For ordinary consumers, it is difficult to make purchasing decisions based on brand promotion or shopping guide introduction when purchasing products. So, how to buy? Learn to look at the shampoo ingredient labels and analyze the main ingredients according to product attributes.
The main ingredient in the shampoo is the surfactant that cleans the oil. The nature of the surfactant in the shampoo determines the mildness and safety of the shampoo. Some scholars have made the following classification according to the group of surfactants, which may make the purchase easier.
1. Relatively mild surfactant
① Surfactant of acetic acid group: LAURETH-3-Sodium acetate, Chlorhexidine diacetate, etc. This type of shampoo is characterized by rich foam, but poor decontamination and cleansing power. Because it is weakly acidic, it has less irritation to the scalp, and can interact with the electric charge on the hair to keep the hair smooth, flat and not rough.
② Surfactants for amino acid group: sodium hydrogen N-(1-oxododecyl)-L-glutamate, SodiumDodecyl Sulphate, etc. This type of shampoo is naturally weakly acidic and has a slightly lower detergency, but because the hair and scalp are also weakly acidic, it is less irritating and has a strong moisturizing ability.
③ Betaine series: Sodium Cocoyl Glutaminate, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, etc. These ingredients come from beets, which are less irritating than amino acid shampoos and have better moisturizing effects. They are suitable for people with sensitive skin and are also beneficial to repair damaged hair.
④ Surfactant of APG: such as dodecyl polyglucoside . The main component of this shampoo comes from glucose, which has a slightly weaker detergency, but it is less irritating, safe, and rich in foam. It is usually mixed with amino acids to enhance the decontamination effect without reducing safety.
In order to repair the hair, add protein, such as hydrolyzed collagen, milk and so on. This type of shampoo mainly contains protein components such as milk and collagen. The foam is less and the price is the most expensive, but it nourishes the hair very well and has a repairing effect on protein-damaged hair.
2. Surfactant with strong cleaning power
① Surfactant of sulfuric acid group: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), Sodium dodecyl sulfate（SDS), etc. The production cost of this ingredient is low and it is usually used in cheap shampoos. This kind of shampoo is very powerful in decontamination and cleansing, but at the same time it may also wash away essential oils that are beneficial to the health of the scalp and hair.
② Alkaline surfactants: Sodium Fatty Acid,Sodium hydroxide, etc. The advantages of this type of shampoo are its strong decontamination and cleaning power and superior biodegradability. So it is more environmentally friendly. However, because it is alkaline, it is easy to dry the scalp and hair, and its excessive detergency can easily wash away the necessary sebum.