To Shampoo or not to Shampoo, That Is the Question.
Indubitably the answer is to shampoo, but what shampoo you use matters. Salutations my friends, how are you? Here’s a little factoid about me, the feeling of a greasy scalp is the feeling I hate the most. The itchy, dense, uncomfortable, heavy feeling of an overly greasy, uncomfortable scalp is enough to wake me from sleep and make me shower at 4 AM (true story).
Everyone has a different scalp (obviously). What I mean by that is, like your skin, scalps can be oily, dry, or sensitive. Finding the right shampoo to cater to your specific scalp needs is crucial. There are some brands that let you formulate your own personalized shampoo, but they are often very pricy and mediocre for such a hefty price tag. I have what I would call a combo scalp, oily at the roots but dry at the ends. If I go for more than two days without showering I start looking like Severus Snape (love him), not to say that there is anything wrong with Snape’s look… but an uncomfortable scalp doesn’t feel great either.
I’m also picky when it comes to shampoo. I want it to leave my hair feeling clean and grease free, but not itchy and overly stripped. Y’know that feeling of a shampoo that rips all the moisture from your hair to the point where your hair starts feeling like you could rub strands together make squeaking sounds? Yeah, we aren’t going for that kind of clean feel. Something natural and gentle but effective. After a long and seemingly endless search, I have finally two shampoos (and matching conditioners) that I find work the best for oily and normal/dry scalps. Both are very fairly priced and can be found at your local Target. Let’s go!
Okay the first one is for oily scalps (really everyone, but I like this one specifically for oily hair). For that, my holy grail is currently Purezero’s Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo. Do not be fooled, it doesn’t smell or feel like what you might expect vinegar shampoo to feel like (this shampoo smells like apple cider sans the vinegar and feels like magic).
Apple Cider Vinegar has been praised in the beauty community for it’s anti-inflammatory properties and being chock full of vitamins and minerals. Apple Cider Vinegar is also known for being great at getting rid of dandruff. Some people opt to use Apple Cider straight on their scalps. That’s not something I’m so keen in doing, but this shampoo is the best alternative for those who want the benefits of Apple Cider but don’t want to pour Vinegar on their heads. Kudos to all those who are brave enough to use the Vinegar though, one day maybe I’ll work up to it.
This shampoo leaves my hair feeling super clean and refreshed, but not dry or stripped. Describes as a detoxifying shampoo, it is also free of sulfates, parabens, dyes, phosphates, phthalates, and gluten (yay!). Since all the grease and nasties are taken away by this shampoo, there is nothing weighing my hair down which basically means light and very voluminous hair. It helps balance your hairs PH and has kept all dandruff flakes away. At only $7.89 USD this is an absolute steal. I also love their matching conditioner for a lightweight but creamy and moisturizing conditioner to pair with this shampoo. Both can be found at target.com
Next is SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Retention Shampoo, my pick for all hair types (including oily). Described as a hydrating, restorative shampoo, I full heartedly agree. This shampoo doesn’t leave your hair feeling as squeaky clean as the Purezero does, but don’t underestimate this one. It cleans deeply while somehow being able to bring dry strands completely back to life. It has left my hair incredibly soft and shiny, SCORE! Free of silicones, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum and sulfates, this shampoo does all the work without any nasties. The matching conditioner to this one is just amazing, thick and very moisturizing. I have heard some people complain that the conditioner smells of play dough, and honestly I can see why they might think that, but it isn’t overpowering or lingering so I don’t find it to be a problem. The shampoo smells incredible, I love the way it smells. I can’t find exact words to describe it, maybe a little shea buttery (as the name suggests) but also a little perfume-y and sweet? Regardless of what it does smell like, I really enjoy it and get lots of compliments on it. Not too heavily fragranced, but definitely is enough to make your hair smell wonderful. The main point is, this shampoo (and conditioner) has left my hair shiner and softer than it has ever been, without being greasy or heavy. I absolutely love this and at $9.29 USD, this shampoo has me hooked.
No more itchy, uncomfortable scalps 2021! There is nothing worse (in my humble opinion) than an uncomfortable scalp. The feeling is hard to ignore and a greasy scalp isn’t exactly the best look. Never fear, with some testing and trial, you too can find the right one for your hair. I highly, highly recommend the two I wrote about, seriously they have changed my hair game. I actually have been really enjoying using the SheaMoisture Shampoo with the Purezero Conditioner. Perfection.
If you read this far, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every post you read is getting me that much closer to my dreams, and for that I am unexplainably grateful.
If you have any questions, comments, or if you want to rant about how annoying uncomfortable scalps are, please don’t hesitate to reach out and either email me at oliveandkore@gmail.com or dm me on instagram, @oliveandkore. Don’t forget to subscribe to be notified when I post a new blog every Thursday and share this with some other members of the human race! I've had a lot of fun, thanks for reading! :)
This post is NOT sponsored, I just enjoy sharing my favorite products with everyone!
