What do you really "WANT" and "DON'T WANT" in your hair care products? And are you doing more damage than good?

Store bought shampoo is mostly comprised of water and sulfates. While different shampoos use different types of sulfates even your professional shampoos have to use sulfate (instead of being completely sulfate free) they say it’s to create that suds effect, it is critically important which sulfate is listed in your ingredients and what that means to you. Did you know there is a sulfate listed as an ingredient in a lot of generic shampoos that is known to have traces of 1.4 dioxane, an irritant and probable carcinogen? In fact, in California, 1.4 dioxane is classified as a known cancer-causing agent and any product with traces of it needs to be labeled with a warning by law. California seems to be making good on that promise, having sued several companies who weren’t properly labeling their products back in 2008. But California is just one state and still, this ingredient hasn’t been banned but simply unveiled for consumers to merely see. This sulfate which contains dioxane- sodium lauryl ether sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate- is an ingredient in shampoos such as Tresemme, Herbal Essences and Pantene Pro-V. And it’s in the top three ingredients in most of these generic shampoos. Am I saying that grocery store brands of shampoo will give you cancer? Definitely not. And do all shampoos have chemicals or ingredients that could affect you? Probably. But the point I’m making is that exposing yourself to something that could hurt your health to any degree is absolutely not worth the few extra dollars saved for anyone. Somewhere between the generic shampoos which do much more harm than good and are full of chemicals and the expensive, organic shampoos You will find our shampoo and conditioner. Even though our shampoo and conditioner is 100% natural, organic products we don't expect you to pay that unreal price.

Long story short, you have hair follicles in your head that your hair strands grow out of. In those follicles are glands that produce a natural sebum or oil that naturally cleanses your hair. These oils cleanse your scalp, hydrate your roots, and travel all the way to your ends through hair-brushing to moisturize and add shine. When the sebaceous gland is allowed to secrete oils for a couple days at a time, it can properly do it’s job. But when it is washed out everyday (whether by store bought shampoo or salon professional), you’ll run into a couple problems. The first is that you will constantly be washing out these oils before they can effectively do their job, meaning you are never getting the natural benefits your body wants to produce. The second is that by replacing your “natural cleanser” with your shampoo, you are creating the perfect formula for greasy roots. You should be allowing your sebaceous gland to build up and only using your shampoo to wash out that particular build up. By not doing so, you are not allowing your sebaceous gland to secrete anything at any point and relying on your shampoo to do the deep cleaning, which it isn’t made to do. So you walk around with greasy roots, dull ends that never see natural moisture, and a huge bummer of a problem. I recommend to all of my customers that they wash their hair about every other day. And be sure to note that when switching your routine in this way, it will take anywhere from 6 weeks to 2 months to fully adjust. And it’s also important to note that different hair types take to this routine differently. Ladies with curly, coarse hair can go longer than those of us with finer, wispier strands. But the important thing is that you are giving your locks enough time in between washing to naturally cleanse and hydrate, whatever that timing ends up being for you.

Shampoo is meant to remove dirt, sebum (a.k.a. oils), and product buildup from your hair. But there are dozens of different brands to choose from, and even more types within those brands. 

The same goes for conditioners. Conditioners are meant to add shine, protect hair from drying out and allow for easier combing. Here, we run down the best shampoos and conditioners for four different hair types. Coarse, curly hair Curly hair is almost always dry hair and here's why: Oils produced in the scalp don't travel as easily down the hair shaft as they do with straight hair.

You need a shampoo that softens hair while minimizing frizz. We've found creamy, moisturizing shampoos work best for this hair texture. Look for wheat germ oil, jojoba oil, nut oils (almond and coconut, for example), as well as natural vegetable oils in your shampoos. Natural plant oils also work for deep hydration. These tend to coat the hair shaft, trapping water inside. 

Conditioners: More than any other hair type, women with coarse, curly hair must condition every time they shampoo. Look for an ultra-moisturizing conditioner made especially for coarse hair. Once a month use a hot oil treatment we recommend our organic coconut oil. Just be careful with those store bought hot oil treatments. Most of them contain chemicals that are not healthy for your hair.. For extra-dry hair, use an intense moisturizing treatment every 2 weeks.

The key is to pick a product that works great, doesn't damage, and is affordable. Correct? Red Dirt Soap Company Natural Shampoo and Conditioner is just what you need.

Extra tip: Curly hair should not be washed every day. You'll only dehydrate hair and make it more frizzy and unmanageable. Another alternative to shampoo washing's is to rinse the hair with water and then follow with a conditioner. Also, lay off the blow dryer (they tend to dry out hair even more) and let curls dry naturally. Fine, oily, or limp hair Fine hair is most susceptible to looking 'oily' and can get this way after only one day. You want a gentle shampoo marked for daily or frequent washing. The secret fine hair shampoo lies in a body-building ingredient called panthenol. Hair experts swear that panthenol penetrates the hair cuticle making each strand thicker.

Conditioners: Not all limp-haired ladies need conditioners. If you find you can easily comb out hair after washing's without a conditioner you can skip it. Conditioners are good for combing out fine hair. Massage a light-weight conditioner from mid-shaft down and no need to leave it on for long. If you have extremely greasy hair, look for the oil-absorbing tea-tree oil in your conditioner.

Colored or chemically-treated hair your goal is to reinforce weak areas in the hair shaft that naturally comes from coloring, straightening, relaxing or perming hair. Look for protein-based shampoos with ingredients such as wheat and soy oils unfortunately, overly processed hair can suffer from oily roots but dry shaft and ends. Therefore, washing processed hair can be tricky business. You want to cleanse the roots while moisturizing the ends. We suggest washing hair every other day with a shampoo made for normal hair. Concentrate on cleaning the scalp. Then use a strong conditioner only on the mid-shaft to ends of hair. Here are other shampoo tips for the following processed hair types:

Colored. Hair experts swear color-protection shampoos contain gentle cleansers and ingredients that preserve color. Other experts suggest shampoos for color-treated hair are just another way for companies to make money off you. With our hair care products you will not find any harsh chemicals to damage your already brittle hair. We say: Whatever works for you.

Permed or relaxed. Any moisturizing shampoo will work for your hair type but apply it only to roots and rub it in well. Then apply a quick burst of water. While the water is running down the hair shaft, massage hair to remove any dirt and grime. Rinse well. You don't want to skip the conditioner. Make sure to keep conditioner from the roots.

Conditioners: Look for a rich conditioner to be used primarily on the ends of your hair. Avoid conditioners that contain silicone, since they tend to strip color.

Extra tip for processed hair: Wash your hair only every few days to prevent drying out.

Look for natural plant, nut, and vegetable oils with keratin and collagen to help restore the moisture balance to your hair.

Conditioners: Again, moisturizing is key. You'll want to look for an ultra-moisturizing conditioner.

Here is the list of ingredients in our hair care products:

Organic Shampoo Ingredients: apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, castor oil, coconut oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, Phytokeratin (natural vegetable delivered keratin), Pseudocollagen Naturally Derived Active, palm oil, palm kernel oil, wheat germ oil, and essential oils.

Organic Conditioner Ingredients: avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, castor oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, olive oil, Phytokeratin (natural vegetable delivered keratin), Pseudocollagen Naturally Derived Active, shea butter, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, distilled water, and essential oils.