We've already uncovered the truth about shampoo and conditioner — namely, that you don't have to buy your bottles from the same brand. So, while you may already be playing mad scientist and intermarrying your hair products, you might be left wondering if your cocktails are actually getting the job done. Because the whole point of mixing and matching is to get the best combination for YOUR hair type, right?Well, we've got you covered. We chatted with Matt Fugate, a stylist at Serge Normant salon in New York, about the right combos for a bevy of hair types. He says to keep in mind the fact that your shampoo should address "the chemical nature of your hair," e.g., fine, wavy, thin, color-treated, etc. "The conditioner should be based on the styling that you want to do," he says. "And what people don't realize is that that can change from day to day." So, if "someone" wants to wear her wavy, frizzy hair natural one day, that "someone" can go for a volumizing conditioner. But if the goal is to blow it sleek and straight, then reach for a smoothing formula.
Ahead, find the best combinations for every type of texture. You may never have a bad hair day again.
For Frizzy, Curly Hair
The trick to this combination is to knock out the frizz in the shampooing phase. Fugate digs this shampoo from John Frieda, because it works to define your curls and, well, ease frizz. For the conditioner, Fugate points to this bottle from Drybar. "It protects against the heat and tension that tends to come from trying to defrizz while styling," he says. So, you'll be preventing new frizz from forming, which is totally clutch.
John Frieda Dream Curls Shampoo, $5.99, available at Ulta Beauty; Drybar Sake Bomb Conditioner, $24, available at Sephora.
For Coarse, Curly Hair
For hair that is extra coarse, you want a double-shot of moisture. Look for a shampoo that adds in extra hydration, like this one from Moroccanoil. Then, follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. Fugate suggests this bottle from Biolage. "It really moisturizes, but allows for movement in the hair," he says. "It's also light enough, so coarse hair doesn't look like an oil slick."
Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo, $24, available at Moroccanoil; Biolage Ultra Hydrasource Conditioner, $18, available at Ulta Beauty.
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For Color-Treated Hair
The one exception to cocktailing is if you’ve got color-treated strands. Dyed hair is usually more brittle, dry, and porous than untreated or virgin strands, so it’s best to stick with specially formulated shampoos and conditioners that target these issues. Free of color-stripping sulfates and sodium chloride, this duo from colorist-to-the-stars Rita Hazan is packed with protective proteins and moisturizing shea butter to keep your hair healthy and your color where it should be (on your head — not down the drain). Bonus: Use the shine-enhancing gloss a few times a week before you condition for even more lustrous strands.
Rita Hazan True Color Shampoo, $26, available at Rita Hazan; Rita Hazan True Color Conditioner, $26, available at Rita Hazan.
For Highlighted Hair
Since highlighted hair doesn't really need the same heavy-duty protection as strands with allover color, try a light nourishing shampoo that will keep your hair healthy and shiny. Dove's Color Care line is perfect for this. Then, make sure your conditioner is very style-focused. "Sally Hershberger conditioner encourages great body," Fugate says.
Dove Color Care Shampoo, $4.99, available at Target; Sally Hershberger 24K Get Gorgeous Stylepro Conditioner, $32, available at Sephora.
For Long, Damaged Hair
Fugate says that when it comes to damaged hair, you really want to splurge on quality products. "Invest in your hair!" he says. If your hair is damaged, you want to keep things light and elastic. "The Phyto shampoo is great," he says. "It won't add buildup." Follow up with Christophe Robin's Prickly Pear Mask. "It leaves long hair bouncy," Fugate says.
Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil, $71, available at Sephora; Phyto PhytoSpecific Ultra-Smoothing Shampoo, $19, available at Nordstrom.
For Thin, Limp Hair
For thin hair, the name of the game is weightlessness. You want to find a shampoo and a conditioner that will clean without dragging down your strands. "I love Serge Normant's shampoo, because it makes the hair very clean, but rinses away beautifully and leaves no added weight," Fugate says. Instead of skipping conditioner, which a lot of women with limp, thin hair tend to do, reach for this Original Mineral Detox conditioner. Fugate says that it moisturizes your hair without adding weight — which is pretty clutch in the world of conditioners.
Original Mineral Original Detox Conditioner, $31.95, available at Original Mineral; Serge Normant Dream Big Instant Volumizing Shampoo, $25, available at Serge Normant.
For Thin, Damaged Hair
Make sure to use a shampoo that will give your hair a serious boost of volume. Bumble and Bumble's Thickening Shampoo adds allover fullness, making it ideal for gals with limp hair. But if you're on the damaged end of the spectrum, heed Fugate's original warning and invest in a good conditioner. "This conditioner is just the best for truly repairing the hair at a molecular level," he says. "It supports the bonds of the hair shaft to help strengthen it."
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo, $25, available at Sephora; Kérastase Ciment Anti-Usure Conditioner, $42, available at Kérastase.
Thick, Limp Hair
If your hair is both thick and limp, consider swapping the order in which you cleanse and condition. Fugate suggests conditioning first with Tresemmé's Pre-Wash Conditioner. "It re-energizes limp strands," he says. Then, follow up with a volumizing shampoo to add a little more lift. The higher the hair, the closer to heaven, right?
Tresemmé Reverse System Pre-Wash Conditioner, $6.49, available at CVS; Redken High Rise Volume Lifting Shampoo, $34, available at Ulta Beauty.
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