Types of Shampoo

This series is on formulating shampoo. This is part 1 of 3. In order to make shampoo, it is important to first understand the types of shampoos on the market. We will over cover the chemistry of surfactants in part 2. Lastly, how to make custom shampoo in part 3.  After this series, we hope you have a better understanding of how to formulate shampoo. 

Part 1- Types of Shampoo

Part 2- Surfactants in Shampoo

Part 3- Custom Shampoo 

Purpose of Shampoo

The purpose of shampoo is to clean the hair and improve the appearance of hair.

Shampoo is one of the most bought and used cosmetic, personal care product. The use of shampoo has continually grown due to more grooming and the trend of washing the hair more often, hair and scalp issues, more shampoos are available for different hair types and more consumers are willing to pay money for shampoo. Babies, children, teenagers and adults use shampoo and some on a daily basis.

The natural shampoo market has grown in popularity and now consumers want more natural shampoo containing sustainable, vegan, and plant-based ingredients that provide gentle cleansing of the hair.

Types of Shampoo

There are many types of shampoo on the market; clarifying, for oily hair and normal hair or dry hair, shampoo for color treated hair, volumizing shampoo, strengthening, co-wash, baby/children’s shampoo, and men’s shampoo. There are categories for straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, coily hair, textured hair, fine hair, grey hair, locs hair and more. There can be many types of shampoos in these categories.

Natural Shampoo

Any of the types of shampoo can be made natural containing mostly natural ingredients. Ingredients that are sustainable, biodegradable, mostly derived from nature, no threat to human health, sulfate-free surfactants, essential oils or plant-derived scents for scenting the shampoo. 

Clarifying Shampoo

Clarifying shampoo removes build-up of products, chemicals, pollution and hard water build-up. Clarifying shampoo may be on the alkaline side and can be drying to the hair if used daily.

Oily Hair Shampoo

Oily hair shampoo is more clarifying and cleansing to remove oil but does not strip the hair and scalp of natural oil. 

Normal Hair Shampoo

Normal hair shampoo is pH balanced and can be made with ingredients that cleanse and promote shine, luster and soft hair. It should provide smoother manageability of the hair.

Dry Hair Shampoo – Damaged Hair Shampoo

Shampoo for dry hair is pH balanced with moisturizing and conditioning ingredients to coat and protect the hair. It should provide smoother manageability of the hair.

Color Treated Hair Shampoo

This shampoo does not strip the color from the hair. Generally, color treated shampoo is formulated at a lower pH and use gentle surfactants and color protecting ingredients. A higher pH will strip the color from the hair.

Strengthening Shampoo

Strengthening shampoo contains additives that add structure and elasticity to the hair fibers to strengthen and protect with less breakage. Plant Keratin is excellent for hair strength and elasticity. Learn more about Plant Keratin here.

Volumizing Shampoo

Volume shampoo adds volume to hair and contains volumizing ingredients.

Co-Wash/Cleansing Cream

Co-wash shampoo is a conditioner containing a smaller percentage of surfactants and conditioning agents.

Hydrating Shampoo

Hydrating shampoo contains humectants and hydrating ingredients.

Baby and Children’s Shampoo

Baby and children shampoo should be very mild with low amounts of mild surfactants. The shampoo should not irritate the baby’s eyes.

Men’s Shampoo

Men’s shampoo is usually contains conditioning agents since many men do not use conditioner. The shampoo is also normally thicker than other types of shampoo.

Formulating Shampoo

What kind of shampoo do you want to make? You will learn how to build your own formula by using Joan’s Shampoo Build Method, taught only in The Pro Natural Hair Care Course. First select a shampoo system base. Then further customize by hair type, texture, or hair goal that you are looking for. What can you make?

Possible Shampoos-

• Shampoo for Locs hair
• Anti-Frizz & Shine for Wavy Hair
• Moisturizing & Curl Defining for Curly Hair
• Color Protect & Volumizing for Straight Hair 
• Strengthening & Protecting for Coily Hair
• Sea Moss Curl Shampoo
• Plant Keratin Shampoo
• Men’s Moisture Shampoo 
• Gentle Baby Shampoo

There are hundreds of possible combinations. Now, you can build and create your perfect shampoo!