A foaming hair and scalp cleanser based on surfactants, often with light conditioning built in.
Rich lather that rinses clean, leaving hair soft rather than squeaky.
Everyday shampoo, Colour-safe shampoo, Clarifying shampoo, Scalp-care or anti-dandruff shampoo
What it is
Shampoo is a thickened blend of surfactants in water that lifts oil, sweat and styling product from hair and scalp. Conditioning polymers deposit as it rinses, so hair is easier to comb. Common variants include sulfate-free, colour-safe and scalp-care shampoos.
Many sulfate-free and naturally derived systems available.
Variants for colour, scalp and clarifying care.
Challenges
Viscosity is sensitive to salt, pH and fragrance.
Harsh surfactants can strip colour or irritate the scalp.
Needs a robust preservative system.
Shelf life
Unopened
24–36 months01236 months
After opening
12–24 months01224 months
Main risks are viscosity drift, separation of pearl or silicone, and colour or odour change.
Packaging
Squeeze bottlePump bottlePouch
In the lab
How it is made
01Blend surfactantsInto water with low-shear mixing.
02Heat if neededAbout 70 °C for pearl or solid surfactants.
03Add conditioning polymerPre-dispersed, then actives and fragrance.
04Adjust pHUsually with citric acid.
05Build viscosityWith salt or polymer at the end.
cold fill · 25 °CA liquid or piston filler runs at speeds that do not create foam, with viscosity matched to the cap or pump.
Specifications
pH
pH 4.5–6.52 acid7 neutral10 alkaline
Viscosity at rest
3,000–12,000 mPa·swaterlotioncreambutterpaste
Batch sizes
50 L pilot1,000 L5,000 L production
Lab notes
Preservation
Required; a broad-spectrum system validated by challenge test to ISO 11930.
Stability testing
Storage at 40–45 °C and 4 °C, freeze–thaw, viscosity and pH tracking, and suspension stability for pearl or silicones.
Regulatory, Australia
Cosmetic; anti-dandruff shampoos stay outside TGA regulation only when dandruff claims are limited to controlling or preventing dandruff through cleansing, moisturising, exfoliating or drying the scalp; other dandruff claims make them therapeutic goods. NSW bans plastic microbeads in rinse-off products.
