| HAIR
FACTS |
How often should I shampoo?
Hair cannot be washed too often!
Our ancestors washed their hair only rarely.
We know that hair left unwashed for several weeks
turns into a matted, smelly mess. We can only imagine
the state of the scalps beneath those elaborate powdered
wigs we see in portraits on the walls of stately homes!
This doesn't fit with our modern image
of cleanliness and health. Hair can be washed every
day, even several times a day if necessary. Today's
shampoos do not damage hair. Their conditioning agents
positively protect the cuticle against harm from brushing
and combing.
So how often you wash your hair is
a purely personal decision, one for you alone. |
|
Conditioning
agents
These condition the hair. Nearly all shampoos contain some conditioning
agents. Some contain more than others do see
Functional additives
These include ingredients that control the viscosity (thickness)
of the shampoo. A shampoo that was too runny would be messy to apply,
whereas one that was as thick as, say, toothpaste might be hard
to spread over the hair.
Another kind of additive controls the pH of the shampoo.
Usually shampoos are formulated to be slightly acidic, with
a pH between 3.5 and 4.5.
Preservatives
A shampoo without preservatives would make a splendid breeding ground
for germs of every kind. These could make the product 'go bad' or
decompose, and they could present
a considerable risk to health. Adding preservatives prevents problems
like these.
Some of the preservatives you may see named on shampoo
labels include sodium benzoate, parabens, DMDM hydantoin
and tetrasodium EDTA. In spite of their rather alarming names, these
are all safe, tested and approved ingredients.
