Many articles claim the only thing you should look at when finding a shampoo for your hair is your hair type. This is a great method if this was still the prehistoric times…
Your hair is a complex system full of moving parts and pieces that cannot be captured by just one element. Millions of elements and factors play into how healthy your hair is. The three elements with the most impact are hair type, scalp type, and diet. These three elements can help form a more cohesive picture of what products work best for you.
Hair Type
Hair type is the most common element that is looked at for hair care. These usually look at what form of hair you have in terms of straight, wavy, curly, or coily. Again, this is only a surface-level dive. We are looking a bit deeper into the different types of hair that are associated with different backgrounds. African American curly hair requires different treatment than Asian curly hair. Finding the right hair type needs that fits your background is crucial to understanding what oils are useful and what chemicals are harmful. For a comprehensive guide on understanding the nuances of different hair types and subtypes, check out our detailed article on Hair Types 1 to 4.
Scalp Type
Scalp Type is equally as important when determining what is needed for your hair. This at a surface level can be a simple distinguishment between men requiring more scalp care than Women. This can be a further dive into why men require more scalp care due to the genetic composition and environmental factors that affect these conditions. Scalp care can be choosing a gentle cleaner and following it with soft oil moisturizer or requiring a cleanser that also moisturizes. Your scalp could also be different than traditional and have a completely different set of requirements. This is for each individual to discover and figure out what works for their scalp needs.
Diet
Diet is the final element that should be emphasized as a deficiency in vitamins or overconsumption of oil can affect your hair and scalp conditions. There are a lot of studies that relate hair loss to a lack of vitamin consumption such as a Zinc deficiency, iron deficiency, and protein deficiency. We are more focused on the conditions of our scalp such that we can choose an appropriate cleanser and moisturizing agent. High Saturated fats, sugars, and alcohol all increase oil production for your scalp. This means your shampoo should have active ingredients that help with oil cleansing and management for your scalp. It is crucial to choose a product that reflects how your diet is affecting your hair.
What works for you?
These are some of the major key elements that should be considered when choosing the type of hair care routine you follow. There is no one-stop shop for all hair types or scalp types. This also applies to everyone's dietary requirements as these have an equal effect on your hair health. By looking into each of these three categories in more detail at our linked articles, we can help build a more comprehensive and cohesive picture of what your hair actually needs.
