Pert Plus is a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner product manufactured by Idelle Labs, Ltd. The manufacturers claim it is gentle enough to use every day for cleaning and conditioning your hair. The original Pert Plus, now called Pert Plus 2-in-1 Medium, contains 21 ingredients.
Detergents
Ammonium laureth sulfate and its cousin ammonium lauryl sulfate are surfactants used to make water spread more easily. They make the shampoo foam up and are used as detergents to clean the hair of debris. Cocamide MEA is a detergent chemically derived from coconut oil. It cleans and provides moisture to the hair. Cetyl alcohol is also included in Pert Plus shampoo and conditioner, it is a surfactant and an emollient--it cleans as well as imparts moisture, as outlined by Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary. Dihydrogenated tallowamidoethyl hydroxyethylmonium methosulfate is a compound made from tallow, or animal fat. It is a detergent. Disodium EDTA, or disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, binds with metal ions, allowing the other detergents in Pert Plus shampoo to remove these environmental toxins easily, as stated by Cosmetics Unmasked. Ammonium xylenesulfonate is a chemical known as a hydrotope, a compound that changes how water interacts with other substances.
Moisturizers
Dimethicone is a silicone-based product that coats the hair follicles and masks damage or imperfections. It gives hair a soft, velvety feeling and high shine. Polymethacrylamidopropyltrimonium chloride forms a thin film on hair to protect it from environmental concerns, according to Personal Care Formulas.
Emulsifiers and Preservatives
PEG-14M is an emulsifier made from ethylene oxide. It keeps the ingredients in Pert Plus from separating over the product's life span. Sodium citrate, a salt derived from citric acid, acts similarly. Sodium benzoate is a preservative that adds to Pert Plus's shelf life. Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone prevent fungus, bacteria and microscopic organisms from taking up residence in the shampoo, according to A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. These ingredients prevent the chemical and biological disintegration of Pert Plus shampoo and conditioner.
Other Ingredients
The ingredients for Pert Plus also list water, sodium chloride (salt) and citric acid. Glycol distearate is an emollient and emulsifier, but is also used to give the shampoo a somewhat opaque appearance, according to A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Pert Plus also has non-specific fragrance as an ingredient. The product is colored a soft green using D&C Yellow 10 and FD&C Blue 1.
References
- Pert Plus Medium: Material Safety Data Sheet
- "Personal Care Formulas"; Allured Publishing; 2004
- "Cosmetics Unmasked: Your Family Guide to Safe Cosmetics and Allergy-Free Toiletries"; Stephen Antczak, Gina Antczak; 2001
- "Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary"; Natalia Michalun; 2009
- "A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, 7th Edition"; Ruth Winter; 2009
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