How to Choose the Right Shampoo for Your Hair

Match your shampoo to your scalp condition first, then your hair's texture and processing history.

Stop buying shampoo based on marketing promises—your scalp is either oily, dry, or sensitive, and everything else is just packaging.

1. Assess your scalp. Your scalp determines everything. Oily scalps need clarifying formulas, dry scalps want gentle, moisturizing ingredients, and sensitive scalps require fragrance-free options with minimal additives.
2. Consider your hair texture. Fine hair gets weighed down easily—stick to lightweight, volumizing formulas. Thick or coarse hair can handle richer, more moisturizing shampoos without looking greasy.
3. Factor in chemical processing. Color-treated, bleached, or chemically relaxed hair needs sulfate-free formulas with added proteins and moisture. Virgin hair can tolerate stronger cleansers and more variety.
4. Test the formula. Your hair should feel clean but not stripped after shampooing. If it feels squeaky or tangled, the formula is too harsh—if it feels heavy or greasy, it's too rich.