How Men's Shampoo Is Different from Women's Shampoo
If you ever observe a man and woman shopping for shampoo, you’ll often find the man reaching for a grey or black bottle whereas the latter will go for a pink or yellow. While the former will contain a specialized shampoo for men, the latter will be exclusive for women. Or so they claim.
This brings us to our topic of discussion for today: how is the shampoo for men different from that of a woman?
Shampoo for Men vs. Shampoo for Women
Shampoo manufacturing companies really want men to believe that they need “manly" shampoos. But, if statistics are to be believed, nearly 50 percent of men are happy to use the shampoo that their wife or significant other uses.
Well, when looking at the facts, there is no difference between a men’s shampoo and women's shampoo. They have a similar formula and offer similar benefits like soft hair, clean scalp, and anti-dandruff solution. But yes, the main difference is the fragrance, as well as the cost.
The Ingredients Used to Create A Man’s and A Woman’s Shampoo
We aren’t claiming that every single ingredient in these two shampoos will be the exact same. Well, that’s mostly due to their non-gender specific nature.
If you read the ingredient lists of shampoos created by brands for separate consumption by men and women, you‘ll notice that none of the ingredients are specifically tailored to solve problems exclusive to a specific gender. They’re all common ingredients so it won’t really make a difference.
Here are the most common ingredients found in a men’s shampoo along with what they do:
- Glycol Distearate. This is a skin conditioner.
- Ethylparaben. This is a preservative.
- Aminomethyl Propanol. This helps to adjust your scalp’s pH levels.
- Coco-glucoside. This is a foaming cleanser.
- Salicylic Acid. This helps to fight dandruff.
- Cocamide MIPA. This is a foam booster.
- Polysilicon-8. This helps to form films on your hair strands.
- Sodium benzoate. This is a preservative.
Even though the above ingredients are found in some of the best shampoos for men, you’ll find them present in an ordinary woman’s shampoo as well. This means that there is absolutely nothing special about them that could target men’s problems any better than a man using women’s shampoo.
The Benefits that A Man Can Get After Using A Men’s Shampoo
You'll find men’s shampoos being marketed as hair care products that can solve specific hair problems that men face on a daily basis. This might be true, but then again, don’t men and women have similar kinds of hair problems?
And frankly, there are a number of shared hair problems between men and women. Specifically, such concerns include dandruff, dry scalp, thinning hair, oily hair, need of voluminous hair, hair color protection, and lack of hydration.
In short, shampoos for men and shampoos for women mimic each other and have similar benefits. Both types solve all these problems and more.
The Different Scents of A Men’s Shampoo and A Women’s Shampoo
The ultimate difference between men and women's shampoo simply boils down to shampoo fragrance.
As you might know, women’s shampoo often smells flowery or fruity. They have a heavy fragrance that can last for hours at a stretch. This is counter to men's shampoo, which tend to lack the scent of a garden or that of daisies and lavender. Instead, they would prefer something that has a minty or citrus, lemony scent.
You can also choose from fragrance-free shampoos or shampoos that have a unisexual appeal.
The Cost Difference Between A Men’s Shampoo and Women’s Shampoo
There is no difference in the price point of a men’s shampoo and a women’s shampoo. It‘s mostly the brand that you purchase that dictates the price difference. You can cross-check this by purchasing shampoos created by the same brand, whether they're dry shampoos or otherwise, and you will find that both of them are available at the same price.
The Final Verdict
In the end, we've finally arrived at the conclusion that shampoos for men are not very different from shampoos for women. They have a similar formulation, effects, and benefits — even the price tag is the same.
The only difference is the way your hair will smell after using them, which can also be overcome by purchasing shampoos that don't have any fragrance.
Resources– Money Talks News, StyleCaster
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