Choosing the Right Shampoo & Conditioner

There are many different type of conditioners out there. There are some that promise to detangle, add shine or nourish with the proper nutrients -– and I have tried them all. For someone with frizzy, wavy hair that always seems to be tangled, finding the right hair products is something I am always on the look out for.

Your shampoo and conditioner should leave your hair silky, soft, shiny and clean. (Photo: Getty Images)

I was using keratin infused hair products before, but found that although it left my hair with a soft glean to it because of the keratin, the products did not fully clean my hair. Instead, they kept adding oil to it.

I have now found the perfect combination for my hair with a conditioner that leaves my hair silky smooth. It is almost as if had my hair professionally blow dried when I really let it air dry on its own.

The key to finding a combination of products that works for your hair type is to first and foremost make sure that you are actually cleaning your hair. If your hair gets clogged with oils and debris from hair products along with everyday oils, it will hinder healthy hair growth. Since most products stay away from sulfates because they are too harsh on dry hair, the shampoo you are using is probably stocked with conditioning products only, which does not allow your scalp to get the proper cleansing it needs.

It is true that too much sulfate can dry out hair, but you need to make sure that your shampoo has a proper balance of cleansing ingredients along with nourishing ones.

This shampoo has the perfect balance of cleansing and moisturizing ingredients. (Photo: Matrix)

I use Matrix Biolage Normalizing Clean Reset shampoo, which is specifically formulated to clean your hair from daily build up, but without any harsh chemicals that dries it out. The balance of cleansing and hydrating ingredients in this shampoo leaves your hair feeling refreshed and deeply cleansed, yet soft and supple at the same time. Your hair is residue free after one wash with this shampoo.

For conditioner I use Tendu Conditioning Hair Mask with FloraVide complex. You could use it once a week or as an overnight repair treatment, but I use it on a daily basis and my hair has never been healthier. After I use it, I comb my hair with a detangling brush and let it air dry. Once it has dried, my hair feels soft as silk and has a shine that does not match other conditioners I have used in the past. I believe this is due to the FloraVide complex Tendu uses in this product, which uses restorative protein-rich peptides that originate from Brazil, The Himalayas, Japan and Africa/ If that is not unique enough for you to try, then you will be missing out on the silkiest hair you have ever felt. Also, the conditioner has heat protecting qualities, so if you do decide to blow dry or straighten you hair, it already has protection against any damage that occurs from frequently blow drying and straightening your hair.

You can use this conditioner once a week, overnight or on a daily basis. (Photo: Tendu)

Remember when looking for the right shampoo, it has to have the right balancing properties and ingredients to not only keep your hair fully moisturized, but to also cleanse it to keep your hair follicles open for healthy hair growth. When choosing a conditioner, you will want one that is a heat protectant as well, so your hair can be ready to take on whatever damages it might face from hair products, hair styling or environmental damages. Ideally, the conditioner should work well enough that you will not need to use any product or do any styling because it is left silky, soft, shiny and with a hair protectant to help your hair take on the day.