A hair cleanser is a hair care product designed to remove sebum and environmental dirt from the hair. It is also known as shampoo. Shampoo is typically made by combining a surfactant, most often sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, with a co-surfactant, most often cocamidopropyl betaine in water. The sulfate ingredient acts as a surfactant, trapping oils and other contaminants, similarly to soap. Hair cleansers can be harmful if they contain toxic chemicals such as sulfates, quaternium-15, and formaldehyde releasers. Therefore, it is important to read the labels of hair care products before making a purchase.
Positive aspects of hair cleansers include their ability to remove dirt and sebum from the hair, leaving it clean and manageable. They can also contain ingredients such as humectants like coconut oil to counter any roughness, quaternium salts to condition hair, and silicon oils for shine and lustre.
Negative aspects of hair cleansers include the potential for them to contain harmful chemicals that can cause harm to the body and the environment. Additionally, some hair cleansers can strip the hair of its natural oils, leading to dryness and damage.
Ingredients commonly found in hair cleansers include surfactants, acidifiers, antistatic agents, detanglers, and cationic polymers such as Polyquaternium-10 and Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride.
