Black hair tends to dry out relatively easily, which can make it difficult to manage and lead to breakage and damage. So, it’s important to avoid shampoos that strip your hair of its moisture and elasticity. Here are the main characteristics to take into consideration when purchasing shampoo:
1. Alcohol-Free:
Shampoo that contains alcohol and its products strip your hair of its natural oils more than alcohol-free ones. Look out for shampoo that is gentle on your hair to protect it.
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2. Naturally moisturizing
Choose shampoos which are oil-based, to seal in water and keep hair moisturized for longer – oils such as olive, coconut, grape seed, jojoba, and tea tree oil. However, stay away from mineral oils as they increase dryness and cause a build-up of residue in the hair.
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3. pH-Balanced
Your hair’s natural pH is about 5. To maintain your hair’s shine and keep the cuticles on the outside closed, you need to make sure the pH level is kept normal. A shampoo with a pH level of about 4.5 – 5.5 should give your hair a stable balance.
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4. Cream hydration
Gel-based, rather than oil-based, shampoo tends to contain a significant amount of detergent, which strips hair of moisture. Shampoos that are creamy and moisturizing are much better for your hair.
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What do you look out for when purchasing shampoo?
Moises is a full-time graduate student at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY reporting mainly on food and restaurants but maintains overall emphasis on arts and culture.