BRILLIANT, CLEANSING, GENTLE SHAMPOOS WITHOUT SLS's!
First in an occasional series to explain the science behind Bonnie & Bailey’s organic, natural care products.
Oil versus Water
What
could be less alike than oil and water? Even chalk and cheese are more similar. Ever try to dissolve oils or grease in water? You’ll know that it’s impossible! Those two want absolutely nothing to do with each other. Water wants to keep to water, and oil to oil,
and there’s no third way.
Or is
there?
Surfactants - an everyday miracle
The
miracle of getting oils and grease to dissolve in water is performed every day
by you, me and everyone in the world, every time they use a soap or detergent. You use washing up liquid to get that
congealed grease of your crockery?
You’ve dissolved the grease in the washing water! How can something so everyday be so special?
All soaps
and shampoos contain surfactants. These amazing substances have the remarkable
property of enabling greasy materials to dissolve in water, through a process
called micelle formation. At the level of the infinitesimally small molecules that make up everything in the world, the surfactant has a water-hating long fatty tail, that combines with and wraps up the greasy dirt. It also has a water
loving head - so that the combination (called a micelle) can dissolve in
water! The cartoon on the right shows how this works!
Did you know? The scientific terms for water loving and water hating are the delightful words "hydrophilic" and "hydrophobic" - the latter can also be described as "lipophilic" or "grease-loving"! Useful information for all pub quizzers!
SLS's - the bad guys of the surfactant world
The bad news is that most shampoos contain very aggressive surfactants,
such as SLS (aka sodium dodecyl sulphonate). These carry a negative charge in the water loving head - a sulphonic acid, which is the second S of SLS. They are called anionic surfactants. SLS is a bulk chemical synthesized by treating lauryl alcohol with sulphur trioxide gas, oleum (aka fuming sulphuric acid), or chlorosulphonic acid, followed by treatment with caustic soda. Whilst cheap and effective, these anionic sufactants can strip the skin of vital oils, exacerbate underlying skin sensitivities, and also disrupt
processes in the skin cells. They are also excluded by the Soil Association
from any products that they certify.
The Organic Answer - Decyl Glucoside
We have formulated our shampoos with a
non-charged, neutral, naturally derived surfactant called DECYL GLUCOSIDE. This
is made from two natural materials - decanol (from plants) and the sugar glucose. It is
on the coveted GRAS list (a list of substances Generally Recognized As Safe),
is absolutely acceptable to the criterial of the Soil Association. Glucose, like most sugars, is highly water soluble, and forms the water-loving head and is
gentle, but highly effective. It is also rapidly biodegradable, returning to
the environmentally clean natural components of Glucose and decanol. You can therefore expect the
very best, sensitive care for your loved one!I hope you will indulge me, as a chemist, for putting in the rather nice chemical formula of Decyl Glucoside for your inspection!
Our Scientific Team
We at Bonnie & Bailey believe passionately in enlisting the best science in the cause of ethical, organic, natural care products. Our scientific team draws on the experience of two animal health professionals, with more than 50 years experience between them in the provision of medicines and products for the health and well being of pets.
What do you think? Let us have your comments and experiences!
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