Surfactants
A surfactant (Surface Acting Agent) is a compound which lowers the surface tension of a liquid. When dissolved in water the lower surface tension makes it easier to lift dirt and grease, and help to keep the grime suspended in the dirty water instead of settling back down to the surface that's being cleaned. Surfactants are the main cleansing agents in dish and hand soap, laundry detergents, degreasers, car washes etc.... They are used in haircare to clean the hair and scalp of dirt and excess oils. Here are some surfactants that are commonly used in shampoos:

Cocamidopropyl Betaine Surfactant

Decyl Glucoside Surfactant

AS40 Surfactant - Liquid

BSB Surfactant - Liquid

Steol CS-230 PCK Surfactant - Liquid

Plantapon TF Surfactant

Lamesoft PO 65

Plantapon SF (NA) Surfactant
Vitamins and Proteins
Vitamins and proteins are a very important component in hair care, they are added to help strengthen the hair shaft and protect from damage. Common nutrients added to hair care are:

Aloe Vera Extract Liquid - 100%

Glycerin Vegetable Cosmetic 99.5%

Panthenol Pro-Vitamin B5 Liquid

Silk Amino Acids

Vitamin E - T-50 Antioxidant Tocopherol Blend

Glycerin Vegetable USP 99.7%
Emollients and Emulsifiers
Emollients are essential in hair care for their ability to soften, detangle, and condition the hair, whereas emulsifiers perform the same function while blending the oil and water parts of a conditioner together. Here are some common emollients and emulsifiers:
Specialty Ingredients
One of the advantages of making your own hair products is the freedom it allows to customize every aspect of the finished product. Certain ingredients can be added to maximize the benefits of the end product, here are a few that are commonly used in hair care:

Polysorbate 20

Seaweed Extract

Rosemary Liquid Extract

Green Tea Liquid Extract

Turmeric Liquid Extract

Grapeseed Liquid Extract

Isopropyl Myristate (IPM)

Black Currant Liquid Extract

Cornsilk Liquid Extract

Yucca Liquid Extract

Black Goji Liquid Extract

Green Coffee Bean Liquid Extract

Blueberry Liquid Extract

Cranberry Liquid Extract
