Shampoo

Shampoo is the cleansing foundation of a hair care routine, but different hair types and scalp conditions need different levels and types of cleansing. Choosing the right shampoo can help maintain moisture, manage buildup, protect colour, support volume, reduce frizz and prepare the hair for conditioner, treatments and styling.

Choose shampoo based on your primary hair or scalp need:

• Dry or dehydrated hair: Hydrating shampoos provide gentle cleansing while helping maintain moisture, softness and shine.
• Damaged or brittle hair: Repair and strengthening shampoos support hair weakened by bleaching, colouring, chemical processing or heat styling.
• Fine or flat hair: Lightweight volumizing shampoos help cleanse without unnecessary weight while supporting body and fullness.
• Colour-treated hair: Colour-safe shampoos provide appropriate cleansing while helping maintain softness, shine and colour vibrancy.
• Blonde, grey or highlighted hair: Purple shampoos help neutralize unwanted yellow and brassy tones and maintain a cooler-looking result.
• Frizzy or coarse hair: Smoothing and moisturizing shampoos help improve softness and manageability.
• Curly or wavy hair: Moisture-supporting shampoos can cleanse while helping maintain softness and natural texture.
• Oily hair or product buildup: Clarifying and deeper-cleansing shampoos help remove excess oils, styling residue and buildup.
• Fine, thinning or reduced-density hair: Lightweight and scalp-focused shampoos can support a fuller-looking routine without unnecessarily weighing hair down.

Hydrating Shampoo vs. Repair Shampoo

Hydrating shampoos primarily address dryness and moisture loss. They are a good choice when hair feels dry, rough, dull or difficult to manage but is not necessarily structurally damaged.

Repair shampoos are designed for hair weakened by bleaching, colouring, chemical services, repeated heat styling or other sources of damage. Hair can be both dry and damaged, so some repair shampoos also provide significant moisture and conditioning benefits.

Regular Shampoo vs. Clarifying Shampoo

Regular shampoo is designed for routine cleansing based on your hair type and concern. Clarifying shampoo provides deeper cleansing to remove excess oil, styling-product residue and other buildup that can accumulate on the hair and scalp.

Clarifying shampoo is generally used when deeper cleansing is needed rather than automatically replacing your regular shampoo. How often you clarify depends on your hair, scalp, styling routine and the individual product.

Purple Shampoo vs. Regular Shampoo

Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo containing violet pigments that help neutralize unwanted yellow or brassy tones in blonde, highlighted, grey, silver or lightened hair. It serves a different purpose from a regular cleansing shampoo and does not need to replace your everyday shampoo unless the individual product directions recommend it.

If controlling unwanted warm tones is your main concern, explore our Purple Shampoo & Blonde Toning Products.

Sulphate-Free Shampoo

Sulphate-free shampoos use alternative cleansing systems and are available across many professional hair care categories. They can be particularly useful for customers looking for gentle cleansing or maintaining colour-treated, dry or chemically processed hair. Choose shampoo based on the complete formula and your hair needs rather than sulphate-free status alone.

How Often Should You Shampoo Your Hair?

Shampoo frequency depends on your scalp, hair type, activity level and styling routine. Oily scalps, frequent exercise and regular styling-product use may require more frequent cleansing. Dry, coarse, curly or highly processed hair may perform better with less frequent shampooing and additional conditioning.

The goal is to cleanse often enough to keep the scalp and hair fresh without using a routine that leaves the lengths feeling unnecessarily dry.

Do You Need to Shampoo Twice?

A second shampoo can be useful when the first cleanse is removing significant oil, dry shampoo or styling-product buildup. Hair that is washed frequently or has minimal buildup may only need one cleanse. Follow the directions for the individual shampoo and adjust according to how your scalp and hair respond.

Who Are Professional Shampoos For?

• Dry, damaged, frizzy, fine, oily, curly or colour-treated hair
• Blonde, grey, highlighted, bleached or chemically processed hair
• Fine or thinning-looking hair needing lightweight cleansing
• Hair affected by regular heat styling or product buildup
• Scalps needing routine, clarifying or targeted cleansing
• Anyone wanting shampoo selected specifically for their hair type and concern

Why Choose Professional Shampoo?

• Provides targeted cleansing for different hair and scalp needs
• Offers hydrating options for dry and coarse hair
• Includes repair-focused shampoos for damaged hair
• Provides lightweight volumizing formulas for fine and flat hair
• Includes colour-safe and purple toning options
• Offers clarifying shampoos for excess oil and buildup
• Creates the cleansing foundation for conditioner, treatments and styling

Authentic Professional Shampoo in Canada

Hair Care Canada is a Canadian-owned online retailer of authentic professional hair care. Shop salon-quality shampoos from professional brands including Kevin Murphy, Eleven Australia, amika, K18, OLAPLEX, Pureology, Ethica, Neuma and L’Oréal Professionnel, with fast shipping across Canada.

What is the best professional shampoo?

The best shampoo depends on your hair and scalp. Dry hair generally benefits from hydration, damaged hair from repair support, fine hair from lightweight volume, colour-treated hair from colour-safe cleansing and hair with excess oil or buildup from appropriate clarifying care.

What shampoo is best for dry hair?

Dry hair generally benefits from a hydrating shampoo that cleanses while supporting moisture, softness and shine. Kevin Murphy Hydrate.Me Wash is one option designed for normal-to-dry, coarse and colour-treated hair.

What shampoo is best for damaged hair?

Damaged hair can benefit from repair, strengthening or bond-supporting shampoos, particularly when the hair has been weakened by bleaching, colouring, chemical processing or frequent heat styling. OLAPLEX No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is one repair-focused option.

What shampoo is best for fine hair?

Fine hair generally performs best with lightweight cleansing formulas that do not unnecessarily weigh down the strands. Volumizing shampoos can also help support body and fuller-looking hair.

What shampoo should I use for colour-treated hair?

Choose a colour-safe shampoo suited to your hair's additional needs, such as hydration, repair, volume or smoothing. Colour-treated hair does not all require the same shampoo, so consider both colour maintenance and the condition of your hair.

When should I use clarifying shampoo?

Clarifying shampoo can be useful when excess oil, dry shampoo, styling products or other residue has accumulated on the hair or scalp. Frequency depends on your hair type, routine and the strength of the individual clarifying formula.

Is purple shampoo the same as regular shampoo?

No. Purple shampoo combines cleansing with violet pigments designed to neutralize unwanted yellow and brassy tones. It is primarily used for blonde, highlighted, grey, silver or lightened hair when toning is needed.

Is sulphate-free shampoo better?

Sulphate-free shampoo is not automatically better for every person. It can provide a gentler cleansing option for many hair types, but the best shampoo depends on the complete formula, your scalp and your specific hair needs.

How often should I shampoo my hair?

There is no single schedule that works for everyone. Shampoo according to your scalp oiliness, hair type, activity level and product use. The right frequency leaves the scalp feeling clean while keeping the hair manageable and appropriately conditioned.

Should I shampoo twice?

Double shampooing can be useful when there is significant oil or product buildup. If your scalp and hair are already clean after one wash, a second cleanse may not be necessary.

Where can I buy professional shampoo in Canada?

Hair Care Canada offers authentic professional shampoos from salon brands including Kevin Murphy, Eleven Australia, amika, K18, OLAPLEX, Pureology, Ethica, Neuma and L’Oréal Professionnel, with fast shipping across Canada.