Shampoos Then and Now: Synthetic Versus Natural

Hair care has been important to mankind from times immemorial. The market today is replete with synthetic hair care products, pushing natural materials to the background. These natural materials, being produced from plants, are bio-degradable and non-toxic. In a bid to investigate natural products, we studied the surface tension, foaming and relevant parameters of natural surfactants extracted from Shikakai (Acacia concinna) and Seto Siris (Albizia procera), traditionally used in hair care. In order to get a better understanding, Johnson's Baby Shampoo has also been studied. Shikakai showed very prominent surface tension reduction and high foaming, showing that it can be a potential candidate for good hair care. These effects are not so prominent for Seto Siris. However, as it is widely available in the hills, large quantities can be used. Qualitative measurement of their cleaning properties and subsequent comparison with commercial shampoo show that both plants have a large potential in providing nontoxic natural hair care products.