What does shampoo actually do for our hair?
The detergents in shampoo are able to breakdown oils that accumulate on hair into tiny droplets. Once broken down, water is able to rinse the oil, as well as dust, flakes of skin and dirt out of the hair and down the drain. The detergents used in shampoos are able to access and clean tiny crevices found in hair, the hair shaft, and scalp because they can reduce the surface tension of the water. The synthetic detergents used in shampoos are actually soap free and therefore, do not react with the dissolved minerals that are found in hard water such as calcium and magnesium the way that soap does. Therefore, shampoos do not cause soap scum to build up on hair, even when used with hard water. Soap scum can make hair difficult to comb, dull looking, and it can be difficult to remove. Read more: How Does Shampoo Clean Hair?
