ABSTRACT
Hair care and styling play a very important role in personal confidence, successful social assimilation, employment, and overall quality of life. Hair cosmetics are topical preparations that have the purpose of cleansing the hair, promoting its attractiveness, altering the appearance, and protecting the hair keeping it in good condition. Shampooing is the most common form of cosmetic hair treatment. A shampoo is composed of 10 to 30 ingredients, classified according to their different activities, combined in specific formulations. The cleansing activity of the shampoo has to be mild in order avoid complete removal of the natural oils and sebum from the skin. Conditioning molecules contained in shampoos make wet hair easier to comb and control hair volume when it is dry, promoting hydration, softness, and shine. Baby shampoos contain the amphoteric group detergents, such as the betaines, which are non-irritating to the eyes and achieve mild cleansing, as babies produce limited sebum.
