Indonesia[edit]

Early shampoos used in Indonesia were made from the husk and straw (merang) of rice. The husks
and straws were burned into ash, and the ashes (which have alkaline properties) are mixed with
water to form lather. The ashes and lather were scrubbed into the hair and rinsed out, leaving the
hair clean, but very dry. Afterwards, coconut oil was applied to the hair in order to moisturize it.[16]

Pre-Columbian North America[edit]

Certain Native American tribes used extracts from North American plants as hair shampoo; for
example the Costanoans of present-day coastal California used extracts from the coastal
woodfern, Dryopteris expansa,[17]

Pre-Columbian South America[edit]

Before quinoa can be eaten the saponin must be washed out from the grain prior to cooking. Pre-
Columbian Andean civilizations used this soapy by-product as a shampoo. [18]

Composition[edit]

Typical liquid shampoo

Shampoo is generally made by combining a surfactant, most often sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium

laureth sulfate, with a co-surfactant, most often cocamidopropyl betaine in water to form a thick,
viscous liquid. Other essential ingredients include salt (sodium chloride), which is used to adjust the
viscosity, a preservative and fragrance.[19][20] Other ingredients are generally included in shampoo
formulations to maximize the following qualities:

 pleasing foam
 ease of rinsing
 minimal skin and eye irritation
 thick or creamy feeling
 pleasant fragrance[21]
 low toxicity
 good biodegradability
 slight acidity (pH less than 7)
 no damage to hair
 repair of damage already done to hair
Many shampoos are pearlescent. This effect is achieved by the addition of tiny flakes of suitable
materials, e.g. glycol distearate, chemically derived from stearic acid, which may have either animal
or vegetable origins. Glycol distearate is a wax. Many shampoos also include silicone to provide
conditioning benefits.