Understanding Types Of Shampoo: Clarifying, Volumizing & Moisturizing
A shampoo, simply put, is a rock upon which you stack the rest of your hair care products. If you fumble that up, the entire routine can collapse. And while we all glorify our favourite products now and then, shampoo has a very real ‘make or break’ impact on your hair for the rest of the week.
With a million types of shampoo making rounds, one would think finding the perfect ally is easy. However, it’s tough to narrow down to one that does just the job for your hair. To make things easier, we’re here to tell you about the different kinds of shampoo while helping you pick the best fit.
Quick overview of shampoos types:
- Shampoos are the foundation of any hair care routine; choosing the wrong type can disrupt the entire regimen.
- Shampoos fall into three main categories based on their functions: clarifying, volumizing, and moisturizing, each serving specific hair needs.
- Clarifying shampoos deeply cleanse and remove buildup, volumizing shampoos add body and strength, and moisturizing shampoos hydrate and reduce frizz.
- Understanding your specific hair concerns will help you choose the most appropriate shampoo for your routine.
Types of Shampoo
Broadly, varieties of shampoos can be divided into three based on their functions: clarifying, volumizing, and moisturizing. While all of them largely help us with the cleansing benefits of shampoo, they do so differently. Here’s how.
1. Clarifying Shampoos
Clarifying shampoos give your hair and scalp a deep, thorough cleanse. Clarifying shampoos are cut out to get rid of buildup, pollutants, excessive oils, and any residue on your lengths left behind by styling products. These types of shampoos usually contain surfactants that help with thorough cleansing. If your hair is very oily, weighed down by buildup, then it's best to go for a clarifying shampoo.
Benefits of Clarifying Shampoos
1. Deep Cleanse
The core benefit of switching to, or adding, clarifying shampoos to your routines is to give your hair a thorough going over. While all different kinds of shampoos are designed to do the same job, a clarifying shampoo makes use of surfactants, which give you that rich cleansing foam we all look for in shampoos. These also prep your hair well to absorb the other conditioning products.
2. Restores lightness
If you come out of a wash with dull, flattened hair, then it’s time to re-evaluate the shampoo you have been using. Hair falling too flat on the scalp and lengths looking lacklustre are signs of buildup. The residue from styling products and the accumulated dirt weigh down our hair more than we’d think. This is when a clarifying shampoo comes in and gets to every last bit of residue to keep your hair healthy and shining.
3. Less washes
Those with oilier hair types feel the need to shampoo more than twice a week. This frequent washing may not be healthy for your hair, especially in humid regions where it takes longer for hair to dry. Clarifying shampoo can help you get rid of the buildup once and for all, letting you go longer between washes. However, you must make sure that you don’t overuse a clarifying shampoo to keep your scalp from running dry.
Who should use this type of shampoo?
- This variety of shampoo is ideal for those with an excessively oily scalp that tends to accumulate buildup or impurities. Try looking for clarifying mint shampoos that get rid of buildup without stripping off hair moisture.
- If you use styling products often or leave-in other treatments in your hair, a clarifying shampoo comes in handy again.
- This type of shampoo is ideal for swimmers, too, who are often exposed to harsh chlorine water. If your hair is exposed to pollutants and hard water minerals, try a hair cleansing cream to remove buildup and get instantly clarified hair.
2. Volumizing Shampoos
Volumizing shampoos are created with lightweight ingredients that lift your hair to give it volume and a bouncy, fuller body. This works best on hair that has a very fine width. These varieties of shampoos lightly cleanse your hair and moisturize it without weighing it down. They are also often infused with active ingredients that strengthen your hair from root to tip to add further volume.
Benefits of Volumizing Shampoos
1. Fuller Hair
This benefit is at the front and centre. Volumizing shampoos aim to add bounce and the appearance of volume in hair that is very fine or has a thin diameter. Rich in protein, some volumizing shampoos penetrate the hair fibre and encourage it to grow. These varieties of shampoos help you get a cleansed scalp, nourished lengths, and a hair body that has bounce.
2. Lightweight Formula
Different kinds of shampoos utilise different formulae to give your hair a flawless finish. Moisturizing shampoos may be too rich for certain hair types, and clarifying ones may be too powerful at times. Striking a balance, volumizing shampoos are known to have a lightweight formula with ingredients that don’t weigh down on your lengths. These shampoos are also gentle on your scalp, making them perfect for frequent use.
3. Strengthened Hair
Infused with actives, volumizing shampoos work towards fortifying your hair length and keeping it away from problems like breakage. They also take away the limp appearance of fine hair to make it more manageable and primed for styling.
Who should use this type of shampoo?
- Volumizing shampoos are ideal for those who have fine hair and wish to add volume to it.
- This type of shampoo is also ideal for those who have damaged lengths that are prone to problems like breakage and split ends. Infused with Amino Acids and Arginine, a damage repair shampoo would be perfect to give your hair gentle cleansing and lightweight nourishment.
3. Moisturizing Shampoo
Moisturizing shampoos are created to intensely moisturize and nourish dry and damaged hair. They are created with oils, actives, and humectants to give your hair the necessary hydration. These varieties of shampoos are also helpful for taming frizzy hair while enhancing its smoothness and shine.
Benefits of Moisturizing Shampoos
1. Prevents Dry, Brittle Hair
Moisturizing shampoos are the best option for those who often face dry, brittle lengths. They are also a great fit for brittle, damaged hair, which can often be the aftermath of colored treatments. With hydrating agents, moisturizing shampoos bring life back into dried-out fibre to give you healthy, luscious hair. With well-nourished lengths, the moisturizing shampoos also reduce your chances of breakage.
2. Reduces Frizz
When your hair runs out of moisture, its cuticles raise to absorb moisture from the atmosphere. This causes unruly, frizzy hair, which is easily prone to breakage. Using moisturizing shampoos helps you restore hydration in your hair to prevent problems like frizz and breakage. These types of shampoos also help your hair appear more healthy, shinier, and manageable.
3. Prevents Dry Scalp
Different kinds of shampoo often leave us at risk of a dry scalp. Moisturizing shampoos take this risk away. Leaving you with a well-nourished scalp, moisturizing shampoos aid healthy hair growth and keep concerns such as dandruff, itching, and flakiness at bay.
Who should use this type of shampoo?
- A moisturizing shampoo is ideal for those who have dry, brittle, or frizzy hair that needs intense nourishment. If taming and managing frizzy hair is your concern, try a frizz dismiss shampoo, infused with Babassu Oil, to achieve smooth, weightless hair.
- These shampoos are also a good pick for those who have a naturally dry scalp that is prone to flakiness.
- Moisturizing and repairing shampoos also benefit those who are trying to revive colour-treated or chemically-treated hair. With a sulfate-free formula that intensely conditions your hair, a bonding shampoo is the holistic solution to all sorts of hair damage.
Conclusion
Now that we’re equipped with the knowledge of different kinds of shampoo, it’s time to analyse your hair concerns and make the right pick. With the right shampoo by your side, create your personalized hair care routine at Redken India with a conditioner, mask, and leave-in treatment.