Tomorrow, October 20, we celebrate “Shampoo Day.” So, the next time you wash your hair, make sure to enjoy the moment to the fullest.
Hair cleansing products have long become an essential part of daily personal hygiene for many people—just like shower gel, deodorant, and water. Almost all of us use shampoo every day or at least several times a week, yet very few truly appreciate it.
That’s why we’d like to take the upcoming “Shampoo Day” as an opportunity to introduce you to the success story of shampoo. After all, it has been a long journey before shampoo was honored with its very own day.
- The now Germanized English term shampoo originates from Hindi and originally referred to a form of head massage in which various plant-based oils and powders were used.
- Historically, people initially used water and sometimes regular soap to wash their hair. However, this was not very gentle on the scalp or the sensitive eye area. On top of that, hair often appeared dull and lifeless after washing with soap.
- In the 19th century, English barbers began boiling soap flakes with water and herbal essences to give hair shine and fragrance.
- The first known shampoo producer by name was the British Kasey Herbert.
- As early as 1903, Hans Schwarzkopf marketed a powdered hair cleanser in a Berlin pharmacy. It took another 24 years before he developed the first liquid shampoo in 1927.
- In 1932, more skin-friendly alkyl sulfates were introduced to the market as a substitute for soap.
- Until the 1960s, hair cleansing products were still sold as white powder or as cream in tubes.
- With the development of alkyl ether sulfates in the 1960s, highly skin-compatible products became available for the first time. At the same time, the invention of the plastic bottle made affordable hair care products accessible to a wide audience.
- The continued success story of shampoo—leading up to its own celebratory day—is reflected today in an almost endless variety of products.
Due to today’s wide range of shampoos, we naturally expect our hair to be shiny, full, and silky at all times—preferably every single day.
In doing so, we often forget that besides the right care products, other factors such as health and nutrition also have a major impact on our hair.
Yes, our hair can be quite revealing. It easily shows how we are really doing. When we feel unwell or are coming down with something, it often looks dull and lifeless. But when we are healthy, fit, and feeling good, our hair reflects that with shine and vitality.
To make sure your hair looks great—even on a bad day—here are a few tips for your next hair wash:
- Try our paraben- and mineral oil-free Herbacin herbal shampoos with soothing herbal and care ingredients
- Do not rinse your hair with water that is too hot—and shampoo only once
- Finish with a splash of cold water—it may take some effort, but it adds shine and resilience
- And most importantly: do not rub your hair dry; instead, wrap it in a towel and gently squeeze out the water
With that in mind, we wish you a “hairy” happy Shampoo Day—and maybe the next time you reach for your shampoo bottle, you’ll remember just how great this invention really is!