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My roommate never changes her shampoo and conditioner. I’ve lived with her for three years and there’s always been a bottle of Pantene in the shower. I, on the other hand, am a product junkie. I’m constantly switching out my hair care products. The other day as I was showering, I took a look at the products that had accumulated on our shower shelf. I had about seven different shampoos and conditioners sitting next to my roommate’s old faithful Pantene. It got me thinking: Shouldn’t she be switching her shampoo up every so often? Doesn’t hair become immune to certain products over time? Or am I bouncing from shampoo to shampoo too quickly?
It turns out that the need to change your shampoo in fear that it will stop being effective is one of the biggest beauty myths around. Hair doesn’t “get used” to certain formulas. However, if you constantly use the same the same shampoo or conditioner, product build up can occur. Product build up can make your hair feel dirty and look lackluster. To prevent this, I recommend using a clarifying shampoo at least once a week. I’ve been using the Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo ($5.29) for years. It does a great job of making my hair feel squeaky clean (and it’s cheap!). Another one of my favorites is the Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo ($26). Not only does it cleanse my scalp, but leaves my hair feeling smooth and looking shiny.
So how often should you switch your shampoo and conditioner? There’s no real answer. However, there are a few other factors that affect when you should change up your hair care routine. The most significant factor is the weather. Extreme shifts in weather can dramatically change the dynamic of your hair. It’s important to adapt your hair care routine to the environment. Winter can dry out your hair, so you’ll want to opt for a moisturizing shampoo and a conditioning treatment. The summer heat can make your scalp oily (which can weigh down hair), so you’ll want to ditch the moisturizing shampoo for a more volumizing formula. To combat humidity, try products that focus on smoothing the hair follicle.
Don’t forget that your hair naturally changes over time. The texture of your hair can also be effected by color treatments and over-processing. If you see changes in your hair, chances are it’s time to shake up your routine.
For more hair advice, check out are ponytails really bad for hair? and 6 things every woman should do to her hair before going to sleep.
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