In This Story:
Ever since my grandma stopped oiling, combing, and braiding my hair, the responsibility of taking care of my hair has been on me. I know this sounds bratty, but boy did I have lesser hair fall back then. Now that I take care of my hair (or the lack of it), I have experienced all sorts of problems. Work responsibilities, managing chores, travelling long hours daily, and the cruel climate that we are all experiencing have left my hair needing more care than ever. Add to that, the stressful modern-day lifestyle – owing to which I go to bed at ungodly hours – also doesn’t help my case.
The need to achieve good hair health led me to find the best shampoo and conditioner because, honestly, that is all I have time for in my busy schedule. But in finding the perfect pair for me, I found pairs for other hair types as well. But before that, let’s see why you need the right shampoo-conditioner combo.
Importance Of The Right Shampoo-Conditioner Combo
According to a study, your hair has two different requirements, one product for the scalp and one for the shaft of the hair.
Hair roots require cleansing because they are closer to the scalp, which produces oil or sebum. As our sebaceous and oil glands release oil and moisture to keep our roots from falling, they leave some excess oil that becomes the base for dirt, pollution, and other impurities to stick. This means you need a product that reduces the oil content on the base. But is that the case with the rest of your hair? Well, no.
The shaft of your hair receives moisture from the scalp but that’s not enough. It tends to get dry and frizzy and requires conditioning more than cleansing. Thus, your scalp requires shampoo and your shaft needs conditioner.
Therefore, you can’t use the same product or products with similar ingredients in your shampoo and conditioner when you expect different results.
Best-Rated Shampoo & Conditioner Pairs
Oily Scalp & Dry Hair
This is the most common hair combination. I have this hair combination, and I found the perfect combination to cleanse the excess oil from the scalp while conditioning the dryness of the rest of the hair follicles.
Nykaa Recommends:
This is a lightweight gel-based shampoo that resets your scalp by removing up to 78% of the scalp sebum. This means deep cleaning that removes all the dirt, dust, and fibre residue left from oil and sweat. The 6% clay unclogs pores on the scalp surface and the 3% AHA purifies the scalp and regenerates skin cells.
Nykaa Recommends:
As the name suggests, this product contains loads of hyaluronic acid that retains moisture in your hair and keeps it hydrated for up to 72 hours. It volumises the hair, removes frizz, and dryness, and plums the hair for a gorgeous, healthy look. This potent formula can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water making it a very lightweight formula.
Dry Scalp & Brittle Hair
This is the hair type I have, very damaged hair that is prone to falling. As the scalp gets drier it doesn’t have enough moisture for the hair and makes the hair brittle and on the verge of breakage.
Nykaa Recommends:
With the goodness of argan oil, lavender, and 100% coconut oil and without the nasties such as sulphates and parabens this shampoo is perfect for a dry scalp. This product adds a boost of moisture, for completely smooth and frizz-free hair. The lavender and coconut oil leaves a beautiful and exotic aroma with all the richness of natural hydration.
Nykaa Recommends:
This product from Dove repairs damage caused by a dry and damaged scalp. It also doesn’t weigh down your hair while adding ample hydration. It also detangles hair that causes breakage while protecting it from within.
Dandruff Scalp & Textured Hair
According to a study, dandruff is a common scalp condition which can cause excess skin cells, bacteria, and infection to occur and breed. This can get serious if not treated regularly. This can happen if you have an oily or dry scalp. Combined with textured hair, that also needs extra care.
Nykaa Recommends:
Made with piroctone olamine that removes dandruff-causing fungus and helps maintain a healthy scalp this shampoo is perfect for a flaky scalp. It also has salicylic acid that gently exfoliates dead flakes and build-up. This product also has biotin and pentavitin that promote healthy and steady hair growth.
Nykaa Recommends:
This bond-repair conditioner is ideal for textured hair, as it smoothens out the frizz, adds shine, and adds weightless hydration to maintain a natural bounce. It also mends 76% of the split ends without any of the nasties such as sulphates and parabens.
FAQs
1. How often should I wash my hair?
Ideally twice a week, but if you sweat a lot or the climate is too hot and humid, you can wash your hair every other day. Avoid washing your hair every day, as frequent washing can strip your hair of its natural oils.
2. Should I use shampoo and conditioner of the same brand?
Not necessarily, look for the ingredients and the results it promises before buying a product. But if you have brand loyalty, go ahead, as long as it helps your hair.
3. Can I put conditioner before shampoo?
Yes, absolutely you can! This is called reverse shampooing, where you condition your hair first and then cleanse it. Learn more about reverse shampooing here.
4. Which is the top rated hair shampoo and conditioner?
The top-rated hair shampoo and conditioner are L'Oreal Professionnel Scalp Advanced Anti Oiliness Dermo Purifier Shampoo and L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Moisture Conditioner.
