How to Decide if 2-in-1 Shampoo is for You
Shopping for shampoo these days can be just as complicated as buying a house. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but both scenarios come with many options to choose from. Just as there are many kinds of houses available, there are many kinds of shampoo available. There's shampoo for curly hair, straight hair, color-treated hair, those who want to add volume to their hair, shampoos with and without scents, the basic classic clean formula — my personal preference; it's the only kind of shampoo I've ever used — and so much more.
But finding a shampoo you and your hair like is only half the battle. There's also finding the right conditioner for your hair. Thankfully, this part is a bit easier as the shampoo you choose also has a coordinating conditioner you can buy. But, what if you don't want to spend the extra money on a separate conditioner? More importantly, do you want to spend the extra time you have shampooing, and then conditioning your hair? If not, a 2-in-1 shampoo is what you need to buy.
Out of all the best shampoo types that have been mentioned, I find this one to be the most important. As the name states, it has both shampoo and conditioner in one bottle.
A Bit of Background on 2-in-1
The 2-in-1 shampoo was first introduced in the 1980s by Procter & Gamble, born out of the fact that people were shampooing a lot, but doing the opposite when it came to conditioning their hair. The name "2-in-1" comes from the two ingredients that are added to regular shampoos to provide conditioning: a type of silicone and a suspending agent.
The silicone used in many 2-in-1 shampoos is called dimethicone and it's responsible for making your hair feel soft. The suspending agent that's in many 2-in-1 shampoos is called glycol distearate. It keeps the silicone from separating out of the shampoo's formula until you mix it with water while washing your hair. Then, the silicone is separated out and left behind on your hair, providing the conditioning along with a shampoo. In essence, glycol distearate keeps the 2-in-1 formula together as the shampoo sits on the shelf in a store or your shower until you're ready to use it.
Standalone shampoos — those without conditioning — have pretty much the same formula as 2-in-1 shampoos do. It's just that 2-in-1 shampoos have additional conditioning that standalone shampoos don't.
2-in-1 Shampoo/Conditioner vs. Shampoo and Conditioner Separately
If you're looking into switching from using shampoo and conditioner separately to a 2-in-1 shampoo or are choosing between the two kinds for the first time, there's a lot to consider.
First, the pros of 2-in-1. One of the biggest is the time it saves. You no longer have to spend extra time in the shower shampooing and then conditioning your hair, which is beneficial if you're in a rush to get out the door, or if you're traveling. Money is another pro, as it's often cheaper to purchase a 2-in-1 shampoo rather than buy shampoo and conditioner separately. The shelves in your shower will also thank you for the space that's become available.
As far as your hair is concerned? Standalone shampoos sometimes do too good of a job cleaning your hair, which can make it feel dry after washing it. The added conditioner that 2-in-1 shampoos have will make your hair feel much softer, smoother, and not as dry. If you're someone that deals with dry hair on a regular basis, a 2-in-1 shampoo with its conditioning ingredients may be a great help to you.
Just like most things, however, 2-in-1 shampoos have their cons. Shampoo and conditioner each do two separate things. Shampoo cleans the dirt, oils, and other things from your hair and scalp, while conditioner smooths out your hair and gives it shine. Combining the two may not give you the results you desire. You have no control over how much conditioner is actually in a 2-in-1 shampoo, so if you're someone who needs a particular amount on your hair, it may be best to use shampoo and conditioner separately.
The silicone used in 2-in-1 shampoos can also build up on your hair over time. Dimethicone, in particular, is heavy and can weigh your hair down with product buildup, which is especially something to be aware of if you have thin or curly hair. There are 2-in-1 shampoos out there that don't contain dimethicone, so give those a try if you're still interested in 2-in-1 shampoo. The buildup is also more likely to appear if you wash your hair daily, so washing it every other day or few days is ideal — something that should be done regardless of the shampoo you use.
The Bottom Line
Whether you choose to use shampoo and conditioner separately or use a 2-in-1 shampoo comes down to personal preference. If you're someone who likes the convenience 2-in-1 shampoos provide and your hair doesn't need a lot of attention, that's the way to go. However, if your hair needs more care and you like to be more in control of the amount of conditioner that goes into your hair, using the best shampoo and conditioner separately is the best option. Whatever you choose, make sure it's something that makes you, and your hair, happy.
Resources— Self, Hair Momentum, HuffPost, Bustle
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