'Mild Shampoo'

Mild Shampoos - Here's What You Need to Know

Shampoos are an essential part of any hair care regimen. They help keep the hair clean and fragrant, getting rid of product buildup, oils, dirt and dandruff. Unfortunately, most shampoos also have the undesired effect of stripping the hair of moisture and leaving it dry and straw-like. The problem is compounded for those with oily scalp, dandruff or even anyone who uses hair styling creams and gels. In such cases, a daily hair wash is recommended in order to keep the scalp clean and healthy, however this can have a drying effect on the hair causing it to become unmanageable. The solution is to reach for a mild shampoo that gently cleanses the hair without stripping the hair.

Mild shampoos in India are easy to find on Nykaa.com. You can find mild shampoos for hair loss, hair fall, dandruff, dryness, oily scalp etc. and choose a formula that works for you.

What Is A Mild Shampoo?

A mild hair shampoo in the simplest terms is a product that should cleanse your hair and scalp without the harsh side-effects of regular shampoos. Normal shampoos are effective at cleaning the hair and scalp thoroughly but they may also have a drying effect on the hair, leaving it frizzy and parched. However, a mild shampoo should be able to give you a good cleanse and get rid of any dirt and oil, without leaving your hair dried out and straw-like.

Mild shampoos in India can be of different types: some are free of moisture-sapping surfactants, others are altogether natural and largely reliant on plant derived/naturally occurring ingredients to clean and condition the hair.

Gentle Shampoos For Your Hair Type

As you now know, what sets mild shampoos or gentle shampoos apart is their ability to gently cleanse and condition without over drying your hair. You can choose from a few different options:

• Sulfate-free shampoos: Most shampoos rely on a cleansing agents known as sulfates to clean your hair giving it that squeaky clean feeling. You may find different sulfates in different shampoos. Some commonly used ones are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate etc. Of these, SLS is likely the most common and the most harsh. As a general rule to remember Lauryl Sulfates are milder than Laureth Sulfates and ammonium sulfates are milder than sodium sulfates. You can also seek out sulfate-free shampoos which use other gentle surfactants to clean the hair and scalp. It is wise to avoid shampoos that contain ingredients ending with the term sulfate (or sulphate) and sulfonate, as these can be pretty harsh on your hair. You can instead seek out shampoos that use gentle surfactants like the ones listed here: Sodium Cocyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Socoyl (or lauryl/lauroyl) Sarcosinate, Ethyl PEG-15 Cocamine Sulfate, Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate (Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate), Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl or Lauryl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium lauroyl/cocoyl glutamate. This doesn’t mean sulfates don’t have their uses. They offer a clarifying effect that other cleansing agents may not be able to compete with, especially when you need to get rid of hair oil or product build-up. However, it is important to limit the use of sulfate shampoos to 2-3 times a month to minimize their drying effect. A mild shampoo is recommended for daily use, even for those with oilier hair.
• Natural shampoos: Mild shampoos may use gentler chemical surfactants, or they may rely on natural ingredients like reetha and shikakai to cleanse the hair. These ingredients have been used in India to clean hair since ancient times. Despite being of natural origin, plants like sarsaparilla, soapwort, soap bark, and ivy agave are able to generate a good lather. Though these herbal ingredients are not comparable to chemical surfactants in terms of cleansing ability, they can be used to create gentle shampoos that are safe to use everyday. In a similar vein, you can also choose herbal mild shampoos which contain some combination of gentle surfactants and natural ingredients. These hair cleansers may use soapnut, soapwort or similar products in combination with some mild surfactants to give your hair a thorough but gentle cleanse. A good gentle herbal shampoo will employ some surfactants to get rid of oil, dirt and build-up, however it will include herbs and natural extracts which help moisturise and strengthen the hair. Such mild herbal shampoos may not be totally chemical-free but they use handpicked ingredients that do not damage the hair or dry it out. A mild herbal shampoo is recommended for those who have a natural oily scalp or who oil their hair frequently.
• Conditioning agents: Whether you choose the chemical based shampoos or natural ones, make sure that the gentle shampoo of your choice does not contain harsh sulfates and relies on milder cleansing agents instead. Remember to also pick a shampoo that has conditioning agents to offset the effect of surfactants. It’s important to choose a shampoo that has conditioning agents too.

When You Need A Gentle Shampoo

Not everyone may necessarily need to switch to a gentle shampoo, but a lot of hair types can certainly benefit from it. Because the uniqueness of mild shampoos is that they can cleanse without causing or aggravating dryness and irritation of the scalp, they are particularly well suited to those with dry or damaged hair, or persistent scalp issues.

