What are the actual ingredients in shampoo that "clean" the hair?

[*ElleB]

I want to know this since we know that sulfates aren't necessary. They actually do more harm to some people's hair and scalp than good....SO what is the ingredient that "cleans"....

 

[Victorian]

Basically anything that is an emulsifier/surfactant will clean your hair. Lauryl and laureth sulfates are surfactants but they are too harsh for a lot of people's hair. Shampoos are formulated with ingredients to try to counteract the drying effect that they have--some are more successful at it than others.
Myreth sulfates are gentler than lauryl/laureth. The Elucence MB and Jason Biotin shampoos are examples of shampoos with sodium myreth sulfate. The most gentle detergents are cocamidopropyl betaine and a bunch of other ones that sound similar. These are the type you'll find in Jason Sea Kelp Shampoo and certain Avalon Organics shampoos.
Also with any of these surfactants the amount that is in the shampoo will make a difference as well.

Alternatively you can use actual soap instead of a synthetic detergent. I believe Aubrey Organics shampoos are soap-based. Also diluted castile soap is popular as a shampoo. Of course soap can definitely dry you out too, but based on others' experiences castile soap is nowhere near as harsh as a detergent.

And finally, some conditioning agents are surfactants as well, which is why so many people have success eliminating shampoo from their regimens altogether. They aren't as good emulsifiers as detergents but from the "supple hair" standpoint that's a good thing because they won't strip all the good oil from your hair. Now don't get me to lying about which synthetic conditioning ingredients are surfactants, but as far as natural ones, lecithin is an emulsifier and I believe some small proteins are too.

 

[secretdiamond]

Wow.....BC. Excellent post and great info!

 

[*ElleB]

YES, great info indeed! Thanks!

 

[carameldiva]

SalonCare shampoos from Sally's contain sodium myreth sulfates- i use those. Also loving Dr. Woods alomd castile soap, almond castile soap w/ organic shea butter and liquid black soap (www.drwoodsproducts.com) , i do have a shampoo concentrate that i purchased a while back (they no longer make it)- i dilute it with water and it works well.

 

[plainj]

Kenra moisturizing shampoo also contains gentle ingredients like sodium myreth sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine.

 

[atlien11]

Bumping this because its great information

 

[Angelicus]

Heads up to BlackCardinal You can use all the chems that you want but I truly believe that it's the friction from your fingers that do the most work. Plus, your fingers are free.

 

[Jadacrys]

I have an article on surfactants in my hair archive (taken from naturallycurly.com (curlscene))

You find Anionic surfactants mainly in shampoos (the ones you mentioned, sulfates, cocomidopropyl betaine, etc.)

Common Ones for conditioners:

Cationic:
Behentrimonium Chloride
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Cetrimonium Chloride
Quaternium-(##)
Stearalkonium Chloride

Nonionic:
Laureth-(#)
PEG-10 Sorbitan Laurate
Decyl glucoside
Polysorbates
Steareth-(#)
Trideceth-6

HTH

ETA: Suave Naturals Conditioners are usually have a good amount of surfactants (Bolded=surfactants)

Suave Coconut Condish (Example): Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Distearyldimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Propylene Gylcol, Silk Amino Acids, Honey (Mel), Nettle (Urtica Dioica) Extract, Rosemary (rosemarinus Officinalis) Extract, Coconut (Cocoa Nucifera) Extract

Rosemary and Nettle support in cleansing and conditioning too.

Sorry for the long post..

 

[Mestiza]

Great info, ladies!

 

[HoneyDew]

I'd like to add the info about the agents that prevent and remove Chlorine, magnesium and other mineral deposits that can build up from water and other enviromental things. These are the chelating agents. I MUST use shampoos with these. They are the EDTA ingredients (tetrasodium, disodium)