Even after rinsing my hair very well sometimes, when I apply conditioner it starts to form a lather. What causes this and why?
How can the conditioner work if it is acting like another shampoo?
2006-11-20 00:50:07 · 7 answers · asked by fsufaneva 2 in Beauty & Style ➔ Hair
OK, first, a substance called surfactant is responsible for lather formation. Surfactant molecules have a charged head and a long fatty acid tail. Hair conditioners usually contain cationic surfactant (the type found in fabric softeners) as opposed to negative surfactants used in shampoos. The surface of hair has negative charges, so the positively charged molecules adhere to the hair surface and don't wash out completely, and the fatty acid part of this surfactants gives the hair a new smoother surface. So, the presence of positive surfactants makes conditioners lather.
2006-11-20 01:40:12 · answer #1 · answered by DC 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are a few possible explainations to this somewhat odd problem:
1) You could be using too much conditioner
2) You could be working in the conditioner too vigourously, causing it to lather
3) Check the conditioner's label and see if it has the ingredient cocamide mea in it; this is a common ingredient used in shampoos to create lather.
Having said that, just because a conditioner lathers doesn't mean that it can't be effective. The only reason shampoos lather up is because they have ingredients to make them lather; has basically nothing to do with the detergents (surfactants) in them.
2006-11-20 09:03:08 · answer #2 · answered by The fiercest: Jenny 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never had a conditioner lather up. You either did not rinse the shampoo out of your hair before you applied the conditioner or it's a bad batch, or really cheap.
2006-11-20 15:43:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try a different brand of conditioner, that def should not be happening! You could try a leave-on spray conditioner that wouldnt lather but conditioner shouldn`t anyway!? Rinse, rinse and rinse some more, especially if your hair is particularly thick. Its good to change brands every now and then anyway to prevent build up of product.
2006-11-20 09:07:29 · answer #4 · answered by sandy g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never had a conditioner lather like shampoo. Rinse your head more and make sure you are picking up the conditioner bottle and not the shampoo again.
2006-11-20 08:53:30 · answer #5 · answered by julygirl75038 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should rinse a little longer and towel dry your hair BEFORE you condition it. it will help the conditioner work better!
2006-11-20 08:57:41 · answer #6 · answered by lilbitt_637 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've never heard of this before. Are you sure you are using conditioner?
2006-11-20 08:59:17 · answer #7 · answered by sheeny 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