From Hydration to Volume: Pick the Best Shampoo for Your Hair Goals

HCSS Customer Service | Posted on November 18 2024

Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner can feel like a game of haircare roulette! With so many bottles promising everything from sleek shine to major volume, no wonder it gets overwhelming. And when it comes to salon-quality shampoo versus the grocery store stuff, the difference can be huge—salon products are typically packed with higher-quality ingredients that actually target hair concerns, rather than just masking them. But don’t worry! Once you know a bit about your hair type and what it actually needs, finding your perfect pair isn’t that hard. Let’s chat about how to figure out your hair’s top needs, the best types of shampoo for different hair types, and how to mix and match with conditioners so you can tackle not just one, but two of your main hair goals.

How to Identify Your Hair Type and Top Needs

To find the best shampoo and conditioner combination for your hair, follow these steps:

Identify Your Hair Type: Start with your primary hair texture (e.g., curly, straight, fine, thick) to find a shampoo formulated specifically for it.

Assess Additional Needs: Think about any secondary goals—such as volume, moisture, or frizz control. For example, if you have curly, frizz-prone hair, a curly shampoo paired with a frizz-control conditioner could be perfect.

Match Two Needs with One Routine: Choose a shampoo and conditioner to meet your top two priorities can be ideal if there isn’t one MAJOR concern. For coloured that also needs damage repair, try a structure shampoo once a week with an anti-fade shampoo on other wash days and a hydrating conditioner for your ideal healthy hair.

But how do you know what your hair needs? Or the current state of it? Is it dry, or just naturally frizzy? Maybe it’s chemically damaged from bleach or not using heat protection when you’re styling?

Dry Hair is caused by lack of moisture, environmental exposure, over-washing, or using too many heat styling tools. If your hair feels rough, looks dull, and has little natural shine. It might feel rough or straw-like to the touch, but not as likely to have split ends unless it’s been a very long time since your last trim. Gently tug a strand—if it feels rigid and doesn’t have much bounce, your hair may be craving moisture.

Damaged Hair happens frequent chemical treatments, bleaching, excessive heat styling, or rough brushing. If your hair breaks easily, it has split ends and may have a stringy or frayed look. You might notice it feels weak or brittle. Run your fingers down a strand; if it feels bumpy, it might be damaged and in need of repair treatments.

Frizzy Hair looks naturally looks fuzzy or poufy and is hard to tame. You tend to have flyaways and small strands sticking out from the main shape of your hairstyle but unlike dry hair, it feels soft and gets worse in humid weather. Frizz happens when hair lacks moisture, causing the outer layer (cuticle) to lift, allowing moisture from the air in.

Fine or Flat Hair feels light, doesn’t hold styles well, and can appear limp or flat. Your hair naturally has less volume due to its texture, and it can get weighed down by heavy products.

Curly or Coarse Hair is usually pretty obvious right? But determining whether your hair is naturally wavy/curly or just appears wavy due to dryness can be tricky. Naturally wavy or curly hair typically has a uniform wave or curl pattern throughout the hair, even if it varies slightly in different areas (like more waves at the bottom and straighter at the top). If dryness is causing the wave, it often appears in patches or just at the ends, while the roots may look straighter or poofier. Dryness waves tend to look uneven rather than forming a clear curl or wave pattern.

Oily or Greasy Hair feels heavy and looks greasy soon after washing. The scalp may feel oily, especially at the roots. Overactive sebaceous (oil) glands or using products that are too heavy for your hair type. Quick Tip: If your hair feels greasy at the roots but dry at the ends, try balancing products like a light clarifying shampoo with a hydrating conditioner just on the ends.

Colour-Treated Hair, again another obvious one. Ideal if your hair is relatively healthy but dyed, as it primarily focuses on colour retention. It’s also a great choice for those with semi-permanent or vibrant colours that fade quickly.

Knowing your hair is half the battle

Ok, so now you have a better idea of your hair type, now let’s dive into shampoos! Most are relatively straight forward so we won’t go into details on those, but please email us at customerservice@haircaresuprestore.com.au if you have any questions, so we're going to look at the two most overlooked shampoos: clarifying and structure (bond repair).

Clarifying shampoos

One of the most overlooked shampoos is clarifying shampoo. They contain stronger surfactants, which are cleansing agents that help break down residue that regular shampoos might miss. They’re formulated to strip away excess oils, product buildup, and impurities that can weigh hair down, leaving it feeling lighter and looking refreshed.

