When I'm in the shower after a long day, I often think of strange questions. Just the other day I asked myself why shampoo, shower gel and the like actually foam. Are you interested in that too? Here comes the answer!
Do you know this feeling: The more shampoo, conditioner or bath additives you use, the cleaner you feel. It's not uncommon to lather up from head to toe.
And then suddenly the question arises: Why does shampoo actually foam when it comes into contact with water?
The little bubbles bring joy not only to children in the bath, but also to me. It's fun to hide among the fragrant mountains of foam.
Let's see where they actually come from.
So easy you can make shower gel yourself!
Surfactants provide foam
Foam is nothing more than a collection of small soap bubbles.
Surfactants are responsible for the formation of foam. They are considered washing-active substances and are used in very many care products.
Those who had Latin in school may remember that the word "Tensus" means "tense".
What do surfactants do in care products
Surfactants are active ingredients that ensure that the surface tension of water is reduced. This enables them to wet objects better. At the same time, they dissolve dirt in fibers and on surfaces, says the website of the Industry Association for Personal Care and Detergents (IKW).
Surfactants can be used to combine two liquids that would normally separate - such as water and oil.
Surfactants have the special feature that they have two sides. A "water-loving" side and a "greasy" side that turns away from water.
You may know this from dishwashing liquid:
When you put it into the water, a thin film immediately spreads on the water surface. The water-loving side of the surfactant points downward - toward the water. The greasy side points away from the water - upwards. If you now mix the surface, foam will form in the form of many small soap bubbles.
Let's look at this again very briefly using soap bubbles. When you dip the ring into soapy water, a very thin skin of soapy water forms. Unlike rinse water, the soap film surrounds the water from both sides. So the soap film is on the outside and the water is on the inside. If you now blow gently, a soap bubble is created.
The soap bubble thus consists of three layers: Inside and outside are the surfactants and in between is the water.
Do not throw away! This is how you recycle soap scraps!
Surfactants in cosmetics
What we know as foam is actually a large number of small air bubbles strung together. Surfactants are also responsible for the fact that they do not burst immediately.
More precisely, the reaction of surfactants with air and water. The consistency of the foam depends on which ingredients are contained in your shower gel. That's why some foams last longer than others.
But surfactants can do much more than just generate foam. In cosmetics, they are used in pretty much every product. In shampoos, shower gels and soaps, they ensure that we can wash grease and dirt particles off our bodies with water. Surfactants in toothpaste ensure that the cream can be spread evenly in the mouth.
To browse further:
* Advertising & affiliate links: Our website is financed by advertising and affiliate links. As a partner of linked stores (e.g. Amazon) we earn from qualified sales.
Read more
