Healthy hair takes a lot of work. To maintain proper hair care often involves a myriad of hair care products…each designed or developed to treat, clean or moisturize? So, which are the best for you and your hair style? Let’s take a look at some of the most popular products that will give you the best chance for healthier hair.

Hair Shampoo

Well, this could be a pretty long topic, but we’ll keep to the basics. Shampoos contain surfactants. Surfactants are the cleansing agents and active ingredients used to break-down oil, irrigate dirt from the scalp and follicle pores, and remove left-over and built-up styling products. Many shampoos contain Sodium Laurel Sulphate – not to be confused with Sodium Laureth Sulphate. For hair care products, I’d recommend the later.

Laurel sulfate has been shown to be an effective cleanser, but…and I repeat but, is harsh on your skin and scalp. It can lead to scalp acne, irritation, and in extreme cases, hair loss and thinning. So, tip #1, avoid shampoos with Laurel Sulphate – especially if you have sensitive skin.

On the bright side, many shampoos have been introduced in the past few years formulated with herbs, botanical extracts and essential oils. Ingredients such as Sage work extremely well for dandruff or flaking. Peppermint and menthol stimulate scalp circulation. Green Tea and Tea Tree Oil are natural antioxidants and help soothe itchy or inflamed scalp.

Fenugreek helps deep clean and is often used in clarifying shampoos along with Zinc. Zinc and a derivative, Zinc PCA, not only deep clean, but act as a DHT blocking agent. Though efficacy varies from person to person, many of these hair care ingredients are being increasingly used to improve hair health.

Hair Conditioners

At the end of the day, the primary purpose of conditioners is to do just that, condition your hair. Follicles and your scalp take a molecular beating during perms, straightening, or relaxing. The shaft’s cellular structure is literally repositioned to allow for styling, to maintain curls or to smooth. Flat irons and curling irons can produce heat damage which fries the shaft, cuticle and medulla.

Conditioners need to be able to do two things. One, infuse moisture. And, two, deliver nutrients and protect. Conditioners are one of the most important hair care products and should be given careful consideration.

Most styling depletes hair of moisture. For healthy maintenance and growth, your hair needs from 5-8% moisture content. Hydration allows for elasticity and delivery of nutrients. Dry or brittle hair is prone breaking, snapping and frizz…all of which fall neatly into the category of damage. Conditioners with smoothing compounds or those that externally infuse moisture and vitamins work best for long-term hair care.

Ingredients such as Emu Oil have grown in popularity in the past few years. Emu oil is a transdermal – meaning it can penetrate into the follicle shaft and scalp. It has natural moisturizing properties and is an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. It works especially well for hair that lacks moisture or is prone to dryness.

Other ingredients to keep an eye out for are Panthenol – which cleans and soothes the scalp and Jojoba Oil. Jojoba Oil is pretty interesting. It’s derived from a native mid-western U.S shrub (bush) and mimics sebum – the natural oil secreted by the sebaceous glands in our scalp. As such, Jojoba Oil aids in protecting the hair and it has deep cleaning benefits as well. It has become a de facto replacement for mineral oil for ethnic hair types because it moistures naturally and is not harsh.

Proper hair care requires taking a closer look at what you’re putting on your head. Today’s hair care products offer many options and ingredients for healthy follicles and scalp. Consider your hair type and style with added focus on any problems you may have – scalp acne, scalp psoriasis, dry or brittle, etc. The right products for you are available and there are active ingredients that give you long-term, healthy hair.