Shampoo is a hygiene product for cleaning the hair. It is used for basic cleaning and is used to remove sebum and impurities, in addition it nourishes the hair according to the hair type.
What is shampoo?
Originally, shampoo comes from India, where it was soon discovered by the women of the colonial masters for themselves, since such a cleaning product for the hair was not yet known in Europe at that time. Shampoo is a mostly liquid care product for cleaning the hair. The most common variant of shampoo is the liquid form, but there are also flake-shaped dry shampoo for cleaning without water. After moistening the hair with water, the shampoo is massaged in thoroughly, should act briefly and is then washed out again without leaving any residue. Shampoo thereby removes dirt from the hair and scalp and provides basic care for the hair. Shampoo is adapted to the type of hair to provide the right kind of care. Shampoo for dry hair uses a moisturizing effect, shampoo for oily hair soothes the scalp and thoroughly removes all sebum residues. A more comprehensive care program for the hair includes after the shampoo the conditioner and possibly a hair treatment or hair mask. However, these have a purely caring and no more cleansing effect on the hair. Shampoo originated in India, where it was soon discovered by the women of the colonial masters, as such a cleansing product for the hair was not yet known in Europe at that time. Shampoos of that time already gave the hair a clean shine, which was coveted in Europe.
Forms, types and types
Shampoo differs according to the care effect and form. There is liquid shampoo for use with water, as well as dry shampoo in the form of shampoo flakes that can be rubbed on a greasy roots for quick relief. However, dry shampoo cannot replace regular shampoo and cannot dissolve out the impurities. The most common shampoos are directed at dry, greasy and oily, brittle and fragile, colored and curly or long hair. Other shampoos are aimed at specific hair colors and either intensify the natural or colored tone, provide color protection or lighten it even further, which is especially desirable for blonde hair. In addition to these variants, there are still shampoos for professional use, including, for example, products such as silver shampoo, which nourishes on the edge, but mainly contains extracts of silver birch against yellow tones in blond hair. Shampoos with a health aspect are sold in the form of shampoo against dandruff or shampoo for skin diseases of the scalp – these are aimed especially at people with demanding scalps, because the health of the hair also depends greatly on their health. Many shampoos are sold with an associated care series, which can also be used well together, because the effective ingredients in the care products for the hair are often coordinated with each other.
Structure and mode of operation
Shampoos can have very different compositions. Almost all of today’s products contain additional ingredients that ensure that they foam when rubbed into the scalp. In addition, shampoos contain cleansing substances that are also found in other cosmetic products such as shower gels. These reliably remove sebum and dirt from the hair. Silicones are still found in many modern shampoos, but they are problematic. Although they make the hair look very supple, smooth and shiny after shampooing, they cannot be removed from the hair with water alone without leaving residues. It takes several hair washes until all the silicones contained in the shampoo have been rinsed out of the hair. In addition, the hair should not be washed too frequently, as this interferes with the scalp’s ability to produce grease. This results in very quickly greasy hair, which is ultimately counterproductive. The nourishing effect of shampoos stems last from the fact that the product contains nourishing plant extracts or effective chemical ingredients. Shampoos from the drugstore have to rely on lower concentrations and often work with plant extracts and oils. Products for professional use in the hair salon, on the other hand, work with highly effective and highly dosed chemical substances, the application of which belongs in the hands of an experienced professional.
Medical and health benefits
Shampoo performs primarily a cleansing function in hair care. It is the first care product to be massaged into the hair after it has been moisturized. Since the last hair wash, sebum and other impurities have collected in the hair and scalp. While the shampoo is massaged in, it can take over this cleaning and at the same time allow care substances to be absorbed into the hair and scalp. Impurities are bound in the foam of the shampoo and then washed out again. While hair should not be washed excessively often so that the scalp is not left unprotected without its sebaceous layer, hair should also not be shampooed too infrequently as this can also cause hygiene problems to develop. Depending on the type of hair, shampoo should be applied every few days. Products that are applied after shampoo often only care for the hair and no longer the scalp, so the shampoo should be chosen so that it is also good for the scalp. Most often, this is already the case when the product is purchased so that it fits the hair type, as this is crucial for the needs of the skin. Silicone-free shampoos are best, and many health-conscious people also like to choose natural or plant-based shampoos to protect the skin, hair and environment.
