The best shampoos go beyond basic cleansing to address specific concerns for healthier, happier tresses. For instance, hair-growth formulas contain ingredients designed to stimulate and volumize strands for increased growth.
Color-safe shampoos provide maximum color fade protection and moisture loss prevention; while natural moisturizers such as avocado, shea butter or olive oil help hydrate strands that have become dry over time.
Cleansing
Shampoos provide an effective means to cleanse skin and avoid breakouts by eliminating oil, dirt and other debris from it. Their formulation contains surfactants – cleansing agents designed to balance mildness with cleaning effectiveness – for maximum effect.
Hydrophilic heads of these detergent molecules attract water, creating lather. Their lipophylic tails bind with oils and grease found on scalp and hair to push and lift them away, counterbalancing this action through the use of emollients which restore some of those oils lost during cleansing.
Most shampoos also contain preservatives to inhibit germ growth in their product, including sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, two common food-grade preservatives. Many pearlescent shampoos achieve this look through adding small amounts of an agent such as glycol distearate (derived from stearic acid chemistry) or sodium laureth sulfate ( derived from coconut oil). Some are even perfume-scented for an optimal in-use experience.
Hydrating
Shampoos contain various ingredients to support their cleansing capabilities, such as carrying agents which regulate its thickness and consistency; emulsifiers which combine surfactants with water; and preservatives which resist germ growth while preventing decomposition.
Some shampoos are specifically tailored for specific hair types. For instance, shampoos developed specifically for color-treated locks contain special ingredients to prevent their dye from washing out during shampooing, as well as typically using lower pH than other formulas and possibly including chelating agents to eliminate metals that could interfere with its colour.
Shampoos designed to combat dandruff often contain fungicides like ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione to kill off any active yeast that might be responsible, while hydrating shampoos nourish and lock in moisture for improved hair texture and appearance. Some examples include sodium gluconate and glycerol or fragranced moisturising humectants such as moisture-boosting fragrance. Many shampoos also include emollients like aloe vera, vegetable oils or silicone for shiny locks and smooth locks.
Nourishing
Shampoos sooth skin by providing oils and emollients, helping relieve itching, flaking, dryness, flaking associated with seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff or seborrhea). Emollients include oils such as jojoba, shea, coconut, peanut, palm olive sesame mineral. Other beneficial ingredients may include silicones polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex salicylic acid zinc pyrithione etc.
Shampoo formulations often consist of mild detergents like sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulfate, foam boosters, opacifiers and fragrances as well as foam boosters and fragrances. Some formulas may also include chelating agents, viscosity improvers, dyes or preservatives to further customize them to the customer’s hair care needs.
Many shampoos are specially-designed to address specific hair concerns such as dandruff, dry or itchy scalp and volume enhancement. Others are intended for use alongside conditioners or treatments for optimal results. Some formulas have even been specially-designed to be non-drying and gentle enough for infants or young children; those designed specifically with less irritating surfactants often contain no foam boosters or opacifiers to reduce stinging sensations should they get into their eyes.[25] Baby shampoos typically do not include foam boosters or opacifiers either![26]
Protective
Many shampoos contain emollients such as Cocoa Butter, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter or petroleum that act to counter the drying effects of surfactants and prevent dryness. Furthermore, emollients help lubricate hair strands to reduce damaging friction between them; some natural options exist while other synthetic emollients include silicones dimethicone and glycerin are also commonly included.
Shampoos can also be tailored to treat specific scalp or hair conditions. Antiseborrheic shampoos, for instance, contain ingredients such as sulfur, salicylic acid and refined tar that help treat or prevent scalp dandruff (but should not be used on cats). Antifungal shampoos contain miconazole or ketoconazole; chlorhexidine; providone iodine or selenium sulfide to combat scalp fungus (but should not be used on cats).
Some shampoos contain preservatives to prevent mold growth in their products, especially if the formula contains oil or fragrances which make it more vulnerable to contamination by fungus and bacteria. Unfortunately, certain preservatives have been linked to cancer risk as well as reproductive toxicity concerns.
