SHAMPOO 101

It is not easy to tell a good shampoo from a poor one. Cost, fragrance, and lots of foam are factors most people consider when purchasing a product. Foaming occurs when surfactant (detergent) molecules gather around air instead of oil. Clouds of luxurious foamy lather only mean too much shampoo was used. Excess foam equals waste. Sebum and other oils quickly destroy foam. Ideally, there should be just enough lather to lubricate the scalp and hair.

The major types of surfactants are anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric. Ions are molecules that have small electrical charges that may be positive or negative. Opposite charges attract and similar charges repel. Sodium chloride, common table salt, is a good example. Upon dissolution in water, sodium forms positive ions (cations) and chlorine makes negative ions (anions). Surfactants with a negative charge are called anionic. A surfactant with a positive charge is cationic.

Anionic surfactants are the most widely used detergents in personal hygiene products. They are inexpensive, excellent cleaners and rinse easily from the hair. A major disadvantage is that they can be harsh and irritating to the scalp Frequently, other surfactants and ingredients are added to reduce skin irritation. Cationic surfactants are rarely used in high concentrations personal hygiene products but are safe and useful at low concentrations.

Examples of surfactants that you might find on the ingredient list of your favorite shampoo are:

• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate - very harsh
• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate- harsh
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
• TEA Lauryl Sulfate & TEA Laureth Sulfate- both are good choices

Explanation of Caro Shampoo ingredients.

• SODIUM C14-16 OLEFIN SULFONATE:
  Anionic surfactant with exceptionally long chain carbon molecule which when combined with DEA Lauryl Sulfate provides an exceptionally mild yet thoroughly effective encapsulating cleanser.
• DEA LAURYL SULFATE:
  A coconut fatty acid derived surfactant modified to provide exceptional hydrophilic ("water-loving") performance characteristics, and rich foaming properties for emollient scalp cleansing. The perfect companion for a long carbon chain encapsulating cleanser i.e., Olefin Sulfonate
• KERATIN PROTEIN:
  A small molecular protein derived principally from hair. The perfect protein replenisher for the environmentally stressed hair common to today’s urban dwellers.
• LAURMIDE DEA:
  A rich surfactant and foam booster.
• COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE:
  An anti-static coconut derived foaming and emulsifying agent. An excellent solublizing agent.
• POLYQUATERNIUM 10:
  An anti-static and highly effective conditioning agent.
• dl PANTHENOL (Pro-Vitamin B5):
  One of the most effective conditioning agents known to cosmetic chemistry. This ingredient has the ability to attract to the hair (or skin) moisture equivalent to many times it’s own weight and to seek a balance being neither too little, nor too much
• OCTYLMETHOXYCINNAMATE:
  A highly consecrated Sunscreen to protect hair form color fadage.
• DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL:
  Organically modified silicone oil to provide lubricity for both wet and dry combing and reflect light for a high sheen.
• BOTANICAL EXTRACTS:
  Selected by an herbalist to provide scalp astringency, soothe irritated skin, retard bacterial growth, alleviate itching and improve hair highlights.

Shampooing facts:

• It is only necessary to lather your hair once under normal conditions. Also, the amount of lather and foam generated by a shampoo does not affect its ability to clean hair.
• In general, better formulated products have longer ingredient lists.
• Baby shampoos are not designed for cleaning adult hair, especially when a lot of styling products have been used.
• Shampoos that are 'all natural' or 'organic' are suspect in that many natural ingredients can't clean hair. The efficacy of organic plants, vitamins, etc. has never been proven.
• Shampoos do not build up on hair or work differently on hair over time. Conditioning elements, styling products and chemical processes do build up, though.

Should you occasionally switch shampoos? –

Most Salon Quality Brands do not build up on hair; they continue to work effectively as long as you use them, so there’s no need to switch products (another myth debunked). However, shampooing occasionally without using any conditioner or styling products to give hair a rest is recommended at least once a month. Choosing the right products for your hair - Fine or thin hair can sometimes be more delicate and could benefit from a protein enriched shampoo and conditioner Curly hair may look dry, and therefore can benefit from a regimen which includes moisturizing ingredients.

All Caro products contain a high concentration keratin protein.

