It is interesting to note that people used soap for cleansing hair before shampoo came in picture. Soap leaves the hair dry and also irritating to the eyes. In ancient days, women used homemade product with ingredients that were quite harmless and safe. With an ever busy life-style, people do not have time and would like to have good quality, chemical free product that will not damage their hair. A great demand has necessitated a good deal of research and new shampoos are developed by chemists to meet the requirements by experienced pharmacies in laboratories.
It helps to know the ingredients of your shampoo, this way you can be knowledgeable about the components and decide whether they are healthy and organic.
1 Water - This is the key and basic component of the shampoo and forms 70 to 80 % of the composition. It is a base for the solution and needed for the solvents to dissolve.
2 Surfactants or Detergents –This ingredient is responsible for cleansing the oil and grease as it has an oil soluble portion. Surfactants as such are not harmful unless you have a very sensitive skin and scalp.
3 Foam Agents – As the name implies they are used to soften water and create lather or foam.
4 Thickeners – Thickeners are used to increase the viscosity
5 Conditioner –A conditioner compensates for the roughness created by surfactants. The inhospitable effect is removed by providing softness to the scalp and the hair.
6 Preservatives – These ingredients are required to prevent bacteria and fungi.
7 Citric Acid – It is an antioxidant used to preserve the oils. A naturally derived product from citrus fruits that is safe to use.
In addition, many different types of ingredients are added to provide various functions. Some of them are fragrances, botanical extracts, natural oils, proteins, and vitamins vital to the hair.
Like to share your hair care routine?
DerdriuMarrinerAug 16, 2022
In particular, I appreciate your explanations of how thick hair behaves and misbehaves and what cleaning agents, such as conditioners, shampoos and soaps, attempt to do and where the first two succeed and the third tries but flounders.
It's interesting that almond and coconut are so helpful since knowing how to make them into conditioners and shampoos doubles the healthy fun of knowing how to make them into milk (which I drink instead of moo-lk ;-D).
Particularly the hydrating shampoo looks persuasive even as all your products make sense as crowd-pleasing anniversary, birthday, holiday gifts.
Everything seems so hair- and scalp- and skin-friendly that I wonder, what would they be like as an alternative to soap?
WriterArtistJul 5, 2013
Though my hair wouldn't classify as curly, I do have wavy hair that gets entangled often. I am wary about the ingredients in the shampoo and choose them carefully. My favourites shampoo are those that are organic and use aloe vera ingredient.
katiem2Jul 4, 2013