With annual sales of more than $1.4 billion dollars, according to The Statistics Portal, shampoo is the leading hair care product sold in the U.S. Yet, most users are unaware of a shampoo’s multiple ingredients and what they do individually and collectively for your hair.

All shampoo brands perform the same basic function which is to remove oil, dirt and environmental contaminants while still making your hair manageable. Reading a shampoo label may seem like taking a chemistry quiz, but the ingredients all serve the same purpose – to make your hair and scalp healthier and look great. These are the most common ingredients found in shampoo. Sodium laureth sulfate is derived from coconut oils and is used to soften water and create a lather.

Used as a thickening agent, Ammonium chloride helps make hair fuller and Polysorbate solubilize or causes essential oils and fragrances to spread throughout and penetrate into your hair. Citric acid is a natural preservative that adjusts the pH level in shampoo to approximately 5.5. This is the normal range that allows hair to feel smooth and look shiny.

The most common ingredient for dandruff control is Zinc Pyrithione which slows cell regeneration on the scalp. Panthenol (B5) penetrates the hair shaft causing it to swell and thicken. Plant-based or Bontanical ingredients, such as lavender and aloe among others, aid in hair care. For example, rosemary helps with greasy scalp and chamomile lightens hair color.

Fruit sugars hydrate the hair by drawing water from the air to keep it moist. For people who dislike using a lot of chemicals, or have an allergic reaction to them, organic and natural shampoos can be a suitable alternative. These shampoos often use tea tree oil, essential oils and extracts. Also, many people suffer from eczema on their hands and their heads and some find relief from wheat-free or gluten-free soaps and shampoos, which are becoming more popular.

So, the next time you buy shampoo, read the label to have a better understanding of what ingredients it contains and the benefits they bring to your hair care treatment.

How to do a Facial for a Man

A man’s facial skin is normally thicker than a woman’s and less sensitive to ingredients in cleansers and moisturizers, but shaving is another issue. Men with heavy beards or curly hair can experience razor bumps, ingrown hairs that cause small, bumps on the skin. But with proper facial care, these problems can be a thing of the past and replaced with a clean, smooth face everyday.

Many men prefer bars over liquid cleansers, which is okay if you have normal or oily skin. But bar soap dries skin out more than liquid cleansers. If your skin is itchy or a little tight after you wash your face, then use a moisturizing bar soap with emollients such as glycerin, vitamin E oil, or olive oil or jojoba oil. If you have very oily skin, then acne may be a common problem for you. Acne is caused by excess oil production that clogs pores, causing inflammation.

Use soaps or liquid cleansers that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid or benzyl peroxide. All three have exfoliating agents to remove the upper layers of dead skin and allow for deeper cleaning of pores. Exfoliating is also the best way to greatly reduce or completely eliminate skin bumps when shaving. Simply use a facial exfoliator 2-3 times a week to buff away the dead skin cells that your hair grows back into.

After you wash your face, massage in a grainy facial exfoliator for a minute with gentle circular motions. You will see a vast improvement in your shaving bump situation. Some soaps are laced with a moisturizer, and for some men they work fine, but if not then add a moisturizer to your daily routine. For dry skin, choose a cream, which is the thickest formulation that deeply penetrates the pores. If you have normal skin, then use a lotion, which is lighter and contains less oil.

A skin toner or gel formula is best for oily skin. By using or adding these tips to your daily skin care routine, every man can have baby-smooth skin feel that looks good and feels even better.