Though the basic function of any shampoo is to clean your hair and scalp, using the right shampoo for your hair type is important to stay protected and keep your hair looking good. Investigating and understanding the list of ingredients in shampoo is a good way to gain a basic understanding of how different shampoos function.
Surfactant
Surfactants are fatty acid detergents in your shampoo that work to loosen and remove dust, dirt and oil. The chemical makeup and amount of detergent, usually between 2 and 8 percent, determines its strength and cleaning ability. Examples of detergent ingredients include lauryl sulfate, a strong detergent you might find in a clarifying shampoo you use one or two times per week, and sodium lauryl sulfate, laureth sulfate and sarcosine, all common in daily-use shampoos.
Foaming Agent
The main job of a foaming agent is to make lather. While detergents do have some foaming properties, foaming agents are alkanolamides, or detergent additives, responsible for increasing foam and bubble size. Common foaming agents include lauramide DEA, cocamide DEA, PEG-5cocamide and yucca extract.
Emulsifier
Emulsifier ingredients in shampoo work as binding agents to keep other ingredients from separating. This is especially important in moisturizing shampoos that contain additional, oil-based ingredients. Emulsifiers also work to thicken shampoo. Examples include glycerol stearate and Laureth-23.
Humectants
Humectants, common in moisturizing shampoo or shampoo designed for dry hair, attract moisture from the air and work to keep moisture from evaporating. Their anti-static properties also help to prevent fly-aways. Humectants can include cocamidopropyl betaine, dimethicone and quatemium-80.
pH Agents
To counter the effects of alkaline detergents, pH agents, or buffers, work to make shampoo slightly acidic. An acidic environment helps to keep the hair cuticle smooth and lying flat against the hair shaft, preventing your hair from becoming dull or rough looking. Typical pH agents include citric acid and sodium citrate.
Preservatives
Because shampoo is a mixture of water and organic compounds, preservative ingredients are essential to keep bacteria and germs from contaminating your shampoo. They work by releasing formaldehyde to kill germs and bacteria. Common shampoo preservatives include DMDM hydantoin, methylparaben, sodium benzoate and imidazolidinyl urea.
Medications
Medicated shampoos contain ingredients not only to clean your hair but to clear up fungal infections that result in itching, scale production and dandruff. They also treat scalp conditions such as psoriasis. Ingredients you find in medicated shampoos include zinc, ketoconazole, sulphide and polytar.
Other Ingredients
Although water is in the list of other ingredients, it is actually the main ingredient in any shampoo. Most shampoos are 80 to 90 percent water. Manufacturers include other shampoo additives such as fragrance oils, coloring and materials such as botanical extracts, proteins and vitamins to distinguish and market their products.
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