Types of Shampoos; Functions and Uses Edition

Hairlo! I’m pretty sure that at whichever stage you’re in your Natural hair journey whether you’re transitioning or you’re a beginner natural who just big chopped, you’ve most definitely heard about washday and you understand how important that routine is in smashing your hair goals.

However, a big part of washday is actually washing your hair and washing it the right way, with the right products.

Today we talk Shampoos and their functions because as a naturalista, you ought to know there are different types of Shampoos with different functions for different uses. Knowing this, makes your decision making and product selection process a whole lot easier and most definitely improves your hairs overall health and your natural hair journey.

In one of my previous articles, where I talked about Top 10 Must-Have Products to have in your Natural hair arsenal, I mentioned a Neutralizing Shampoo and I got loads of comments about it which further convinced me to create this in-depth post about Shampoos and their differences as well as uses.

However, don’t thank me yet. Kindly read through, clap vigorously then thank me in the comment section. You’re welcome in advance.

What is a Shampoo?

Basically, a shampoo is a Haircare product specifically designed for the purpose of cleansing hair. Consider it a mild detergent for washing hair and it differs in form, types and functions as well as brands. So, on types of shampoo, let’s go.

Types of Shampoos.

1. Clarifying Shampoo.

This shampoo type, is classified by its single feature which is the fact that it is a deep cleansing shampoo that goes the extra mile from regular shampoos to remove build up. It typically consists of a bunch of heavy surfactants to ensure it fulfills it’s deep cleansing purpose but then again, It usually does just this one thing. Lather and deeply cleanse. That’s all. It’s usually advisable to use this once a month or, whenever your hair is weighed down with buildup or you haven’t washed your hair in a while.

2. Conditioning Shampoo.

This is basically a two in one shampoo that doesn’t just cleanse your hair but also conditions as well. It is usually described as a moisturising, softening or hydrating shampoo by some brands.

Technically it doesn’t cleanse as deeply as the clarifying Shampoo but who cares because clarifying shampoos can’t do what this baby would do which is cleansing and infusing your hair with ample amount of moisture leaving your strands soft and hydrated.

It’s best to use this type of shampoo when your hair feels brittle and dry and needs extra moisture to boost its elasticity and make her supple again.

3. Strengthening Shampoo.

This shampoo type is often referred to as an anti-breakage shampoo and it’s similar to a conditioning Shampoo in the sense that they are both essentially two in one shampoos. However the difference between them is that strengthening shampoos focus on strengthening your strands while cleansing.

It usually has either biotin or keratin or in some cases both as it’s active ingredient and it’s best to use such shampoos when you notice your hair is breaking incessantly and your hair is too soft and mushy.

4. Chelating Shampoo.

This shampoo type is super awesome as it’s specifically formulated with chelating ingredients like. Desodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate (etc) to lift and remove extra minerals, metals, chlorine, ions and basically non-product buildup from your hair that make your cuticles choked up, dull and lifeless. It’s best to use this shampoo at least once a month especially if you swim a lot or use hard water to wash your hair.

No other shampoo can do the job of a chelating Shampoo because even if your clarifying Shampoo has chelating agents like EDTA, it won’t foam if you’re washing with hard water so please take note.

5. Neutralizing Shampoo.

A neutralizing Shampoo does the job of restoring and balancing your hairs pH by neutralizing alkalinity and caustic residues. This is super important because a healthy pH is a natural barrier that prevents fungal and bacterial growth on your scalp and also seals your cuticles leaving them closed and healthy.

It’s best to use a neutralizing Shampoo at least once a month. Also, after coloring or bleaching your hair to balance your hairs pH and ensure your hairs overall health.

6. Medicated Shampoo.

This is basically a shampoo that apart from doing the regular job of cleansing your hair, it is focused on the health of your scalp as they perform the function of relieving itching and the curing as well as prevention of hair and scalp fungal and bacterial infections like dandruff, lice, psoriasis, dermatitis, ringworm (etc)

They are usually infused with drugs and ingredients like salicylic acid, ketaconazole, selenium sulfide (etc). It’s best to get one of these after talking to your in-house trichologist or pharmacist when you feel uneasiness or discomfort in your scalp.

7. Volumizing Shampoo.

This shampoo type is specifically designed to give your hair more volume just like the name implies especially if you have low density hair.

However, with volumizing shampoos, the key is the fact that they’re extremely lightweight so that don’t weigh your hair down in any way thus creating more volume in the end.

Seeing as this is not a permanent feature as your hairs density can not be increased by function of just a shampoo, it’s best to use this when you need your hair to look fuller for an event or to make a particular style look awesome on you.

8. Thickening Shampoo.

As opposed to Volumizing Shampoos that target your hairs overall density, Thickening shampoos focus on individual strands and pump the strands to make them individually thicker while simultaneously coating the outer shaft to make them look and feel thicker. These shampoo types is mostly used by Naturalistas with fine hair strands looking to improve the appearance of their hair.

However, this effect is purely temporal as once you do not use the product, your hair goes back to normal because you can’t change your natural strand diameter.

9. Sulphate-free Shampoo

This is perhaps the most important type of shampoo for Naturalistas because this shampoo successfully cleanses your hair without stripping off of its natural oils. So whichever shampoo you plan to get from Clarifying to Neutralizing to Chelating, ensure you’re getting a sulphate free shampoo because that’s the best your hair needs as you can effectively get your hair very clean without sulphates so why not do without them?

And that’s about it. All the different shampoo types classified according to their functions and uses.

Now can I get my well deserved accolades? You’re welcome, again.

xoxo, The Naturalista.