What is the best shampoo for curly hair? This is an extremely generic question and if a curly hair specialist responds without an assessment of the health of your hair through a series of questions or a hands-on assessment of your curls, we suggest you dismiss the recommendation! Sounds harsh? Possibly, but we are here to educate you the right way about your curls, so you can make the best product selection that supports the health of your unique curls.

Choosing the best shampoo for curly hair in the UAE, requires a consideration for the climate and geographic specific nuances for example hard water is a common issue in middle eastern countries due to a lack of regular rainfall, as such the region’s water supply is primarily sourced from desalinated seawater, which is known for its high mineral content, particularly calcium and magnesium according to an article published by Purolite. Let’s run through what determines a shampoo best suited to curly hair in the UAE.

What is a shampoo?

Firstly, let’s understand what we mean by shampoo. A shampoo is a type of cleanser that is largely composed of water, ranging between 40-70%. Shampoos contain surfactants and foam boosters amongst other ingredients to lift dirt and debris, increase the spreadability and lathering capabilities of the product. Shampoos are specifically formulated with a slightly higher acidity level with a ph level higher than that of a conditioner in order to effectively lift dirt from the scalp and hair shaft. Without getting too scientific, we want shampoos that contain surfactants which are anionic – negatively charged. Hair typically carries a net negative charge, so we want negative + negative charge – not a case of opposites attracts in this instance as that will result in product binding to the hair. What we want is a shampoo that doesn’t bind to the hair shaft, therefore, similarly a negative charge.

Foam boosters in shampoos for curly hair textures are recommended as it enables increase spreadability of the shampoo through the length of the hair shaft, meaning it can pass through the varies kinks, curls and bends of curly hair structures easily.

What type of shampoo suited to curly hair textures?

Sulfate free shampoos for curly hair types have gained popularity and there’s a reason for this. As with any viral or popular method it’s important not to just follow a trend but understand the principles of a method and its application. Let’s unpack this.

Sulfates are a popular type of surfactant used in many commercial shampoos. In a nutshell, they are a harsh detergent that contain significant stripping capabilities. The downside of sulfates is the stripping of both good and bad oils and other build up, leaving the hair extremely dry and potentially feeling rough. The upside is they will leave your hair and scalp squeaky clean and free of oils and product build up. In the context of curly hair, this is a challenge to get around as curly hair naturally is more prone to dryness because of its unique structure. However, there is hope as brands such as Inashi have brought Sulfate Free Clarifying Shampoos to market which have the same stripping capabilities without the harshness of sulfates – a win-win for the curly hair market!

If you are following the Curly Girl Method you can now understand why the use of sulfates particularly in shampoos is not encouraged and advised to be avoided.

An alternative to the sulfates in a shampoo is Cocamidopropyl betaine which allows for oil to be removed with water – remember water and oil in standard form repel each other. According to an article published by Medical News Today, Cocamidopropyl betaine is a suitable replacement for Soduim Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is a harsher more drying surfactant.

To make the best shampoo selection for your curls, it’s important to know what your options are. Below is a list of the various types of shampoos, their purpose along with the recommended usage.

Let’s now view all of this in the context of a Middle Eastern country such as the UAE. You want to stay clear of shampoos containing sulfates where possible, as we already struggle with the negative effects of harsh water and the mineral build up that comes with it, couple this with regularly use of sulfates this can lead to your curls becoming chronically dry and damaged.

To answer the question of what is the best shampoo for curly hair in the UAE, we advise two of the three shampoos noted above. Firstly, a moisturising shampoo is essential for regular use and as we’ve noted in previously blog posts, cleansing is a key way to rehydrated curly hair textures, a moisturising shampoo will gently lift dirt without drying out the hair shaft. In hot and at times extremely humid climates, curly hair requires the regular impartation of hydration and moisture to thrive.

This combined with a clarifying or chelating shampoo is crucial to retain healthy curls as well as allow your hair to enjoy the benefits of your moisturising and styling effects by providing your curls with a complete reset, leaving you with a clean slate, free of build up and mineral deposits.