Who Should Use Clarifying shampoo:

Regular styling product users: If you use hairsprays, mousses, leave-in products, or dry shampoos, a clarifying shampoo can help remove the residue they leave behind, preventing dullness and buildup.

Swimmers: Chlorine and pool chemicals can accumulate on your hair, leaving it dry and discoloured. Clarifying shampoos help remove these residues, protecting your hair’s health and shine.

Hard water: If you have hard water, the minerals can build up over time, making hair feel rough and heavy. A clarifying shampoo helps to remove these mineral deposits.

Oily scalp: Clarifying shampoos are also great for those with oily scalps as they can help remove excess oil, keeping hair feeling cleaner for longer.

Structure or bond repair shampoos

Structure or bond repair shampoos could be the key to hair happiness. Specifically designed for hair that has been weakened or damaged due to chemical treatments (like bleaching, colouring, or perming), heat styling, or environmental stress. Unlike regular shampoos, bond repair formulas work to reinforce and rebuild the internal structure of your hair, helping to make it stronger, smoother, and more resilient over time. Bond repair shampoos contain ingredients that penetrate deep into the hair shaft to help repair broken bonds within the hair structure. Bonds are the internal "glue" holding each strand together, and when they break, hair can become brittle, frizzy, and more prone to breakage. Common ingredients in these shampoos include proteins, amino acids, and specialized bond-building compounds like bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate. These ingredients actively work to repair and strengthen bonds, enhancing the hair’s elasticity and durability.

Who Should Use Bond Repair Shampoo?

Chemically Treated Hair: If you colour, bleach, or perm your hair, bond repair shampoos can help restore some of the internal structure lost during these processes.

Heat-Styled Hair: Frequent use of hot tools (like curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers) can weaken hair bonds. Bond repair shampoos help counteract the damage caused by heat.

Dry or Brittle Hair: Even if you don’t use chemicals or heat frequently, environmental factors and aging can weaken hair. Bond repair shampoos offer a strengthening boost, helping to reduce breakage.

Split Ends and Weak Spots: If your hair is prone to splitting or feels fragile, a bond repair shampoo can help "seal" the ends and prevent further damage.

Signs You Might Need Bond Repair Shampoo

Elasticity Test: Take a single strand of hair and gently stretch it. Healthy hair should stretch slightly and return to its original length. If your hair stretches a lot or breaks easily, it likely needs bond repair.

Visible Damage: If your hair has visible split ends, thinning, or snapping strands, bond repair shampoos can help prevent further weakening.

Lack of Shine and Smoothness: Damaged bonds can lead to roughness and dullness. A bond repair shampoo helps restore a smooth, shiny surface by rebuilding bonds within the hair.

What about conditioner?!? We’re glad you asked!

Using a conditioner of a different type from your shampoo can actually be quite effective in addressing multiple hair concerns, and it's a strategy many people find useful. Here’s how it can help:

Target Multiple Needs: If your hair has more than one need, such as moisture and volume, using a hydrating shampoo and a volumising conditioner (or vice versa) can be beneficial. The shampoo can tackle one main issue while the conditioner addresses another.

Customise for Your Hair’s Unique Profile: Hair concerns often vary by individual, so mixing products allows you to customise your routine. For example, curly hair might need a frizz-control conditioner alongside a curl-specific shampoo for added smoothness.

Adapt to Seasonal or Situational Changes: In humid months, you might need a frizz-control conditioner with a lighter, nourishing shampoo, while in drier months, you may want a hydrating conditioner paired with a different shampoo type. This flexibility can help keep your hair balanced and resilient.

Improve Overall Hair Health: Combining products to meet specific goals can also contribute to your hair’s long-term health. For instance, using a clarifying shampoo occasionally with a nourishing conditioner prevents buildup while preserving moisture.

When to Stick to Matching Products:

While mixing can be helpful, sticking with the same shampoo and conditioner line can be beneficial if:

You have a specific, primary need (like colour protection) that’s best managed with a matched set.

You’re dealing with a complex hair issue (like severe damage or scalp conditions) that benefits from a consistent, targeted approach.

So, mixing different types is often a great strategy for flexibility, as long as you keep your primary hair needs in focus.

Final Tips

Stick to a Routine: Use the same shampoo and conditioner type consistently for at least a few weeks to see real results.

Adjust with the Seasons: Hair needs may vary with humidity or dryness, so consider switching products seasonally.

Consult with a Stylist: If in doubt, a stylist can help you determine your hair’s needs and find products that complement your specific texture and style goals.