• You shampoo every day or every alternate day: If you shampoo as often as thrice a week, then harsh shampoos are almost certainly leaving your hair dry and susceptible to damage. Prevent dryness of the hair and scalp by switching to a gentle moisturising shampoo. If you oil your hair on a daily basis, consider using a mild herbal shampoo.
• You have a sensitive or dry scalp: Just as your skin is sensitive to certain products, your scalp may also be sensitive to the chemicals in harsh shampoos. If you frequently suffer from an itchy, red or painful scalp, you should try using a gentle, natural shampoo instead.
• You have dry hair: If your hair is naturally dry and coarse, then a sulfate-free mild shampoo is a great way to avoid unnecessary stripping of natural oils. You hair type is almost sure to benefit from the use of lighter, gentler shampoo formulations. You should also consider using mild and chemical free styling and conditioning products.
• You regularly use heat tools: Daily or frequent use of heat styling tools can dry out and damage even healthy hair. However if you are not prepared to give up heat styling, load up on conditioners, heat protectants and mild shampoos. To clean up product build-up, use a clarifying shampoo once a week, but use a mild shampoo at other times.
• You have curly, wavy or coily hair: Most curly hair is also dry and undernourished. Using a harsh shampoo on curly hair is likely to make it frizzy and unmanageable as curly hair needs a lot of moisture. People with this hair type usually benefit significantly from sulphate-free, mild shampoos.

How To Choose a Mild Shampoo

Each person’s hair is different and has different needs. While choosing your shampoo, you should be mindful of your individual requirements. Whether your hair is fine or thick, straight or curly, dry or oily - all these factors help dictate the kind of shampoo you should be using. You may have additional issues to consider like thinning hair, dandruff or dryness which will also help determine what type of shampoo you should choose. It is especially important to find the right mild shampoo for dandruff and hairfall.

To find the right product for your unique needs do to nykaa.com. Mild shampoos available in India can vary in quality depending on the brand and price point, so do check the ingredients and suitability before purchasing.

• Fine hair: Since fine hair can look flat and limp, this hair type needs a mild shampoo that can lightly cleanse and condition the hair without weighing it down. Try an herbal mild shampoo like Roots & Herbs Volumizing Jatamansi Mild Hair Cleanser.
• Dry, flaky or sensitive scalp: Dry scalps are easily irritated so it is important to choose a shampoo that contains as few irritating chemicals as possible. Atopalm Mild Shampoo is a great gentle shampoo for those with sensitive scalps.
• Heavy hair fall: Persistent hair fall can be caused by many factors including diet, lifestyle, genetics, stress levels etc. so even a gentle shampoo is not likely to be a permanent fix for this problem. However, if your hair loss is caused by regular exposure to harsh chemical shampoos, then switching to an herbal mild shampoo for hair fall like Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo Gentle Daily Care can help. This is a great mild shampoo for dandruff and hairfall

The Best Mild Shampoos On Nykaa

No matter what your needs are, you can easily find mild shampoos online in India. Nykaa.com is your one-stop destination to buy mild shampoos at every price point. We’ve rounded up some of the bestselling mild shampoos on nykaa, so choose your favourite, or explore the collection to find the one you need.

• Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Hair Cleanser: Need an herbal mild shampoo that won’t strip your hair and scalp of natural oils? This Kama Ayurveda Lavender Patchouli Hair Cleanser will do the trick. It has a gentle, conditioning formula and contains lavender essential oil soothes and calms the scalp to heal irritation.
• Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo: This sulphate-free mild shampoo is gentle enough for damaged hair. It contains argan oil in addition to keratin, jojoba, chamomile, lavender and rosemary extracts to repair and nourish hair. It is perfect for dry hair that is regularly heat styled or blow dried.
• Sebamed Everyday Shampoo Ph5.5: This daily-use mild shampoo is 100% free of soap and alkali making it a natural choice for anyone who needs to shampoo daily. This Sebamed shampoo lets you wash oil and sweat away without causing dryness and irritation. It had a pH of 5.5 which does not disrupt the natural acidity of your scalp.
• Biotique Bio Green Apple Fresh Daily Purifying Shampoo & Conditioner: This mild herbal shampoo from Biotique is blended with pure green apple extract, sea algae and centella, to purify and nourish the scalp and hair. Its special pH balanced formula is gentle enough to use every day. It refreshes the hair while giving it natural body and shine.
• OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo: Biotin gives hair much needed nutrition while collagen volumizes and thickens the hair. This mild formula is a favourite with those who have fine, limp hair as it cleanses the hair while adding much needed bounce. Anyone who enjoys fragrant shampoos will love this product.

Shop for the widest collection of mild shampoos in India here.

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