How to choose a shampoo according to your afro hair?

There are thousands of hair shampoos, with different textures and scents. But how do we know which is the best shampoo? Shampoos with sulfates: yes or no? What to look for when choosing a good shampoo?

The first thing we have to take into account when choosing a shampoo is our hair, the type of hair we have. It is very important to know the state of our scalp and not the texture or aroma of the shampoo.

Let's see how we find our ideal shampoo and show off our curls.

To keep in mind before buying a shampoo for afro or curly hair:

· Check your hair, you have to know your hair type. Know if the hair is normal, dry or oily.

· Look at your needs. Now you have to know what you are looking for, more shine, growth, dryness, control frizz, etc.

· Composition of the shampoo. You have to avoid ingredients that damage or dry out your hair, such as silicone, parabens and sulfates. You can see our article if you want to know more.

· Extra ingredients needed. You have to choose according to your needs, for that you will look for a moisturizing, repairing, nourishing or growth one. Look at the vitamins, natural oils, proteins, collagen and fatty acids.

The shampoo can change according to your new needs. Oils, conditioners and masks will help us in our purpose, but first, do you know what type of hair you have?

You have to know the type of curly hair you have:

For now we are going to focus on the different types of curly hair, we leave the types of straight or wavy hair for another occasion.

Curly hair has two main problems, dryness and frizz. Type 3 curly hair ranges from a light curl to tight curls, usually having a combination of textures. They are defined and elastic, with more height and volume at the root than type 2.

The ideal will be a very moisturizing and nourishing shampoo.

3A: It is a hair with large loose curls and similar spirals, with a well-defined S. We will look for a hydrated shampoo and we will see that it does not contain chemical components that harm it. You can opt for the C o-wash technique if you prefer.

3B: Type 3b hair tends to be thick and dense. Its springy curls can vary, as well as being voluminous hair. We need a little more hydration and natural products that improve the texture, nourish and properly hydrate the hair.

3C: Type 3c hair is very curly, dense and tight. Normally with a lot of volume and contraction of the curls. A more delicate hair, which needs a shampoo free of sulfates, parabens and other harmful components. Masks and natural oils are important for healthy hair.

Type 4 hair (Afro hair) is the most fragile hair texture because it has fewer cuticle layers to protect it from dryness. It needs a lot of care to keep moisture, tangles and breakage.

4A: Type 4A hair stands out for its dense coils . You need moisturizing, regenerating and nourishing products. The use of Co-Wash is recommended for this type of hair.

4B: Type 4B hair features a tighter, less defined curl. We continue with products that provide hydration and are nutritious. Using the Co-Wash technique is still a good option in addition to using natural oils that help improve hair.

4C: Type 4C hair is similar to 4B but is less defined and much more contracted. It is very delicate, that is why each hair product must respect the natural ingredients it provides as much as possible. We need a lot of hydration and nutritional care to keep it healthy and shiny. Using the Co-Wash technique is a very good option.

Once you know what type of hair you have, we can go on to see the types of shampoos that we can find for your hair. Of course, we will always look at the ingredients that each product contains so that it does not damage your hair.

Types of shampoo

We find two types of shampoos: the surfactants and the natural ones.

The main function of surfactants is to clean, foam and preserve the product. In addition to contributing to the mixture of ingredients that would not work otherwise.

The problem with surfactant shampoos (most) is that they remove dirt but also sebum, the much-needed hair oils. There are different types of surfactants, don't worry I'll make it easy for you.

We found 3 variants:

sulfate shampoo

We start with the worst for our hair. They contain very aggressive components for the hair such as sodium hydrochloride (salt), sodium laureth sulphate (SDS) and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) , as well as silicones and parabens. Avoid any shampoo that has these ingredients.

Mild sulfate shampoo

These types of shampoos help remove dirt but still affect the health of the hair. These shampoos can help you if you have good hair health and accompany it with natural hair products.

natural shampoo

Without a doubt, it is the most recommended shampoo for afro and curly hair in general. We recommend our article of hair free of sulfates, parabens and silicones.

"No shampoo" or "no-poo"

Finally, we can talk about the Co-Wash trend. To avoid using products that are harmful to our hair, many people prefer not to use shampoo or to use it very little. They prefer to wash with water or apply a conditioner.

A trend that is here to stay, whose origin arose to take care of Afro hair but which is currently applied to all types of hair. It is quite effective on dry, curly and frizz-prone hair.

Prewash

This technique consists of applying natural oils to the hair and then washing with the chosen shampoo. It is effective in facilitating combing, eliminating frizz, moisturizing and nourishing the hair. Take a good look at the components of the oil to make sure it is truly natural. If you have doubts, look at our article on natural oils to see their properties and which one is ideal for you.