IT IS undeniable how enchanting it is when a person walks by—their hair flying free in the wind—and you smell a sweet fragrance. For some of us, this is attractive because it is a sign of cleanliness. For others, they might swoon because fragrance is a sign of sophistication.
Regardless, fragrant hair is one of the most overlooked aspects of personal hygiene. While there definitely are dedicated hair mists and perfumes, most general hair care products are already infused with a great scent. The grocery or the drugstore has many products that we can explore that can help us get fragrant hair.
There are two main products that are easily accessible: shampoos and conditioners. Shampoos are designed to clean your hair. They contain detergents that can help scrub away grime and oils. A good rule of thumb to follow is to let massaged shampoos sit on your head for up to three minutes while you lather up the rest of your body. This allows the fragrance to bind to your hair. However, sulfate, which is a common ingredient, can oftentimes be too harsh and dry out your scalp and hair. This is something you should take note of, and you might want to view the ingredients list of your shampoos if you have sensitive scalp and hair.
For the ladies, I found the scent of Pantene’s various products to be exquisite. While they might come off as overly sweet, Pantene concentrates notes of fruits and flowers to give off a smooth finish. I feel the Pantene experience is intentionally designed for women. The fragrance accords are traditionally very feminine, and, while sulfates are used, nourishing ingredients are added to compensate for the harshness.
For the men, the usual approach is to get a clean and fresh vibe. For this reason, sweetness should be lessened in favor of greener, aquatic, and even deeper notes. I found the basic Head and Shoulders products (particularly the Men’s Cool Blast variant) to be a safe option for guys to grab. I can imagine some green fruit notes in Head and Shoulders, and the smell is generally quite masculine and pleasant.
Many of us will be satisfied with just using a shampoo. However, many might find that their shampoo damages their hair or that their shampoo is not as fragrant as they would wish. Conditioners fulfill the role of both providing treatment and protection for the hair and enforcing a positive fragrance. For the most part, conditioners coat the outer layer of the hair. This smoothens them out and prevents the dullness and frizziness that usually come with damaged hair. Coating the hair also ensures that nourishing ingredients are kept inside the hair.
Again, Pantene has a roster of fragrant conditioners, but they do seem particularly designed for women’s use. Vitress, while also quite feminine in fragrance, is a very handy hair cuticle coat. There is no stopping us men from using these conditioners though—they still smell great even if society attaches gender to certain smells.
Overall, smelling great remains to be a personal thing. You can choose whatever fragrance you’d want to smell like. But, the charm of a fragrant bunch of hair will always be appreciated. Go out and explore the various hair care products and find the one that complements your identity.