Dry hair is caused by heat, an open cuticle, chemicals applied to the hair, and poor maintenance.

SOLUTIONS:

1. Less or no heat. When blow drying, use a cooler setting and do not blow dry until the is completely dry.
2. Use acidifiers. Acidifiers close the cuticle down and lock in moisture. Acidifiers have a pH of 2.5 to 3.5. They have a lower pH than hair does in an aqueous solution.
3. Color, perms, relaxers, and other chemicals are sometimes a necessary evil. They rob the hair of humectants. Humectants attract and retain moisture (water) in the cortical layer of the hair. Try to use low ammonia -low peroxide color. Do not leave neutralizer on too long with perms. If possible avoid relaxers.
4. Treat your hair. Replace lost humectants with essential fatty acids (lipids), acidify your hair, use Replenish Conditioner, and use cool water. Replace what was taken out to make your hair dry. Also eat a diet full of essential fatty acids (in moderation and non-animal {no cholesterol}).

How to Shampoo the Hair:

Wet the scalp and hair using warm or cool water (hot water can be drying to the hair and scalp). Apply a quarter sized amount of shampoo to palm and rub hands together to evenly distribute. Now apply shampoo to scalp by running the palms of the hands over your hair. Massage gently with your fingertips and then rinse thoroughly. It’s not necessary to repeat unless you have an oily scalp or have used some heavy duty hair pomeade-like products.

After rinsing, apply some conditioner in one hand and rub palms together to evenly distribute. Apply conditioner from the middle of the hair shaft down to ends. Avoid the scalp unless scalp is dry. Comb conditioner through hair to distribute product evenly. Leave conditioner on hair for a few seconds to help smooth the cuticle. Rinse thoroughly. Some people believe a cold water rinse is best and will add shine to the hair.

Shampooing frequency for normal hair depends on whether hair is curly or straight. Straight hair should be washed every day for a sleek, radiant look. Curly hair, however, becomes too dry and fly away if it’s washed too often, so it is better to shampoo and condition every other day. At a minimum, hair should be washed twice a week..

Conditioners:

Conditioners use different ingredients to make hair more manageable. Most contain a quaternary ammonium compound. These compounds reduce the static charge on the hair. Other ingredients (such as balsam and silicones) coat the hair to provide a protective coating and smooth out the frayed cuticles. Some manufacturers use waxes as fillers to provide increased volume, and oils provide extra sheen.

Caro Replenish Conditioner & our leave in conditioner Maintain

CONDITIONER INGREDIENTS & FUNCTION

• KERATIN PROTEIN:
  A small molecular protein derived principally form hair. The perfect protein replenisher for protein depleted hair. We are using a massive quantity of this nourishing protein in expectation of the nee for reconstructing severely damaged protein cuticle bonds.
• DICETYLDIOMIUM CHLORIDE:
  Quaternary ammonium compound with excellent conditioning and suspending capabilities. It serves as a modifier and companion ingredient for the protein making it more effective in the total conditioning process.
• CETYL ALCOHOL:
  Fatty alcohol originally obtained from the head of a sperm whale, but now synthetically produced, is used as an emulsifier and stabilizer for the emulsion system.
• STERYL ALCOHOL/CETEARETH 2:
  Belongs to a class of chemicals known as Fatty Alcohol and serves a multitude of functions in this formula. It stabilizes the emulsion, increases the viscosity and creamy feel of the product. It is both an opacifying agent lending it color and it serves as an emollient.
• CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE:
  Is a quaternary ammonium compound serving as an emulsifier, and anti-static agent, a suspending agent, and cosmetic biocide preservative.
• KERATIN AMINO ACIDS:
  The strongest protein building blocks available. These ultra fine amino acid molecules reinforce that Keratin Protein in this product making it one of the finest and most effective hair conditioners in the marketplace.
• dl PANTHENOL (Pro-Vitamin B5):
  One of the most effective conditioning agents known to cosmetic chemistry. This ingredient has the ability to attract to the hair (or skin) moisture equivalent to many times its won weight and to seek a balance being neither too little, not too much.
• SODIUM PCA:
  A powerful humectant and component of the skin’s own moisturizing factor which has been isolated from the stratum corneum.