As we know, buying shampoo and conditioners can be really pricey, but it is important to buy the correct products for your hair. Shampoo can make the biggest difference in your hair. There is a lot of talk about whether drug store products are good for your hair at all, and we will cover all of that today. 

Shampoo

The purpose of shampoo is to cleanse the hair and scalp, removing all excess product and dirt. Most shampoos have anywhere between 10 and 30 ingredients, and the way they work is by lifting the dirt, dust, and debris so they can be rinsed out with the water. According to Healthline, “common detergents in shampoo are surfactants, including sodium lauryl sarcosinate (SLS), and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These surfactants work alongside cosurfactants, such as cocamidopropyl betaine” (Vinall, 2020). 

Common Shampoo Ingredients

• Fragrance
• Preservatives
• Conditioners
• Foaming Agents
• Surfactants

Alongside surfactants and thickeners, shampoos have citric acid or glycolic acid, which are PH regulators and sequestering agents which help stop scum from forming. 

The difference between salon shampoo and drugstore shampoo

Drug store shampoo is more accessible, and affordable, so why buy salon quality products? A lot of the time, drug store hair products are made with similar ingredients to salon quality products, but they tend to be diluted with water, chemicals, and other fillers. Many drugstore shampoos contain sulfates, which can actually strip the hair of the natural chemicals it needs. Sulfates are what causes the scalp and hair to suds up when washing. Although it feels nice to get a nice lather while washing your hair, sulfates can dry hair out and even strip color. 

Salon quality shampoos are made of higher quality ingredients. Rather than paying less for a diluted bottle, salon products are extremely concentrated. These high quality ingredients nurture the hair, rather than dry it out and strip it. Because the salon quality shampoos are more concentrated, you actually need to use less product. Salon quality shampoos are not only better for what ingredients they have or the higher concentrations of them, but also because of what ingredients they do not include. Silicones, parabens, and sodium chloride are some common ingredients found in drug store shampoo brands.

Silicones are an ingredient that help prevent frizz by coating the hair with a thin layer, but there are negative effects from it as well. This layer can prevent necessary ingredients from the shampoo or conditioner from actually reaching the hair follicle. This eventually leads to dry, brittle hair that will split or break off. If heat is used on the hair regularly it will cause the hair to break easier. 

Additionally, many salons offer speciality shampoos and other wet products that are engineered to treat very specific problems, like dry scalp, oily scalp, seasonal hair loss, etc.  These trichology based products are formulated to be the best for both your hair and scalp.

When choosing a shampoo or conditioner, it is always best to consult with a professional so that you can ensure that you are doing what is best for your hair and scalp.