There’s no denying that at one point in our lives, we all wished for “perfect” hair. We totally get it: maintaining a hair care routine that’ll keep your strands strong and healthy can be somewhat of a struggle—especially if you suffer from conditions like thinning hair, dandruff, breakage, and more. But don’t worry if you ever find yourself in this situation. It is not a lost cause. Luckily, there are ways to treat such hair issues and one of them is through using the proper shampoo.
We spoke to experts Dr. Virginia Blackwell, M.D. of Eve Magazine and Ghanima Abdullah, hair stylist and cosmetologist of The Right Hairstyles for recommendations on the best products to combat the most common hair problems. Read on as they also explain the causes of certain hair conditions and share what ingredients you should be looking for in your next shampoo bottle.
Causes Of Hair Thinning, Dandruff, Breakage, And Hair Loss
Hormonal changes
According to Dr. Blackwell, "When the levels of steroid hormones (estrogen and progesterone) drop, the hair grows slowly and becomes thinner. This is simply because these hormones [play the role of keeping] the hair in its growing phase (anagen)."
Once there's a decrease in these hormones, chances are your body "may trigger an increased production of androgens which shrinks the hair follicles resulting in hair loss." Androgens are a group of sex hormones present in both men and women, but they mostly play a key role in the development of male characteristics. Testosterone is an example of an androgen.
Abdullah agrees that "due to hormonal changes, you might have an excess of testosterone in your body, which produces DHT on the scalp [and] eventually kills hair follicles."
Medical conditions
"Certain medical conditions such as alopecia areata and alopecia totalis, [may also be] major risk factors for hair breakage and thinning," says Dr. Blackwell. Alopecia areata usually happens when "the immune system erroneously [attacks] a part of your body cells," specifically the hair cells, which can lead to unpredictable circular hair patches on the scalp. Dr. Blackwell adds, "Alopecia totalis which may be caused by genetic factors may result in a complete hair loss on the scalp."
Dryness
A genus of fungi called Malassezia might be to blame for your dry hair and dandruff. Dr. Blackwell explains that this "commonly feeds on oils of the scalp and is also sensitive to hair products." She and Abdullah also warn that constantly using heating tools for your hair like dryers and straighteners can actually cause more damage. Too much heat can make your scalp "lose natural moisture more quickly, therefore, leading to the high formation of dandruff." Time to give those hair tools I break, yes?
Sulfate-Free shampoos
"Several uses of sulfate-free shampoos such as sodium lauryl sulfates may cause significant scalp irritation, hair thinning, and breakage specifically in people with sensitive skin," shares Dr. Blackwell. Aside from these, improper diet, old age, and extreme stress are also factors that contribute to hair follicles becoming "dormant" and therefore resulting in hair loss.
What You Should Look For In Your Shampoo: Biotin
Dr. Blackwell notes, "Biotin is an important shampoo ingredient that assists in the production of keratin, a protein that is the main component of hair that leads to the formation of hair strands." This vitamin "helps in thickening and strengthening the hair follicles resulting in bright and soft hair" and is also "responsible for blood circulation resulting in a longer anagen phase of the hair." Additionally, Abdullah suggests looking for shampoos with plant stem cells and peppermint because these can also help re-initiate hair growth.
Best Products For Improving Hair Thinning, Dandruff, Breakage, And More
Finding the right product for your hair condition isn't always easy, but we've got you covered–these experts are here to help! The next time you're looking for shampoos to improve hair thinning, dandruff, breakage, and hair loss, Dr. Blackwell recommends the following: Biolage Advanced Full Density Thickening Shampoo, Keeps Thickening Shampoo, and Herbal Essences Argan Oil Shampoo.
"If you have hair breakage, thinning, and hair loss, you need to nourish your scalp so that it produces a better quality of hair. This can be done by using different oils as pre-shampoo treatments," Abdullah advises. "Argan oil is good to massage into the hair and scalp if you suffer from dryness. Jojoba oil helps remove excessive oil residues from the scalp and roots of the hair. Coconut oil is great for preserving the integrity of normal hair or to prevent damaged hair from getting swollen with water during the washing process." To help your hair grow in a better condition, check out her recommended shampoos below.
OGX Thick Full Biotin Collagen Shampoo
"OGX contains biotin to help regrow hair and make existing hair stronger. It also uses protein to coat the hair and give it a fuller appearance. Plus, it's affordable."
Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Shampoo
"Viviscal also uses protein, in this case hydrolyzed keratin, to help the hair feel fuller. It also contains biotin to help your hair follicles grow new hair and strengthen the roots. As an added bonus, Viviscal uses stem cells from pea sprouts to prolong the hair growth phase. This means if there are hairs on your head that are genetically scheduled to fall soon, they will stay in place longer due to the stem cells. So in essence, your hair doesn't thin as fast."
Seed Phytonutrients Volume Shampoo
"Seed Phytonutrients coats your hair strands with rice flour so that there is an overall appearance of fuller hair. This formula also contains grapefruit seed oil to stimulate new growth and help manage oil production."
Pura D'Or Original Gold Label Anti Hair-Thinning Shampoo
"Pura D'Or Original Gold Label uses 17 different herbs to remove DHT, the hair loss hormone, from the scalp. It also contains black seed extract, which is antifungal and can help with dandruff. Nettle and pumpkin seed extract are some of the key ingredients in this shampoo that aid hair growth. Pura D'Or also contains biotin to initiate hair growth and strengthen the hair follicles. It also contains anti-DHT and hair growth herbs like saw palmetto, aloe vera, rosemary, sage, and rosemary."
SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo
"The black castor oil in this formula works to promote growth and strengthen hair. This shampoo is sulfate-free and can be used on color-treated hair."
Andalou Naturals Argan Stem Cell AgeDefying Shampoo
"The plant stem cells in Andalou Naturals Argan Stem Cell Age Defying Shampoo work to prolong the hair growth phase of the hair follicle. This means that when your hair is genetically scheduled to fall, stem cells will keep them in the hair follicle for longer. The more hair strands you have on your head, the thicker your hair is."
