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Review
. 2015 May-Jun;60(3):248-54.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.156355.

Shampoo and Conditioners: What a Dermatologist Should Know?

Paschal D'Souza  1 , Sanjay K Rathi  2
Affiliations
Review

Shampoo and Conditioners: What a Dermatologist Should Know?

Paschal D'Souza et al. Indian J Dermatol. 2015 May-Jun.

Abstract

Dermatologists many a times encounter questions from patients and even colleagues asking about how to keep their hair looking clean, healthy and beautiful. Therefore, familiarity and a basic knowledge of the available hair care products will help them to guide their patients properly. A shampoo not only provides the cleaning of the scalp skin and hair as its primary function, but in addition also serves to condition and beautify hair and acts as an adjunct in the management of various scalp disorders. To achieve this, various ingredients in the correct proportion are mixed to provide a shampoo which is suitable for individuals having different hair types and hair need. Among the ingredients that go into the making of a shampoo are detergents, conditioners, thickeners, sequestering agents, pH adjusters, preservatives and specialty additives. Hair conditioners are designed to improve hair manageability, decrease hair static electricity and add luster. They are used in several ways depending upon the state of hair and requirement of the individual. This article attempts to put forward the basic and practical aspects regarding use of these products.

Keywords: Conditioner; hair; shampoo.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Basic ingredients present in a shampoo
Figure 2
Figure 2
Basic shampoo types
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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