Today's shampoo market features not only numerous brands but also diverse promotional tactics. Some manufacturers exaggerate or misrepresent claims in their advertising, creating misconceptions among consumers. These issues manifest primarily in the following areas:
1. The "Plant-Based" Claim
Currently, some plant-based shampoos on the market do not entirely depart from the category of chemical shampoos. This is because extracting ionic surfactants from plants demands highly advanced technology and equipment, and the cost of refining and concentrating these extracts is astonishingly high—roughly ten times the price of the product itself.Consequently, the surfactants responsible for cleansing in these products are largely chemically synthesized. Some shampoos marketed as "plant-based" contain no actual plant ingredients, relying solely on plant-derived fragrances or colors to attract consumers.
II. The Claim of Dandruff Removal
Dandruff is caused by fungi. Shampoos containing ZPT (zinc compounds) can kill these fungi and eliminate dandruff. This is because fungal dandruff forms when scalp oil mixes with dirt and is activated by fungi. ZPT indeed shows significant efficacy against this type of dandruff.However, this type of dandruff is relatively uncommon. More often, dandruff results from the shedding of dead skin cells from the aging scalp surface, appearing like snowflakes. This type of dandruff is a natural metabolic process of the human body.Using commercially available ZPT-containing anti-dandruff shampoos on this type of dandruff not only fails to eliminate it completely but may even increase it. This is because while ZPT kills fungi, it also damages normal scalp tissue cells, leading to excessive shedding of dead skin.
III. The Myth of Shampoo-Oil Combination
Currently, some shampoos contain anionic surfactants as their cleansing agents. However, hair oils widely regarded as the best hair care products are cationic surfactants. Mixing these two types triggers chemical reactions that prevent each from fully delivering its intended benefits. This has led to significant consumer disappointment regarding the effectiveness of shampoo-oil combinations.