how to choose the best shampoo for your hair type

You’ve probably been washing your hair with shampoo for as long as you can remember, but do you know whether you’re actually doing it right?

At amika, we’re here to give you a complete guide to shampoo, breaking down how often to wash your hair, how much to use, and which shampoo is the best for your hair.

how often should you shampoo your hair?

We all love that feeling of freshly washed hair, but how often should you actually be shampooing your hair? That all depends on your scalp health, hair type, and condition!

Straight and fine hair can look and feel greasy much faster than thicker or curly hair, meaning it generally needs to be washed more frequently. Damaged or chemically treated hair will need to be washed much less than those prone to oily scalps. Remember that over-washing your hair can actually strip it of the essential moisture and natural oils it needs.

Fine- medium hair: Often becomes weighed down with oils, but we still recommend washing every other day or more.
Thick/curly hair: Depending on the condition of your scalp or hair, we recommend washing once to three times per week. Oily hair types will usually need to wash more often than dry or chemically treated hair.
Coiled curls: low porosity type 4 hair doesn’t need as much washing as it struggles to absorb moisture and is prone to breakage. We recommend washing between every 1-3 weeks depending on density and length.

PSA: Use our perk up dry shampoo to help stretch out those hair wash days – the closest thing to washing your hair without water.

how much shampoo to use?

We’re all guilty of squeezing out half a tube of shampoo to use on our hair, but how much shampoo do you actually need?

How much shampoo you use also depends on your hair type and porosity. It may come as a shock, but you only need to use a 50p sized amount or less if you have medium to fine hair. Thick and curly hair types will need slightly more to ensure the hair is deeply cleansed. Type 4 coily hair will use more shampoo as it has a harder time absorbing moisture.

how to use shampoo

Washing your hair seems simple, right? You would be surprised by how many people are doing it wrong! Here’s how to use shampoo and wash your hair (the right way):

Brush or detangle hair before hopping in the shower. Your hair is at its weakest when it’s wet and more prone to tangling. Brushing before you shower can help you manage those post-shower knots.
Thoroughly wet hair. Every strand needs to be saturated with warm water (not hot!) before applying shampoo.
Squeeze shampoo onto your palm and gently massage onto the scalp. Focusing on the scalp is crucial to deeply cleanse your hair!
Lather shampoo from the roots onto the ends, using your fingers and palms.
Rinse hair and scalp thoroughly with warm water and follow with your favourite amika conditioner.

what ingredients should I avoid in shampoo?

When it comes to what ingredients to avoid in shampoo formulations, you want to stay away from harsh chemicals like sulfates (SLS, SLES, ALS), aluminium starch, parabens, and phthalates as these can dry out your hair and irritate the scalp.

That’s why when it comes to amika product formulations, we keep it very simple: no nasties. Our shampoos are made without harsh ingredients and are all leaping bunny and vegan certified.

what shampoo should I use?

Choosing the right shampoo for your hair type plays a crucial role in making your hair appear healthy and shiny.

Discover which amika shampoo is the best for your hair (we’ve got something for everyone)!

best shampoo for coloured hair

Give your shade super staying power with the vault colour lock shampoo. Packed with antioxidants and UV filters, this colour-preserving shampoo is perfect for maintaining the vibrance of colour-treated hair.

best shampoo for fine/medium hair

Gently cleanse hair with the normcore signature shampoo. Packed with a cocktail of vitamins and antioxidants, this lathering shampoo is great for nourishment and results in refreshed, lustrous strands.

best shampoo for toning hair

Calling all blondes, silver, and greys. Wash your way to brighter hair with the bust your brass cool blonde repair shampoo. Formulated with bond cure technology, plant butters, and quinoa protein, this purple shampoo banishes unwanted brassy hues and brings out your best and brightest shades.

best shampoo for damaged hair

Damaged hair? We have the kure. Made especially for those looking to strengthen hair and reduce breakage, the kure bond repair shampoo works to bring dry, damaged hair back from its breaking point. This ultra-moisturising conditioner is enriched with bond cure technology, vegan proteins, omega fatty acids, and plant butters to provide repair and hydration.

PSA: We recommend the kure bond repair shampoo for all hair types!

best shampoo for oily, itchy scalps

Show your scalp the TLC it craves with the reset exfoliating jelly shampoo. A clarifying shampoo, it deep cleans, purifies, and rebalances even the most oily, itchy, and sensitive scalps. We recommend using once a week when the scalp needs an extra-deep cleanse to remove product build-up.

PSA: We don’t recommend the reset jelly shampoo for coloured treated hair.

shop all shampoo + conditioner

hair tips

help! why is my hair so greasy?

We’ve broken down what causes greasy hair, why hair gets greasy so fast and our top tips on how to get rid of greasy hair to help you keep your style fresh.

2022-03-10 10:48:00 • By amika