The market has tons of anti-hair fall shampoos competing with each other to find a spot in your shopping cart! Most of them make tall promises too. So how exactly do you choose the right one for your hair fall?
After talking to our in-house doctors and researching about various products, we have come up with a list of things you need to bear in mind before buying an anti-hairfall shampoo.
Highlights:
How Do Shampoos Control Hair Fall?
Let us tell you the harsh truth first. Most shampoos available in the market are not subjected to clinical trials. These cannot be considered the primary line of defence against hair loss.
However, these shampoos increase blood flow using their ingredients, thus being helpful against hair fall to a certain extent. The ingredients though are in limited concentrations and are diluted. The effectiveness of such shampoos depend on the frequency and time of application. [1]
What Is The Best Shampoo For Hair Fall?
1. Things To Consider Before Choosing A Shampoo
Instead of getting attracted to the bold labels that read ‘anti-hairfall shampoo’, try and do your research before picking one. Not any or every shampoo can help you with your hair fall. Hair type, hair concerns, ingredients and pH level of shampoo all come into picture while you are deciding on a shampoo that can be effective against your hair fall.
2. Understand Your Hair Type
First and foremost, know your hair and scalp type. You can't use a shampoo formulated for dry scalp on oily scalp. Following is a classification of hair types based on different parameters:
|
Basis of classification |
Hair types |
|
Thick, medium and thin hair |
|
|
Amount of oil (sebum) secreted on the scalp |
Normal, oily, dry and combination hair |
|
Hair diameter |
Thick, medium and thin hair |
|
Porosity or hair’s ability to retain moisture |
High, medium/normal & low porosity |
|
Elasticity (ability of a strand to stretch before returning to normal state) |
High, medium and low elasticity |
|
Hair pattern or curl pattern |
Straight, wavy and curly hair |
3. Figure Out Your Hair Concern
You may be having hair fall due to dandruff, hair coloring, weak hair roots or scalp related issues. It is important to understand the cause of your hair fall before you head to the beauty store. Losing around 100 strands is considered normal. Anything above this is a matter of concern and you need to figure out your hair concern.
Following are some of the ingredients that you can look for to target specific concerns:
|
Ingredient |
Function |
|
Activated charcoal, wintergreen derived salicylic acid |
Removes follicle-clogging impurities and can encourage healthy hair growth |
|
Zinc, biotin, collagen, gluco-omega blend, rice protein and keratin |
Strengthens hair |
|
Ketoconazole |
Anti-fungal and helps in removing dandruff |
|
Ginger, mint |
Boosts blood circulation in the scalp |
|
Shea butter |
Keeps hair hydrated |
|
Antioxidants and essential oils like grapeseed oil |
Reduces inflammation and irritation on the scalp |
|
Keratin |
Coats the hair strands, locks moisture in the scalp and adds volume to hair |
|
Pumpkin seed oil, rosemary oil and green tea extract |
Promotes hair growth |
4. Tips You Can’t Miss
1. Stick to shampoos that do not lather much. These are sulfate free shampoos and are safe on your scalp.
2. Try to look for natural ingredients as much as possible.
3. If you have curly, frizzy or coarse hair, look for shampoos that tame your locks besides preventing hair fall.
4. Use a clear shampoo (these are usually mild) if you have extremely thin hair.
5. For dry hair, look for moisturizing ingredients along with ingredients effective against hair fall.
5. pH Level Shampoo
The sweat on your scalp mixes with oil or sebum to form a thin layer called the acid mantle. The pH of this mantle is around 4.5 to 5.5. The acidic nature of hair prevents the development of fungi and bacteria on the scalp and hair as well.
Also, this pH keeps the cuticle of the hair intact and healthy. As a general rule of thumb, look for shampoos whose pH is close to your scalp’s so that they don't cause any hair/scalp damage. [2]
6. What To Avoid?
To treat your hair-fall condition, look for shampoos containing natural active ingredients. Avoid sulfates (myreth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate), alcohols and its derivatives, propylene glycol, parabens, phthalates. Read about some harmful chemicals to avoid in your hair care here.
Why Does My Hair Fall Out When I Shampoo?
It is normal to lose some strands of hair while you are shampooing. This is the hair that is in resting phase or telogen phase. But if you notice lumps of hair clogging up your shower, seek medical help. There could be an underlying medical condition.
Wrapping Up
We hope you swim through the ocean of anti-hair fall shampoos with all the information provided above. Reasons for hair fall range from hormonal changes to improper diet, pollution to stress and underlying health issues. We advise you to see a dermatologist for any sudden or new or extreme hair loss.
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