Every potion for your pate is designed to remove oil, dead skin cells, and grime from your scalp, says Paradi Mirmirani, M.D., a dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente. “the biggest difference is the strength of the cleanser.” If you have an oily scalp (and greasy hair), you need a strong shampoo; a dry scalp (and wispy hair) requires gentler stuff. but don’t confuse dryness with dandruff, which is caused by a fungus. Now, if you’re running out of hair to shampoo, you need a formulation that creates the illusion of thicker hair. We’ve identified four categories and tested a slew of shampoos in each to find the best. top off with conditioner for a covetable coif.
Dry Scalp
Look for mild cleansers called betaines high up
on the ingredient list, says Zoe Draelos, M.D., a consulting professor of dermatology at Duke University school of medicine. These don’t bind to oil as well as harsher cleansers do, so they leave some of your natural moisture.
Thinning Hair
Minoxidil is the only proven OTC way to stimulate hair growth. But the shampoo you use can make each strand appear thicker. Look for volumizing formulas with plumping polymers (like quaternium) that bind to each strand, says Jim Hammer, M.Ed., a cosmetic chemist.
Oily Scalp
Control greasiness with a shampoo that contains anionic surfactants, such as sulfates, sulfoacetates or sulfosuccinates. An Italian study review found that these detergents, which contain negatively charged particles that bind to oil, are the strongest cleansers.
Dandruff
Eliminate the itch by using a product containing either zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide, which fight the flake-causing fungus and soothe inflammation, says Dr. Draelos. Alternate that with a salicylic acid shampoo, which exfoliates to remove dead skin cells and flakes.
