Experts say the following about shampoo products:

  • Shampoos do good work in their primary job: cleaning hair. Any benefits beyond that are suspect, and some claims on the packaging have no basis in fact.
  • Almost all salon lines include products that fall short on advertised claims. For example, while color-enhancing shampoos may otherwise be good hair products, not all have been shown to extend the life of hair dyes. The same holds true for brands that claim to protect hair from the sun.
  • The only part of the shampoo label that's regulated by the Food and Drug Administration is the list of ingredients. That means manufacturers can claim their shampoos "add volume" or "moisturize," and not really do either of those things.
  • Pricier salon-brand shampoos don't necessarily outperform inexpensive store brands. The same ingredients are often used for products in different price ranges.
  • Be aware of shampoos that claim to repair, restructure or nourish damaged hair. Hair is dead; it can't be repaired. Shampoo products can only help the look and feel of hair temporarily. Also, ingredients like sunscreen and antioxidants are washed down the drain when you rinse, leaving no benefit for your hair.
  • Most experts discredit claims that shampoos are "organic" or "all natural," saying natural ingredients can't clean hair. Plus, the efficacy of organic plants, fruits, vitamins, etc. has never been proven. These ingredients may smell nice, however.
  • Shampoos do not work differently on hair over time. Conditioning elements, styling products and chemical processes do build up and sometimes necessitate a temporary change in shampoo brands, but hair doesn't "adapt" to shampoo. But hair does change as we grow older, if our diet changes or we develop an illness. All of these give the impression that the shampoo is no longer working as it once did.
  • Unless you use an unusually large amount of styling products, it's only necessary to lather your hair once. Also, the amount of lather and foam generated by a shampoo does not affect its ability to clean hair.
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