Shampoo manufacturers love using clever sounding science, or statistics in their adverts Here's a couple of statements made by companies and why I think they're rubbish.
Head and Shoulders
"Up to 100%" is about as vague as you can get, this statement includes making no change at all. You could argue that if you have more dandruff after using their product then their statement is also true.
Garnier Nutrisse
See Head and Shoulders
Pantene Pro-V
Well that's good to know, as long as it looks healthy. Next time I need to see to a doctor I'll send him a photo so he can see if I look healthy. How can something which is made of dead cells be "healthy" anyway?
The hair that protrudes from the skin is made of dead cells, it cannot technically be repaired. Hair has a scaly appearance at a microscopic level, the more damage your hair is subjected to the scalier it gets, making it rougher and less shiny. You can coat it with things to make it smoother like the additives in shampoos and conditioners, or the oils naturally secreted by your scalp. These are temporary effects though and will wash out, so its not really "repaired". If a plank of wood has chips or a crack in it applying a coat of varnish wouldn't be deemed to be a"repair", although it might make it look better. Indecently a Pantene advert was banned in 2005 for making unsubstantiated claims about how it could increase the strength of your hair.
Pro Vitamin B5
It sounds awfully scientific, its got the word vitamin in it, our bodies need vitamins to stay fit and healthy, so it must be good for my hair right? Wrong! Your hair is dead! It doesn't need vitamins, and anyway "Pro vitamin B5" isn't even a vitamin. Otherwise know as Panthenol its a coating which sticks to the outside of the hair fibres, making them shiny and protected from further damage.
Tre semmé
Any effect from vitamin E or plant extracts is most likely down to providing a shiny, protective coating for the hairs. Although there are some claims that taking vitamin E as a dietary supplement can improve your hair, however a recent study by the European Food Safety Authority showed: "On the basis of the data presented, the Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the dietary intake of vitamin E and maintenance of normal hair."
In summary...
- "Up to 100%" doesn't mean anything
- Hair cannot be repaired - only covered in something
- Rubbing vitamins or mashed up plant on your hair doesn't make it any healthier, it's dead - which is kind of the opposite of "healthy".
If only someone could come up with a shampoo that stops you getting "hat hair", you never know how messy your hair will be until you take your hat off, but by taking your hat off you will force it into a state of either messy or non-messy - A phenomenon known as "Schrödinger's Hat".
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