml of boiling water over it little by little. You will obtain your home-made shampoo. Be careful, you should not keep it for more than three weeks.
Lather the shampoo on wet hair, applying to the entire scalp. Leave on for a few seconds. Use circular motions without rubbing the scalp so as not to irritate it. Apply to lengths and ends, avoiding crowding and vigorous rubbing. Rinse until no shampoo remains. Repeat the action if hair is very dirty.
Fornormal hair, opt for shampoos for frequent use, intended for normal hair. For dry hair, go for moisturizing, anti-frizz shampoos. For colored and curly hair, switch to a shampoo for colored hair and a shampoo for curly hair. For fine hair, reach for shampoos that strengthen and add volume.
2-in-1 shampoos are convenient, because they save time. They offer both cleansing and conditioning in one product. But they're usually reserved for normal hair. If you have fragile or sensitive hair, for more efficiency, opt for 2 products that each have a specific action. A shampoo is applied quickly, while a mask or conditioner requires a break.
You don't have to wash colored hair frequently to minimize color change. Opt for gentle shampoo. Treat the hair fiber to make it stronger. Gaignant and natural products are recommended, as they leave a protective film that decreases color change.
Apply a mixture of ¼ cup of baking soda in ¾ cup of water to wet hair and massage gently. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly. This technique is also an effective dandruff remover. You can use water mixed with cider vinegar as a conditioning conditioner if you want to continue your routine naturally.
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