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shower shampoo

A bottle of shampoo is held in the hand in the shower and the product is dispensed onto the hand.

What is a shower shampoo?

A shower shampoo is a 2-in-1 combination product that combines the properties of a shower gel and a hair shampooin a single product. It was developed to reduce the amount of cleaning required—particularly practical for people who shower frequently or prefer an uncomplicated care routine.

In terms of structure, shower shampoo is similar to both shower gel and shampoo: both have a gel-like consistency and a skin-friendly pH value (typically around 5.5), which corresponds to the natural balance of the skin and scalp (approx. 4.7–5.7).

At second glance, however, there are important differences in ingredients and mode of action that take into account the respective requirements of skin and hair.

 

 

Differences from shower gel or hair shampoo

Similarities

  • Consistency: usually viscous and gel-like
  • pH value: skin-neutral and gentle on the skin
  • Ingredient groups: surfactants, thickeners, antioxidants, pH regulators, fragrances, and colorants

Differences

  • Tenside intensity: Classic hair shampoos often use stronger surfactants than shower gels.
  • Care ingredients:
    • Shampoos often contain conditioners, silicones, organic acids, protein derivatives, or special active ingredients for dry, damaged, or flaky scalps.
    • Shower shampoos tend to contain simple moisturizers and fewer hair-specific care ingredients.
  • Cleansing power: Shower shampoos are deliberately formulated to be milder so as not to irritate the skin or hair.

 

 

Why shower shampoo should not always be used as a substitute

  • Shower gel as shampoo: Hair can look greasy, stringy, or dull because it lacks the necessary care.
  • Shampoo as shower gel: can leave the skin feeling dry and tight because shampoo formulations are more degreasing.

 

 

Advantages of shower shampoo

A good shower shampoo:

  • is practical – one product for skin and hair
  • saves time and space in the bathroom
  • is suitable for normal skin and uncomplicated hair
  • is particularly appreciated by athletes, frequent showerers, and men

A shower shampoo is ideal when it strikes the right balance between gentle skin cleansing and adequate hair care.

 

 

Shower shampoo for babies and children

There are also special shower shampoos for babies and children under 12 years of age. Children’s skin and hair have special requirements:

Important properties

  • Extra mild surfactants: mostly sugar-based (glucoside), which are very skin-friendly and come from renewable raw materials
  • Lower surfactant concentration: reduces skin and eye irritation
  • Mild fragrances: unproblematic and pleasant for children
  • No critical additives: e.g. PEGs, sulfates, acrylates, formaldehyde releasers

Safety in use

Children tend to put products in their mouths. Therefore, denatonium benzoate is often used – the most bitter substance known, which prevents accidental ingestion. However, this active ingredient is prohibited in natural cosmetics.

Care effect

Children’s shower shampoos are formulated so that after washing, the hair is:

  • easy to comb
  • untangled
  • not knotted

Some conventional brands use polyquaternium-10 as a conditioner. Plant-based alternatives include:

  • Guar derivatives
  • Hydrolyzed wheat or pea proteins
  • Argan or broccoli seed oil
  • Coconut glucoside

Shower shampoo for children is also suitable for sensitive adult skin and fine hair.

 

 

Structure and ingredients of shower shampoos

Thickeners

Shower shampoos often contain synthetic, water-soluble polymers to give them consistency. Their environmental compatibility is assessed differently:

  • Federal Environment Agency: water-soluble polymers are not considered microplastics
  • NGOs: also consider gel-like or nano-sized polymers to be microplastics

Since these substances enter the environment via wastewater and can be difficult to break down, they are usually not used in certified natural cosmetics.

Alternative thickeners

  • Pectin
  • Cellulose
  • Xanthan
  • Alginate
  • Carrageenan
  • Gellan

 

 

Ingredients that are best avoided

For skin- and environmentally-friendly products, it is advisable to avoid the following substances:

Emulsifiers & surfactants

  • PEG / PEG derivatives: dissolve makeup, but can weaken the skin barrier
  • Sulfates (e.g., SLS): highly cleansing, but potentially drying
  • Polyquaternium compounds: difficult to break down and can leave film effects

Film formers & softeners

  • Acrylates: gel and film formers, some classified as microplastics
  • Paraffins / mineral oils: can be harmful to the skin and the environment
  • Silicones: make the skin feel smooth, but are not biodegradable

Other problematic substances

  • Formaldehyde releasers: can cause allergies and irritation
  • Organic halogen compounds: e.g. Dichlorobenzyl alcohol – environmentally problematic
  • Diethyl phthalates: Plasticizers that are potentially harmful

→ Clean beauty products do not contain these groups of substances.

 

 

Summary

A shower shampoo is a practical, versatile care option that cleanses both skin and hair – particularly suitable for:

  • Daily use
  • uncomplicated hair and skin types
  • people with active lifestyles

For sensitive, dry, or demanding skin and hair types, it is worth choosing a specific product.

 

Cosmacon develops skin-friendly cleansing formulations with minimal, selected ingredients – from mild children’s products to functional shower shampoos for adults. Contact us!

 

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✨ Our partner Tojo Cosmetics offers innovative, active ingredient-rich private label products – quickly available, high quality and perfect for brands that want to impress with passion and quality.