Shampoo chemicals
Written: Oct 10 '02 (Updated Jul 25 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Finest marketing I have ever seen on a bottle.
Cons: Contains antifreeze.
The Bottom Line: A typical shampoo formula, except for the "kangaroo paw flower extract." Don't assume all the extracts are there to improve your hair.
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| snsh's Full Review: Aussie Mega Shampoo |
What's outside the bottle:
Aussie Mega has the most beautiful package of any hair-care product. The printing is beautifully screened and small kangaroos are molded into the plastic.
Even the name "Aussie Mega" sounds so cool. Supposedly Tom Redmond, the cowboy founder of Redmond Products, Inc., originally made a trip to Australia, and he returned to the USA inspired to sell hair conditioner. His early marketing used pictures of all his children and grandchildren wearing bathrobes -- wholesome enough for the whole family. He eventually sold the profitable company, and today Aussie is a Clairol brand.
What's inside the bottle:
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Cocamide MEA, Papaya Extract (carica papaya), Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract (anigozanthos flavidus), Kelp Extract (macrocystis pyrifera), Chamomile Extract (anthemis nobilis), Indian Cress Extract (tropaeolum majus), Rosemary Extract (rosmarinus officinalis), Ginseng Extract (panax ginseng), Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Ricinoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Styrene/Acrylates/Divinylbenzene Copolymer, Ammonium Nonoxynol-4-Sulfate, Methylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Sodium Chloride, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Red No. 4
What's inside the bottle, categorized by their presumed function:
Cleans:
Sodium Laureth Sulfate - surfactant
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - surfactant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine - foam stabilizer
Cocamide MEA - foam stabilizer, thickener
Propylene Glycol - emulsifier, detangler, antifreeze
Ammonium Nonoxynol-4-Sulfate - surfactant
Such cleaning agents are typical for shampoo formulas. The foaming agents don't actually clean hair, but are added for marketing because we tend to associate foam with cleaning.
Rinses out without doing much:
Water
Citric Acid - pH adjustment
Sodium Styrene/Acrylates/Divinylbenzene Copolymer - opacifier
Methylparaben - preservative
Methylchloroisothiazolinone - preservative
Sodium Chloride - thickener
FD&C Yellow No. 5
FD&C Red No. 4
Such preservatives are typical for shampoo formulas.
Deposits on hair:
Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate - conditioning agent
Ricinoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate - antistatic agent
Glycerin - detangler
Aloe Barbadensis Extract - conditioning agent
Fragrance - and lots of it
Such residues are typical for shampoo formulas, although this particular blend is probably unique. The label suggests that these residues will not be confused with buildup.
Mystery ingredients:
Papaya Extract (carica papaya) - enzymatic digestive aid
Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract (anigozanthos flavidus) - ???
Kelp Extract (macrocystis pyrifera) - ???
Chamomile Extract (anthemis nobilis) - ???
Indian Cress Extract (tropaeolum majus) - ???
Rosemary Extract (rosmarinus officinalis) - ???
Ginseng Extract (panax ginseng) - ???
I'm very skeptical that the mystery ingredients actually do anything to your hair. Perhaps their function is psychological; we tend to assume that if something is natural, it must be good for you. We tend to assume that natural molecules are better than synthetic molecules, in spite of our education in chemistry.
My experience:
I used to use Aussie Mega, 15 years ago. It seemed to clean okay, though the lingering scent was very strong. At the time our water was extrememly hard.
Conclusion:
If Aussie Mega "works" for your hair, great. If you like the fragrance, great. But you would be wise to see beyond the marketing -- Australian potpourri probably does not do much to clean your hair, but sodium laureth sulfate does. Read and think about the ingredients label before you get caught up in Clairol's marketing.
I would also say that Aussie Mega shampoo is more appropriate for consumers who use a separate conditioner than for consumers who don't use a separate conditioner. This is because Aussie Mega shampoo contains a fair amount of residue. Why attempt to deposit residue while trying to clean your hair? It is more sensible to me to wait until after you clean your hair.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
snsh
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Location: New England
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 7 members
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