Shampoos cleanse hair fibres to leave them ready to be styled again, while providing nourishment to both scalp and hair.
Surfactants are what give shampoo its foaming action; they bind between water molecules to reduce surface tension, allowing for maximum water penetration into each part of the scalp and hair shaft.
Improved Scalp Health
Shampoos help maintain healthy scalps by clearing away buildup of styling product buildup and sebum, along with any toxins or dirt that could aggravate irritations on the scalp. Some shampoos even come with special features such as salicylic acid or menthol that provide stimulating sensations to relieve feelings of itchy scalps.
An additional essential shampoo ingredient is the sequestering agent, which chelates magnesium and calcium ions to prevent them from reacting with other components in shampoo to form insoluble soaps or scum that dull hair appearance. Sequestering agents also prevent excessive shampooing that could result in dryness and itching on scalp and hair.
For an effective yet gentle cleansing experience, Hill advises opting for shampoo free from sulfates, parabens and fragrance. An applicator bottle equipped with a nozzle makes for easier application directly onto your scalp for deeper, penetrating cleansing before it emulsifies with water.
Fortified Hair
Shampoos designed specifically to hydrate hair strands are key in strengthening its strength, as well as providing protection from environmental stresses like UV rays and pollution. By providing this shield against damage caused by these factors, shampoos help ensure healthy new growth as well as rejuvenating damaged locks back to full vibrancy.
Shampoos typically contain a mix of surfactants to aid cleaning and lathering. Certain surfactants improve water’s ability to dissolving oil (hydrophilic). Others like sodium lauroamphoacetate and disodium oleaminesulfosuccinate reduce surface tension so dirt can be lifted easily off of hair shafts and surfaces.
Many shampoos contain conditioning ingredients like silicones and fatty alcohols to provide conditioning benefits, including silicones and fatty alcohols listed in the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) list as glycerine, sodium lauroamphoacetate, polysorbate 20, glycol distearate. Carrying agents enable other nutrients to penetrate and moisturize strands more easily, with other beneficial substances like aloe vera extract, tea tree oil extracts, pro-vitamin B5 as pro-vitamin B5 preservatives to resist germs and decomposition such as sodium benzoate 1,3-dimethyl-5-dimethyl (DMDM), Tetrasodium EDTA and Quaternium-15.
Healthy Hair Growth
Modern shampoos boast an array of promises and ingredients that may boggle the mind. Some shampoos claim to promote hair growth while others contain specific solutions tailored for specific hair types – for instance dandruff shampoos using ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione to kill off fungus that causes itching, flaking and oily scalp issues; as well as volumizing shampoos which stimulate follicles to make hair appear thicker over time.
Individuals suffering from hair loss should look for shampoos containing biotin, rosemary extract or saw palmetto as these ingredients help stimulate healthy hair growth by inhibiting DHT on follicles and mitigating its effects on hair follicles. Furthermore, these shampoos should contain anti-inflammatory agents to soothe an irritated scalp and alleviate dryness.
Shampoos formulated to improve scalp health may contain natural oils like argan, coconut or olive to nourished and hydrate hair strands, while synthetic detergents may strip cuticles. Most shampoos also include preservatives like sodium benzoate, methylisothiazolinone or tetrasodium EDTA to prevent decomposition or germ contamination of their ingredients or product.
Hydrated Hair
Hydrating shampoos help your strands retain moisture, making them more resistant to dryness and frizz, as well as creating an organic shine to give your locks an enhanced health- and vibrant-looking appearance.
When selecting a hydrating shampoo, it is essential to understand both your hair type and specific needs of your scalp, such as any concerns such as dandruff or colour-treated strands. In addition, take your budget and ingredient sensitivities or allergies into consideration before making your selection.
Many hydrating shampoos contain moisturising ingredients like glycerin and shea butter to provide essential hydration to parched strands, while their formulation often also features humectants to draw water from the air into your locks and lock it there for good. Their formulation often also features humectants to draw it in from outside, acting like magnets to draw moisture in through cuticles while helping prevent dryness by smoothing cuticles and locking it inside; many even contain phyto-caffeine to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on scalp – making it an invaluable addition for anti-age hair care regimens!
