How Does Shampoo Work?

General Overview

Shampoo is a hair care product that removes contaminants such as dirt, excess oil, pollution, dandruff and dead skin cells from the hair, making it look clean, shiny and healthy. Shampoo is similar to soap in that it strips off unwanted contaminants wherever it is used. Some type of shampoo have been in use as a hair cleanser since the early 1900s. Previously, people massaged their head with certain types of oils to cleanse hair and give it an appealing scent.

How Shampoo Works

Shampoo works by removing contaminants such as dirt that have built up over time. The soap bonds in the shampoo attach to the layer of protective oil on each strand, and when the shampoo is rinsed off, all of the dirt, dust and contaminants wash off as well. The active ingredient in all shampoos is a surfactant, which is a type of detergent. The surfactant in shampoos strips the sebum, a type of natural hair oil and all the dirt and foreigns ubstances attached to it from the hair shaft temporarily. A thorough cleansing leaves hair clean and refreshed for a few days. Some people with more oily hair find that they need to wash their hair more often than people with naturally dry hair.

Conditioning

Some shampoos contain very powerful surfactants that may remove too much natural sebum from the hair. This can cause hair to overdry and become brittle. Thus, after shampooing the hair, it is imperative to apply some type of conditioner that moisturizes the hair and prevents the shampoo from drying it out. It also detangles hair, making it easier to manage and style.