October 3, 2014 by Leah | A Relaxed Gal

The Best Shampoo Ingredients For Healthy Relaxed Hair

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When it comes to having healthy, relaxed hair, shampoo is probably one of the most important products. 
Shampoos work by using cleansing ingredients to lift oil, dirt, and buildup so they can be rinsed away.
This makes the shampoos the external starting point for promoting healthy hair growth.


two white shampoo bottles on a pink background and lather
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Types of shampoos

There are many types of shampoos available, and they can be grouped in so many different ways. Just go to the hair care aisle, and it can be very overwhelming. There are shampoos for smoothing, adding volume, clarifying, moisturizing, color-treated hair, dry hair, and the list goes on. And they all have their uses within a hair regimen.

To help alleviate some of the stress this aisle can cause, here are the top types of shampoos best suited for a relaxed head of hair.

Chelating

When using a chelating shampoo, it removes dirt, product build-up, and, more importantly, mineral deposits and chlorine. This is a great type of shampoo for those who use no-lye relaxers, spend lots of time in the pool, or have hard water. Recommended uses are monthly for those with hard water, before and after a relaxer touch-up, and after swimming.

Clarifying shampoos are a step removed from chelating as they focus on only removing dirt and product build-up, providing a deep clean and giving the hair and scalp a fresh start. Various sources recommend using a clarifying shampoo at least every four weeks.
 

Cleansing conditioner

Also called co-washes, cleansing conditioners aren't shampoo per se, but are being used more and more in place of shampoo. Cleansing conditioners contain little to no harsh detergents or chemicals and are more conditioning for the hair.

As a result, they can be used just as often or in place of a daily use shampoo. If this is a key part of a regimen, it is recommended that every 4-6 weeks, a clarifying shampoo is used to make sure all residue that the cleansing conditioner may not have gotten is removed.


Moisturizing

When I found out about moisturizing shampoos, I had to do some research to find out exactly what they are. The key aspects of moisturizing shampoos are that they gently wash away dirt and oil, balance the pH levels in the hair, help with detangling, and add moisture to the cleansing process in order to help protect the hair and keep the natural moisture in your hair from being washed away.
 
You can find these types of shampoos with or without sulfates, so there are plenty of options.

 


Neutralizing

Typically only used when relaxing the hair, and it helps to restore pH balance. To soften the bonds in the hair, relaxers have a high pH. In order to bring the pH to normal levels, a neutralizing shampoo has to be used. It's recommended to use the same brand as the relaxer. Outside of using after a relaxer, there really isn't any other time a neutralizing shampoo is needed.

Ingredients of a good shampoo

While the best type of shampoo for relaxed hair will vary from head to head, generally speaking, the best type of shampoo for regular use is one that moisturizes and detangles while it cleanses. A good shampoo shouldn't cause any scalp irritation, bruising, or itching. With that in mind, what ingredients should we look for in a shampoo?

Moisturizing ingredients

Along with sulfate-free surfactants, these ingredients help make sure your hair isn’t dried out by the shampoo. When seeing if your shampoo has moisturizing ingredients, look for things like 
  • Water: This is a natural moisturizer and usually the first or one of the first ingredients listed. It typically accounts for 50-80% of the product. The higher-end the shampoo, the less water it has, so you need less of the shampoo to get results.
  • Humectants: They help draw moisture from the environment into the hair. Look for names like glycerin, propylene glycol, panthenol (Vitamin B5), aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid.
  • Butters: These are being used more and more in shampoos. Shea butter is a popular one because it helps with retaining moisture.

Softening ingredients 

These ingredients are oils and conditioning additives. They help to nourish the hair, soften the cuticle, and prevent moisture loss. All of which help with detangling and reducing or eliminating frizz.

These are usually your plant oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, tea tree oil, and macadamia oil. And conditioners like amino acids and fatty alcohols (cetyl or stearyl alcohol).

Scalp-focused ingredients 

Because shampoo is not just for your hair but also for your scalp, several shampoos include ingredients specifically for the scalp. Those ingredients are to help with removing buildup, stem scalp flakes, and soothe irritation. Look for ones like tea tree oil, salicylic acid, and aloe, which can do double duty in a shampoo.

Strengthening ingredients 

These types of ingredients are proteins. They are to strengthen, repair, and protect hair strands by temporarily filling in gaps in the cuticle. This helps to eliminate frizz, improve manageability, and elasticity.

Proteins are used in so many hair products, not just shampoos. To know if the shampoo includes any protein, look for 
  • Keratin
  • Hydrolyzed proteins like hydrolyzed silk and hydrolyzed rice protein
  • Collagen 
  • Amino acids
  • Plant and vegetable proteins like soy, quinoa, and oat


Some shampoo examples

Here are some examples of shampoos that I found online with really good reviews, or are ones that I have used myself on my relaxed hair and like.


Chelating shampoo

I've used a chealating shampoo when I couldn't get my hands on a clarifying shampoo. I didn't know it at the time but it was acatually a good buy because I lived in Florida then and had hard water. 

The one I used the was Ion Hard Water Shampoo found at Sally Beauty. Other options are the Ion Swimmer's Shampoo and Mizani Phormula 7 Neutralizing & Chelating Shampoo.

Clarifying shampoo

A couple of good clarifying shampoos to use are the Ion Clarifying Shampoo, which is sold exclusively at Sally Beauty, and the L'Oreal Paris EverPure Clarifying Shampoo. You can find the L'Oreal Shampoo at Sally Beauty, Walmart, Ulta, Target, and CVS.

I haven't used the L'Oreal shampoo, but I have used the Ion shampoo. The Ion Clarifying Shampoo is a good clarifying shampoo and a little strong, so the hair can feel a little dry afterward. The best thing when using a clarifying shampoo is to use it for the first lather and then follow up with a moisturizing shampoo for the second lather to bring moisture back into the hair.

I share more clarfiying shampoo options in The 7 Best Clarifying Shampoos For Relaxed Hair

Cleansing conditioner/cowash

While still used, these seem to be losing popularity. Many of the brands who had good cowashes in the past don't sell them anymore. I don't even cowash anymore as it's not something my relaxed hair needs anymore. 


Daily use/Moisturizing shampoo

Thera are many good moisturizing shampoos out there for relaxed hair. Some of my favorites are the TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo, Joico Moisture Recovery, TGIN Rose Water Sulfate Free Hydrating Shampoo.

I like using a moisturizing shampoo after I clarify and as my regular weekly shampoo. You can see more moisturizing shampoos in my blog post Top 5 Moisturizing Shampoos For Relaxed Hair.

Neutralizing shampoo

While not a commonly used shampoo, I did want to incldue an example or two. One that I found for cusomer purchase is the Silk Elements Luxury Moisturizing Neutralizing Shampoo.


More about hair care ingredients

Want to know more about hair care ingredients? Check out these other posts:



Best Ingredients To Look For In Hair Conditioners



References: http://www.curlynikki.com/2012/04/finding-best-shampoo-for-your-hair.html, http://thirstyroots.com/hair-care/best-shampoos-for-relaxed-hair, http://www.chocolatehairvanillacare.com/2012/06/chelating-versus-clarifying.html
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