Best Japanese Shampoos

Choosing the best Japanese shampoo is an important part of making your hair look amazing, but it’s also one of the hardest parts of hair care. Just like with the best Japanese makeup, one size definitely does not fit all and finding the right one requires a lot of work. You have to read the ingredient list and test out various different products until you find the right one. 

Why Japanese Shampoo?

Buying Guide

Know Your Hair Type

When looking for the best Japanese hair shampoo, the most important part of the process is understanding your hair type. Different products are made to work on different types of bodies and using the wrong type can lead to undesired results. Like medicine, shampoos often target specific hair types and there is no one size fits all (if there is, we wouldn’t be writing this and you wouldn't need to read this!)

Here are some different types of hair and what type of shampoo you need for them.

Oily

For hair that’s always greasy at the end of the day, you want to avoid products with extra oil and silicon ingredients. The excessive cleaning elements will not only remove the excess oil, but also strip off natural oils as well. The ideal Japanese shampoo for hair would be one that can remove the dirt and oil with the use of natural ingredients.

Thin

Thin hair tend to be less porous and gets oily at the roots very quickly, so just like dealing with oily hair, you want to avoid the use of silicone. Furthermore, you want a shampoo that can moisturize to prevent the fine hair strands from dying out and improve hair volume.

Curly

Curly hair tends to get dry much faster than straight hair and has more frizz due to the lack of natural oils that travel down the hair strands. Therefore, the shampoo that to look for should have high levels of conditioning agent for smoothness and has more moisturizing agent than usual makes the hair soft and smoothen out the coarse hair. 

Dry Hair

People get dry hair for a number of reasons. Some have it naturally, some use curling and flat irons regularly resulting in damaged hair, while others get it from adding color regularly. Whatever the reason may be, to combat dry hair, you want a product that hydrates without weighing it down. You also want to avoid products that use silicones, which can dry it out even more in the long run. 

Color Treated

If you color your hair often, then choosing the right Japanese hair shampoo is more important than ever. With the wrong choice, all that effort can fade off just after one shower. You need one that moisturizes and protects with a conditioning agent to avoid damaged hair. Having UV protection can also help the color last longer. 

For Babies

Babies require a product that has milder ingredients so it won't irritate the baby’s skin. Look for one that’s made for mild skin and use natural plant based ingredients. You also want to avoid scented products and chemicals such as parabens and sulfate.

Special Treatment for Hair Problems

If you have hair problems such as damaged, dandruff, or hair loss, then choosing the right shampoo is a crucial decision.

Here are certain things to look for for each type of problems. If your condition doesn’t improve with the use of the right products, consider getting medical attention or using prescribed shampoo for your particular condition.

Damaged

Split ends, frizzy hair, and other types of damage can be caused by a number of reasons: over brushing, weathering, coloring, heat tools, etc.

To undo damaged hair can take time and effort, but the process is much faster with a product that has moisturizing formula, conditioning ingredients, and provides nutrients such as antioxidants, healing oils, and lipids.

Itchy Scalp & Dandruff

Itchy scalp and dandruff can be caused by a number of reasons including product buildup, dry skin, or other medical issues. While some cases may require medical attention, the right product can cure most cases by maintaining natural oils and getting a deep cleanse into the scalp.

Hair Loss

Hair loss happens to the best of us and it can depend on your age, diet, stress, or medical condition. Most cases start from the scalp, so choosing a Japanese shampoo that has great scalp care and improves hair strand volume can be a good start to improving your condition. Also avoid Japanese shampoo containing artificial fragrances and other chemicals such as parabens and sulfate.

What to Look For

When you’re choosing the best Japanese shampoo, you might be overwhelmed by all the information written on the ingredient list. While you don’t need to understand everything that’s written, there are certain ingredients you need to look for. 

While this list doesn't include everything, they can help you get an idea of what to look for in a Japanese shampoo.

Ingredients to watch out for:

• Sulfate: Sulfates are added to shampoos to help remove dirt and oil from your hair. Sulfates have been gaining bad reputation recently, due to the fact that they can end up washing away your natural oils and irritate your scalp. However, its effects vary from person to person. For those that have sensitive and weak hair, you definitely want to avoid sulfates, but for normal people, it can have mild effects. 
• Parabens: Parabens are preservatives that’s used frequently due to their low cost. While sulfates were an optional ingredient, parabens should be avoided as much as possible. Parabens are known to disrupt your body’s hormone cycle and can cause allergies in small children. In addition, they are easily absorbed by your skin, which can spread its effects to other parts of your body.
• Artificial Fragrance: Artificial fragrances can have various negative impacts on your health. It’s not always clear what types of chemicals are used to make these fragrances and some are known to cause cancer, asthma, and organ failure. 

Ingredients to look for:

Overall, the best Japanese shampoo will most likely be plant-based and organic. Natural products won’t rely on chemicals for cleaning agents and scents. Try to avoid the word “fragrance" and look for fruit oils such as coconut, apple, and olive.