What is in Sean's Baby Wash?

Surfactants clean hair by stripping sebum from hair shafts. Sebum is the natural oily coating that tends to collect dirt, styling products, scalp flakes, and the like. It is attracted to the hydrophobic end of the surfactant, then washed away when a shampooer rinses. Surfactants determine how gently hair will be cleaned--harsh cleaners can overstrip hair and dry skin.

Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is classed as a semi-synthetic Surfactant/Foaming Agent. Origin: Semisynthetic compound derived from coconut oil obtained from the kernels of palm. Says the “govmint”: We recommend patch testing cocamidopropyl betaine 1% aq. routinely in hairdressers with dermatitis of the hands, and in all patients suspected of suffering from cosmetic allergy.

Nonionics such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) esters can play a number of roles in a shampoo system. For example, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate promotes mild cleansing, whereas PEG-150 distearate is used to build viscosity

Sodium Laureth Sulfate: is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). It is an inexpensive and very effective foamer. Funny Cancer rumor Irritation due to SLES was convincingly detectable only after 7 days if continuous exposure in skin tests.

Tetrasodium EDTA: a chelating agent – reduces water hardness by complexing metal ions, safe as used in cosmetic formulations.

Sodium Chloride: table salt used to thicken the mixture if the main surfactants are sodium lauryl sulfates.

Polyquaternium-10: is used as a hair conditioner, and anti-static agent for hair. It makes hair less prone to static electricity buildup by making it slightly conductive. Safe in rinse off products.

Quaternium-15: antimicobrial preservative. May release formaldehyde, but safe at <1%. style=""> Although ISP is big into biocides these days, not one is named ISPicide – yet.

Citric Acid: Used as a chelating agent to reduce water hardness. Guvmint says: citric acid is not judged to be a substance that presents a hazard to the environment. First synthetically produced by Pfizer for the U.S. World War I effort!