WHAT IS SHAMPOO LATHER AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Shampoo lather is part of what makes washing your hair a pleasant experience, but what exactly creates this lather and what is it for?
What creates lather?
Lather is basically bubbles of air surrounded by a liquid- the diluted shampoo. How much a particular shampoo lathers, and what the lather is like, depends on the ingredients used – not all shampoos create a lot of lather.
The cleansing agents, or ‘surfactants’ in a shampoo are what keep the bubbles stable, so they don’t pop as quickly or easily.
When you add water and massage the shampoo into your hair and scalp, you mix air into the diluted shampoo, creating the lather. The surfactants help the air bubbles stay dissolved (un-popped) inside the diluted shampoo.