Surfactants in shampoo – what you need to know to keep your hair beautiful and your scalp saying “thank you”

Have you ever wondered why some shampoos foam like clouds, while others only foam a little? The secret to foaming lies in surfactants, or surfactantAnd they are responsible for how gently or aggressively the scalp will be cleansed.

What are surfactants and why are they important?

In short, surfactants are ingredients that reduce the surface tension of water, help dissolve dirt and grease, and create foam when shampoo comes into contact with water and is massaged into the hair.

And here is an important fact: The amount of foam does not mean better hair cleansing. This is just an illusion that manufacturers often use when adding more foaming agents. Psychologically, we think that “the more foam, the better the shampoo cleans”, but this is just a myth.

Which surfactants are found in shampoos?

1. Strong (aggressive) foamers – foam very well and clean effectively, but can cause irritation to sensitive scalp.

Prolonged use of hair care products containing strong surfactants can make hair drier and the scalp more sensitive.

The most common are: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Ammonium Laureth Sulfate and TEA-Lauryl Sulfate.

1. Medium-gentle foaming cleansers – a balance between cleansing and gentleness. Suitable for everyday use if the scalp is not particularly sensitive.

The most common ones are – Cocamidopropyl Betaine (from coconut oil), Coco-Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate (found ONE:ZERO DEEP SHAMPOO), Lauryl / Decyl / Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate.

1. Extremely mild surfactants – shampoos with these substances are friendlier for sensitive skin, children, and people with scalp problems. They foam less, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work!

Most common – Amino acid bases (very gentle, often expensive): Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate; Isethionates (gentle, creamy foam): Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (found in ONE:ZERO GENTLE SHAMPOO), Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate (sometimes classified as moderately mild); Taurates (neutralizes pH, does not dry out the skin): Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Taurate, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate; Glycosides (plant-based, suitable for organic products): Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside; Other very gentle co-surrogates: Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (gentle but foams well), Sodium Myreth Sulfate (even milder than SLES, but still a sulfate), Lauryl Lactyl Lactate, Sodium PCA Lauryl Sulfonate, Disodium Ricinoleamido MEA-Sulfosuccinate, etc.

How to get your hair used to natural shampoo?

If you have only used “strong” shampoos with SLS/SLES so far, switching to a milder formula can take an average of 2-4 weeks. At first, your hair may not feel as clean, but it is just a matter of getting used to it.

4 WEEK TRANSITION PLAN:

What are the benefits of using a natural shampoo?

• Less irritation and itching – suitable for sensitive skin, children and people with dermatitis or seborrhea;
• Less oiliness – because the skin no longer produces sebum excessively in response to excessive cleansing;
• Moisturizer, more elastic, shinier hair – gentle substances do not wash away all natural lipids, hair is moisturized, easier to comb, less frizzy;
• Friendlier for colored or chemically treated hair – helps maintain color and shine, suitable for hair after keratin or botox treatments.
• Safe for daily use – maintains the natural balance of the scalp even with daily use.

The only downside to natural shampoos is that they are usually more expensive than the mass-produced shampoos with SLS/SLES available on store shelves.

But if you think about it in the long term, it is an investment in your health and beauty, investing in healthier, more beautiful hair and scalp.