Shampoo is a
hair care product, typically in the form of a viscous liquid, that is used for cleaning
hair. Less commonly, shampoo is available in a bar form (like a
soap bar). Shampoo is used by applying it to wet hair, massaging the product into the hair, and then rinsing it out. Some users may follow a shampooing with the use of
hair conditioner. The goal of using shampoo is to remove the unwanted build-up in the hair without stripping out so much
sebum as to make hair unmanageable. Shampoo is generally made by combining a
surfactant, most often
sodium lauryl sulfate or
sodium laureth sulfate, with a co-surfactant, most often
cocamidopropyl betaine in
water. Specialty shampoos are available for people with
dandruff, color-treated hair, gluten or wheat allergies, an interest in using an "all-natural", "
organic", "
botanical" or "plant-derived" product, and
infants and young children ("baby shampoo" is less irritating). There are also shampoos intended for animals that may contain
insecticides or other medications for treatment of skin conditions or
parasite infestations such as
fleas.