Shampoo & Conditioner For Different Hair Types

Having the right shampoo and conditioner formulation to match your hair type will help make the most of your natural hair texture. Clear shampoos are lightweight and less heavy than creamy ones, which makes them great for people with oily hair. Creamy shampoos are heavier and can weigh down fine hair, but are great for dry or damaged hair. I didn't realize there was a difference and constantly used creamy hair products on my fine hair, causing my scalp to become extremely oily. Here is our list of the best shampoos and conditioners for your particular hair type.

Dry or Damaged Hair

Shampoo

Try to avoid clear shampoos if you have dry or damaged hair. Look for rich shampoos without ingredients such as sodium laureth sulfate (a highly stripping detergent) that will cleanse the hair gently and rich conditioning ingredients like shea butter to smooth and detangle the hair.

Conditioner

Use a moisturizing conditioner from the ends of your hair to the roots (your scalp should be receiving the least amount of product). You will want to look for conditioners with ingredients such as natural oils, shea butter and proteins. If your hair is extremely damaged, you can try a leave-in conditioner on the ends of your hair.

Recommendations

Kerastase Bain Satin, Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense, Pantene Beautiful Lengths Breakage Defense Conditioner, Garnier Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment, Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, L'Oreal EverStrong Reconstruct Shampoo and Conditioner

Oily or Fine Hair

Shampoo

Be on the lookout for clear shampoos that are packed with thickening ingredients like panthenol or wheat protein. You can wash your hair daily to remove the excess oils and try to cleanse your hair once a week with a clarifying shampoo to remove hair product residue.

Conditioner

Like shampoos, you don't want a heavy conditioner in your hair because that will weigh it down. Look for lightweight formulas and apply the conditioner only from the mid-shaft of your hair and down (avoiding the root area). If you put too much conditioner on your scalp, you can make your hair look and feel more greasy. As an alternative to conditioner, you can spritz a leave-in-conditioner or detangler on your ends to help hydrate your hair further.

Recommendations

Baby shampoo, Bumble & Bumble Seaweed Shampoo, Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray, Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo

Curly, Wavy or Thick Hair

Shampoo

These hair types tend to be on the drier side so use creamy shampoos (similar to dry or damaged hair types). Look for rich shampoos without harsh ingredients such as sodium laureth sulfate and creamy conditioners with ingredients such as shea butter. You don't need to wash our hair every day so feel free to skip a day or two so the natural oils on your scalp can their magic (hair brushing with a natural bristle brush will help distribute oils from the roots to the ends).

Conditioner

Curly, wavy or thick hair will work best with conditioners that contain silicone and proteins, which can coat the cuticle of the hair and reduce frizz. You can use conditioners with smoothing properties like soy or wheat protein before and after you shampoo for an extra boost of moisture. If your hair is extra frizzy, spritz on a light, leave-in conditioner.

Recommendations

Aveda Be Curly Shampoo and Conditioner

Coarse Hair

Shampoo

Coarse hair is the driest of hair types so it would be best to use super hydrating and creamy shampoos for your thirsty strands. Coconut and macadamia nut oil or shea butter are great ingredients in your shampoos that will coat the hair shaft and trap the water inside.

Conditioner

Since this type of hair is extremely dry, you want an extra moisturizing conditioner. Deep conditioners that contain fatty alcohols like cetyl, stearyl alcohol, panthenol or silicone or essential oils will help hydrate your hair.

Recommendations

Wen Cleansing Conditioner, Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment, Philip Kingsley Moisture Extreme Shampoo and Conditioner

Color Treated Hair

Shampoo

If your hair has been color-treated, you need a shampoo that cater to the treatment and keep it looking as fresh as possible. Use color-protecting shampoos, which will contain fewer harsh cleansers and prevent fading. The moisturizers in the shampoo will help restore hair shine and hydrate.

Conditioner

Use specific conditioners designated for color-treated hair. These typically contain UV filters which work like sunscreen to prevent color fading.

Recommendations

Biolage Delicate Care Shampoo, Pureology Hydrate LightCondition, L'Oreal EverPure UV Protect Spray