Brands Our Story Private Brands Become a Retailer SynergyLabs Worldwide Synergy University Home | Shampoo Chemistry Synergy University Welcome to SynergyUniversity, your one-stop-shop for all things educational and informative when it comes to pet care products, and the ailments or conditions they serve. We’re excited to offer our customers valuable tips to help provide the best care for their beloved pets. Because, as we all know, they’re more than just pets…they’re family! Other Links The Chemistry of Shampoo Surfactant Classifications Classifications of Pet Shampoos & Sprays Tips for Bathing your Pet Pest Problems Facts about Dental Disease Canine Ear Infections Hot Spots and Irritated Skin White Papers Seasonal Vs Excessive Shedding Encyclopedia Terminology Encyclopedia Natural & Wellness Ingredients Encyclopedia Dietary & Nutritional Ingredients Encyclopedia: Medicated OTC & Registered Ingredients The Chemistry of Shampoo How are Shampoos Made? Shampoos are formulated by combining a surfactant (surface active agent aka detergent), such as sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, with a co-surfactant, such as cocamidopropyl betain, along with salt (sodium chloride – to adjust viscosity aka thickness), preservative(s) – to prolong shelf-life, fragrance, and other cosmetic and/or medicated ingredients, plus water. Most shampoos consist of anywhere between 75% – 95% water. Obviously, the higher the water content, the less of other beneficial ingredients, such as detergents, are being used. How do Surfactants Work? Surfactants are composed of a “head and a tail,” if you will. The first, a hydrophobic tail (not water-friendly – allows dirt, oil, and grime to attach), while the second, the hydrophilic head (water-friendly, allows the H2O to wash away the hydrophobic tail and all its attached contents). Surfactant Classifications 1. Anionic Negatively charged (think shampoos and laundry detergent) – strips down hair 2. Cationic Positively charged (think conditioners and laundry softener) – builds up hair 3. Zwitterrionic & Amphoteric Not charged (think baby shampoo) Classification of Pet Shampoo & Sprays 1. Emollients Moisturizing shampoos specifically designed to make the external layers of skin, the epidermis, softer & more pliable. Emollients are fats and oils such as coconut, olive, lanolin, paraffin, etc. 2. Humectants Like emollients, humectants also help to moisturize the hair the skin. However, humectants work by attracting H2O molecules, (they contain many hydrophilic groups), then binding and trapping them against the epidermis. Common humectants found in pet products are propylene glycol and glycerin. They also help with anti-static & anti-frizz. 3. Emulsions A shampoo which contains two or more liquids that are normally unmixable, for example, essential oils, and water. To ensure emulsion stability, we use our IKA homogenization pump to spontaneously solubilize oil molecules within a mixture of surfactants, co-surfactants, and suspending agents. 4. Insecticides These shampoos usually contain pyrethrin or pyrethroids (such as permethrin – which cannot be used on cats), and are used to kill fleas & ticks and treat parasitic infections. 5. Antiseborrheic Designed for pets with scales, skin flakes (dandruff), or those with excessively oily skin covered with flaky scales or crust. Products to treat, usually contain sulfur, salicylic acid and coal tar (can’t be used on cats.) 6. Antibacterial Used to treat bacterial infections with commonly used ingredients such as chlorhexidine, benzoyl peroxide, triclosan, or natural tea tree oil, etc. 7. Antifungal Used on pets with ringworm or yeast infections. Common antifungals include: miconazole, ketoconazole, chlorhexidine, or natural neem and tea tree oils. 8. Antipruitic Intended to provide relief of itching due to allergies and other conditions. Usually contains colloidal oatmeal, hydrocortisone, aloe vera, menthol, salicylic acid, etc. SynergyLabs Headquarters 888 SE 3rd Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33316 Manufacturing Facility 9479 Synergy Way Hildebran, NC, 28637 Products Where to Buy Company Careers Help Center More Blog Events International: +1.954.525.1133 Domestic: 954.525.1133 Fax: 954.525.6461 customerservice@synergylabs.com Copyright © 2021 Synergy Labs. All Rights Reserved. Terms of use Privacy Policy