Signs that show you should change your shampoo

Because it is the first care for your hair, your shampoo must be perfectly adapted to the needs of your hair. Are you using the right formula or should you change it? We take stock of the signs that show you should change your shampoo.

Your scalp is acting up

Is your scalp sensitive, oily or, on the contrary, very dry? Your shampoo could well have its share of responsibility… Because as Hovig Etoyan, manager of the eponymous salon in the 6th arrondissement of Paris* reminds us, “a shampoo is primarily used to wash the scalp”. Gold, many people think, wrongly, that a shampoo has the role of cajoling the lengths. “You never choose your shampoo by saying ‘it will soften or repair my ends'”, adds the hairdresser. “So much the better if the lengths benefit from the action of the shampoo, but if it does not treat the scalp as a priority, the hair will not breathe properly”. Let’s not forget, it is at the level of the scalp that good hair growth is played out. Taking care of it guarantees you hair that is shinier, denser, stronger and less easy to break.

So you will understand, to get your hands on the right shampoo, you must first analyze your scalp : is it normal, oily, dry, sensitive…? An appointment with a hairdresser or a dermatologist can help you make the right diagnosis and choose the ideal product. Regarding the lengths, the water and shampoo that run over them during washing are responsible for cleaning them up. On the other hand, this is not what will cure them. For a beautiful, vigorous mane, it is important to use a conditioner or a mask adapted to your other hair problems, in addition to the shampoo.

Your hair lacks movement and flow

Does your hair lack lightness? Even after a shampoo, do you have the impression that your hair is “leaded”? Several explanations are possible.

This may be due to the use of a shampoo whose formula contains a lot of silicones. These ingredients – increasingly removed from formulas – give the impression of perfectly healthy hair: the lengths are soft, easy to comb, shiny… But over time, and as you use them too much, the hair suffocates and are “leaded”, since silicones can, in very high doses, prevent the proper penetration of care active ingredients into the hair fibre. Thereby, turning to more natural formulas is a good way to find more fluid hair. But beware, if you have been using shampoos and hair care products of this type for several years, a transition period may be necessary. At first, your hair may appear duller and less soft to the touch. Your hair needs time to adapt, but don’t worry: it will quickly regain a nice texture.

Another possible explanation for this lack of lightness: perhaps your shampoo has had its day. Translation ? You don’t keep the same shampoo all your life. “The needs of the scalp evolve regularly, over the seasons, hormonal upheavals or even according to the cycles of the hair”, indicates Hovig Etoyan. “Once the shampoo has done its job, it may seem like it’s no longer having an effect. A new hair diagnosis must then be carried out to adapt to the current state of the hair”. To avoid getting your hair used to a formula that would eventually become ineffective, the ideal is to change your shampoo regularly“not every week either, but as soon as necessary depending on the condition of the hair”, specifies our expert.

Your hair lacks shine

You use a shampoo perfectly adapted to your scalp, and yet, you have the impression that your hair continues to look gray? “In reality, a head of hair rarely presents only one hair problem”, underlines our professional. For example, your scalp may be dry, with a tendency to dandruff. In that case, the good reflex is to alternate shampoos : a hydrating/nourishing formula then a treating formula against dandruff. This alternation can be done during the same wash (a first shampoo with one formula and a second with the other), or over spaced washes (one day, one shampoo). Ditto if your hair is colored, it is always interesting to use specific shampoos to maintain maximum shine and radiance over the long term.

Your roots tend to get greasy very quickly

Several factors can be responsible for an oily scalp: hormonal imbalance, stress, poor diet, use of unsuitable products, a period of great fatigue… Smooth and fine hair is also often affected by excess oil. sebum because of their nature which facilitates the glide of sebum from the roots to the tips. In these cases, a special oily hair shampoo is recommended.

But if your roots stay shiny despite using the right formula, the problem may be the way you apply your shampoo. Indeed, the gesture is very important. No need to put too much product, a small hazelnut is enough. Then, apply the shampoo on the top of your skull by massaging your head with the pulp of your fingers and making light circular movements. The purpose of this maneuver? Peel off the roots to eliminate all the sebum and small impurities that have nested there. Of course, your gestures must always remain gentle so as not to attack your scalp. Wash your hair gently, without pressing or rubbing too vigorously as this stimulates the sebaceous glands which produce sebum. A good rinse is finally necessary to remove all shampoo residues, before moving on to the conditioner and the mask.

* 11, rue Coetlogon, 75006 Paris