PickGlobeShampoo and conditioner are easy to order online and easy to get wrong. A product that suits one person's hair can leave another's flat, dry or greasy. A few minutes with the label and the product page makes a good match more likely.
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Start with your hair and scalp
- Hair texture: straight, wavy, curly or coily. Curlier hair tends to be drier, because oils travel less easily down the strand.
- Hair thickness: fine, medium or coarse. Fine hair can be weighed down by heavy conditioners.
- Scalp: oily, dry or normal. Your scalp and your lengths may need different things.
- Condition: colour-treated, heat-styled, bleached or chemically straightened hair is often more fragile and may need more moisture.
Write down two or three goals, such as "more volume", "less frizz" or "gentle on a dry scalp", and shop for those.
Read the product page and label
| Look at | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Who it is for | Hair type, scalp type or concern named by the brand |
| Ingredient list | Cleansing agents, conditioning agents, oils and fragrance, in order from most to least |
| Size | Volume in millilitres or fluid ounces, for comparing value |
| Usage directions | How much to use and how often |
| Shelf life symbol | An open-jar symbol with a number, such as 12M, shows months after opening |
A few ingredient notes, in general terms:
- Sulphate-free is not automatically better or worse. Sulphates are strong cleansers. They can suit oily hair, while some people with dry or sensitive scalps prefer milder cleansers.
- Silicones coat the hair and add slip and shine. Some people find they build up, and a clarifying wash now and then can remove it.
- Fragrance can irritate sensitive skin. If you have reacted before, choose fragrance-free and check the full ingredient list.
- "Natural", "botanical" and "clean" have no single legal meaning. Check the ingredients, not the label claim.
Treat hair-loss and scalp claims carefully
Shampoos and conditioners are cosmetics. They can clean, condition and improve how hair looks and feels. Claims about treating hair loss, thinning or scalp conditions need more caution. If you notice sudden hair loss, a sore or flaky scalp, or anything unusual, speak to a pharmacist or doctor rather than relying on a product page.
Compare value fairly
- Divide the price by the size to get the price per 100 ml.
- Check how much you need per wash, since a concentrated product can last longer.
- Compare bundles carefully. A set can save money, but only if you will use every item.
- Add delivery, taxes and any import charges. Our price comparison guide shows how.
Check the store and returns
- Opened products are often non-returnable for hygiene reasons, so see whether the store offers travel sizes or samples first.
- Authenticity: buy from the brand's own site or a store it lists. Prices far below the brand's own can mean old stock or fakes. See independent beauty brands: what to check.
- Delivery and shipping limits: some liquids and aerosols have shipping restrictions, and some brands only sell in certain countries.
- If something goes wrong, see our guide to refunds and chargebacks.
Patch test new products
Try a small amount on the inner forearm first and wait a day. Stop using a product that causes redness, itching or swelling, and keep the packaging and batch code in case you need to report a reaction.
The short version
Choose by hair texture, thickness and scalp type, read the ingredient list rather than the front-label claims, compare price per 100 ml, and check the return rules for opened products. For hair loss or scalp problems, ask a pharmacist or doctor.