What is a Surfactant?

(Pictured above: Buckcherry. Why? I didn't have a pic of Surfactants)

For whatever reason, I was under the impression that a Surfactant was a harsh detergent or cleansing agent. Well, more technically, a Surfactant is a substance that is supposed to help certain ingredients in products either repel or attract water. what is that supposed to do? Well, if you were a company trying to make a shampoo, a surfactant would help the ingredients that don't usually mix (like oil and water) to mix together and not separate. You can imagine how gross it would be if your shampoo had a layer of oil on top. That's the basic explanation.

Actually, there are many types of surfactants. But, as far a hair goes, that is mostly what they are used for. In addition, surfactants are used to help more solid ingredients in product to stay mixed in liquid and not settle to the bottom. They are also used to help a product foam up and stay foamy. As far as cleansing, the type of surfactant that is used to clean hair and skin operates by helping the water in the shampoo to mix in with the oil and dirt on the scalp and hair to then be rinsed away.

You can imagine that you'd want to be careful with surfactants since they could potentially strip off the natural and essential oils that are in your hair and skin. But, for the most part, surfactants in common hair products are mellow and pretty important. In order for your hair to grow freely and robustly, it is important to get a good deep cleanse from time to time. It's important to keep your pores and follicles clean and free of obstruction to ensure full and thick hair growth. Also, with all the hair product, sun, wind, pollution and chemical damage on modern hair, it's essential to clarify or detox the hair once in a while. This will help keep your hair from getting too dull, drab or damaged.

How can you tell which products contain an appropriate amount and type of surfactant? How can you determine which are harsh and which are safe for regular use? EASY!!! As a professional Hairstylist!!!! It's our job!