How Do I Choose the Best Straight Hair Shampoo?

Straight hair looks sleek and glamorous in its own right, but it needs very different things from a shampoo than other hair types. With the wrong shampoo, straight hair can look flat, dull and even stringy. To pick the best shampoo, consumers must focus on lightweight straight hair shampoos that are appropriate for the diameter and cuticle condition present.

Straight hair is easily weighed down by heavy hair care products. The heavy products cause the straight strands to sit very close to each other and appear flat. This is a major issue because it prevents a person from getting a hairstyle that looks voluminous, bounces and moves well, and is full of life.

The fact straight hair is easily weighed down means that it's necessary to stay away from heavy, cream shampoos. Instead, pick a straight hair shampoo that is clear, because this type of shampoo won't have the weight of a creamy shampoo and won't leave as much residue on the hair strands.

Once the clear shampoos are the only ones up for consideration, check the texture of the straight hair. Texture refers to whether the hair is fine, normal or coarse. These traits involve not only the diameter of the hair strand, but also how flat the outermost layer or cuticle of the hair sits.

Hair that is fine has the smallest diameter with a cuticle that sits very flat. This type of straight hair is the most sensitive to the weight of hair care products, so choose the lightest out of all the clear shampoos. People with fine, straight hair typically do not need products that moisturize quite as much because the cuticles sit so uniformly, creating a good barrier for moisture retention. The increased number of protein scales on the cuticle, however, creates more static, so the best straight hair shampoo for fine manes usually are ones with ingredients designed to eliminate frizz and flyaways. Shampoos labeled as volumizing are good because they plump up the hair shaft and make it look thicker.

Normal straight hair is of a moderate diameter. The scales don't sit extremely flat, but they aren't as roughed up as with coarse hair. The best straight hair shampoo for this type of hair is one with moderate cleansing, moisturizing and anti-frizz power.

Coarse hair has the widest diameter. The cuticles of this hair type don't sit very flat, so the hair feels rougher and can't regulate moisture as well. For this type of straight hair, pick a shampoo that moisturizes well.