To take a quick look at the development history of shampoo, we have to make a small detour into the origins of cosmetics. These are not an invention of the last couple of centuries. They have existed almost as long as there have been humans on our planet.

Since time immemorial, cosmetics have been important to men and women. This includes decorative cosmetics just as much as body care products. 

Surfactants play an important role in this lengthy history, because our ancestors quickly realized: water alone is not enough. It was necessary to find additives and ingredients that could actually clean. 

Saponins had a kind of pioneering role in this. Their cleansing properties have been known for thousands of years and are still in use today. Saponins are natural, plant-based surfactants that can be obtained from trees and plants. The category of deliberately produced surfactants was added around 2500 BC. The Sumerians living in Mesopotamia started making soaps from plant-based ash, animal ash and wood ash. 

Soap is not the end of this road 

If you were only aiming to clean your hair, the curd soap that was widespread at the time certainly did its job. It removed dirt, grease, dust and oils from your head, cleaned your hair and removed any unpleasant odors. However, the hair didn't feel nice after its “treatment”. Limescale deposits, which made the hair difficult to manage, were partly responsible for this. The alkaline pH of the soap did the rest. Remedial action: Lots of brushing and, if you could afford it, rinsing your hair with acidic essences.

Anyone who had a lot of time and money to spare would treat their hair with an extravagant blend of cognac and egg yolks every fortnight to make it shine. By the way, it was none other than Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837–1898) who made this mixture popular. She was the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph and better known as Sisi. “I’m a slave to my hair,” she supposedly once said. Considering that she is said to have spent up to three hours a day caring for her hair together with her personal court hairdresser Fanny Feifalik, we can imagine just how important her hair was to her. 

It would take until 1903 for a real innovation to take place. In 1903, many things happened. This was the year when Miele launched the first washing machine with a lid-mounted agitator, Harley-Davidson was founded, Ford’s first “Model T” rolled off the production line and the Wright brothers completed the first manned motorized flight.

Shampoo in a bag 

It was also the year that moved the needle for hair cleaning in a totally new direction. For a few pennies per bag, it became possible to buy a hair shampoo in powder form. You simply dissolved this new powder in water and applied it to your hair. The first "all-in-one washing solution" for hair had arrived. The man who invented it? Hans Schwarzkopf. You will doubtless recognize the logo of his products: a black head ("Schwarzkopf" means "black head" in English). 

Hans Schwarzkopf continued to drive new developments. As soon as 1927, he caused another sensation when the first liquid shampoo conquered the European market. Another world premier followed in 1933: Schwarzkopf launched a soap-free/alkali-free shampoo in the form of “Onalkal”. The route to today’s products was mapped out. 

In the early 1930s, the chemical industry began to develop anionic surfactants on an industrial scale. Shampoos were among their first applications. More information here.

Today’s range of products for all needs and tastes 

While the selection was very limited in the early days, the number of available shampoos has grown steadily, keeping pace with our scientific knowledge about the subjects of hair and scalps. Whether you have dandruff, a greasy scalp or colored hair: the right shampoo is available for almost every consumer. Customers are increasingly looking for product solutions that offer both well-being benefits and innovative textures. Want more volume? No problem. Here, too, product formulators have found the right solutions.

Shampoo is part of our everyday life 

Some of you may still remember this: in the past, washing your hair wasn't always pleasant. Even though the shampoo came out of the bottle and no longer had to be mixed or cooked in the kitchen, it was still pretty harsh. It literally burned your eyes and you had to scrape and rub the foam that looked so good off your face. 

Thanks to science and research, this no longer needs to be the case today. Although sulfate surfactants with their great cleansing properties are still part of the recipe, manufacturers can combine different surfactants and add different care and other ingredients in order to market products that a) are very good at cleaning, and b) feel very pleasant on the skin. With the right formulation, i.e. the right recipe, the sulfate surfactants are even used in baby and children’s shampoos without causing any tears. Since not only the formulation and composition of shampoos are different, but also what people want in terms of sensations and skin care, you may well find that one or other shampoo is more compatible with your skin. Sometimes you just need to test and try them out for yourself. 

Developments never stop 

In addition to customer requirements, the regulatory authorities also have a major influence on product development. Environmentally harmful substances are under close scrutiny and subject to bans. This is a situation that BASF has been dealing with for years. We apply our experience and passion to our research and work on product solutions, so that we can satisfy our own desire for sustainability while still achieving high product performance combined with product quality. Our researchers and experts are constantly analyzing trends and what consumers want. They are pioneers in the development of new formulations and assisting manufacturers on all issues relating to applications. 

Personal care products should not only work, they should also be enjoyable and give people a good feeling all round. Shampoos are no exception. Surfactants linked to “burning” sensations should only be an issue for firefighters. Why? Because they and their foam are successfully used to extinguish fires.