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| GOOD SHAMPOOS: Look for ones that say they are moisturizing, or for damaged or frizzy hair. Make sure they don't contain sodium lauryl sulfate, because it's drying. Sodium laureth sulfate, however, is fine. Also keep your eyes out for ammonium xylenesulfate, a laquer solvent that could swell your hair shaft and dry out your hair. If you use a medicated shampoo, try to find a conditioning one. It isn’t that important about the shampoo so long as it isn’t harsh because a good conditioning rinse will follow that, which will then be followed by a super-rich conditioner you will be leaving in.
I don’t often use the same shampoo and conditioner of a particular product line. Sometimes a company makes a great shampoo, but has a bad conditioner, or makes a wonderful conditioner yet has a harsh, drying shampoo. So I tend to mix and match to get the best products.
Here are a few examples of some good shampoos:
|  Paula's Choice All Over Hair & Body Shampoo (All Skin & Hair Types) (Okay, I'm cheating a bit and using a photo of the conditioner, but the shampoo and conditioner look basically the same. I go through shampoo so slowly that I haven't bought all the bottles yet). This shampoo has no fragrances, or dyes. This would also be perfect for a child or someone with a sensitive scalp, since no sensitizing essential oils are used. |
Jasön Fragrance Free Daily Shampoo .
I was wanting to offer more fragrance free products so there would be more options for those with sensitive skin, and for children. I was nervous at first because when I poured it into my hands, it was clear (and clear shampoo always makes me think "Dishwashing liquid"). However, it cleaned very gently. My only concern is that this shampoo has sage in it, which is a fragrance, and can be irritating. It doesn't have a scent (that I could tell), and it was gentle, but the sage may be too much for very sensitive skin.
All of their shampoos have very gentle ingredients. The only one in the bunch to look out for is the Henna shampoo, which may build up and make hair feel dry after a while.
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Naturelle Hypo-Allergenic Fragrance Free Shampoo .
This is another "fragrance free" shampoo that actually has fragrance oils in it, such as Geranium oil and Ylang ylang oil . These are fragrance oils, and can be irritating to sensitive skin. It doesn't have much of a scent (that I could tell), and it was gentle, but the essential oils may be too much for very sensitive skin. Other than that concern, this was a gentle shampoo that worked much like the Jasön shampoo. ( I found this shampoo at a Sally's Beauty Supply store.)
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Blended Beauty Soy Cream Shampoo:
This is a very gentle shampoo that feels like you're washing with a conditioner that foams. It has witch hazel in it as a mild astringent for your scalp. (I talked with the creator of Blended Beauty, and she said that the alcohol in the witch hazel extract evaporates when the product is being made.) |
Selsun Salon Moisturizing for Dry or Damaged Hair.
As far as medicated shampoos go, this is a fine dandruff shampoo. Since you will just be shampooing your scalp only, (and following with a rinsing conditioner and then a rich combing conditioner), you don't have to worry as much about the active ingredient drying out your hair.
|  Garnier Fructis Moisturizing for Dry or Damaged Hair Fortifying Shampoos:
You could try any of the Garnier Fructis shampoos, as long as they say they are moisturizing.
*Note: The conditioners are fine, but I find them too difficult to comb through my hair, which is why I don't recommend them as combing conditioners. However, the shampoos have lots of silicone, which adds slip, so you might be able to comb easier than I could if you wash with the shampoo and then try one of the conditioners to comb with. | 
Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo (or Smoothing Shea Butter Shampoo).
These have mild cleansing ingredients.
(I know, I'm still cheating and using photos of conditioners for the shampoos, but the shampoos and conditioners look basically the same). |
** 2-in-1 shampoos should be used just as shampoos (you still need to use a conditioner to comb through and leave in tight curls). However, the 2-in-1 will add a bit more slip when you are combing.**
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| If you're curious about the ingredients in your products, check out the Ingredients Dictionary. Remember, the only place a product has to tell the truth is on the ingredients list.
If you're curious why a product didn't make it onto a recommended list, you can look for it in the Answer Bank. Just type in part of the name of the product into the search box to see if I've already checked it out.
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