Question: Is it true that shampoo that prevents hair loss is an advertising gimmick that has nothing to do with life?

The Expert’s Answer: Yes and no. On one hand, shampoo is a cleansing agent, not a medicine. And if we are talking about androgenetic alopecia, i.e. hair loss associated with your genes and with hormonal imbalance, then it’s not worth it to rely on your shampoo.

If it’s hair loss associated with seborrhea, excessive secretion of sebum accompanied by the appearance of a crust of dry, fatty particles of dead skin, then shampoo for seborrhea is the first defense against hair loss.

Question: Is it true that the less a shampoo foams, the better it is?

The Expert’s Answer: There is no direct relation between the delicateness and foaminess of a shampoo. They are not parallel parameters. A similar misconception occurred after we started to sell special shampoos for people with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and eczema. These products are extremely delicate; they do not irritate even already irritated skin; and they hardly foam at all – but this is due to the large number of nutrients and protective additives and almost complete absence of salts, which are used in ordinary shampoos as thickeners.

The foaminess of a shampoo has to do with 2 parameters. First is the concentration of soft surfactants (surface-active substances that literally wash away dirt): if shampoo is less than 18% surfactants, as defined by state standards, the shampoo will not be foamy no matter how hard you try. Second is the ratio of hard to soft surfactants. So, the non-foaminess of medicinal shampoo does not prove ordinary shampoo’s roughness. We repeat: by state standards, shampoo should have a foam number, which is measured based on height, density, and settling velocity of the foam. Per the standards, the minimum number of surfactants in shampoo should not be less than 18-20%. This number is already enough to provide dense foam. The foam, by the way, has a purpose – it helps to remove dirt quicker and better by absorbing it into itself.

Question: Is it true that the properties of water change the properties of shampoo?

The Expert’s Answer: It is true. The harder the water, the more difficult it is for the shampoo to do its work. On top of that, it does not foam as well. Salts of calcium, magnesium, iron and other metals make water hard. They precipitate upon contact with water, forming flakes, which settle onto hair making it stiff and unpleasant to the touch. Rain and lake water are considered the softest. However, your water can indeed be softened. The simplest methods are to add a few drops of lemon juice to water, or boil it.

Question: Do you need to keep shampoo on your hair longer to give the active ingredients time to work?

The Expert’s Answer: It is not necessary. Distribute shampoo through wet hair, massage onto scalp, and rinse. The shampoo’s formula is structured so that this amount of time is sufficient for the helpful extracts to do their job.