Shampoo – do we really need to use it? 我们真的需要用洗发水吗？

 

　　如今，市面上有多种多样的洗发水可供选择，有许多都声称能改善发质。但洗发水真能做到这一点吗？本期节目讨论洗发产品的原理，以及使用特定类型的洗发水对改善发质是否真的有用。

　　词汇：toiletries 洗漱用品

　　Buying shampoo can be overwhelming – there are so many brands to choose from, across a huge range of prices. Some brands promise to repair and nourish our hair, while others promise to strengthen and add volume. But are any of these claims true? Do we even need shampoo at all?

　　Since long before shampoo was invented – some say in India – our bodies have been producing sebum – an oil-like substance. Sebum stops our skin from getting dry, manages the health of our scalp and makes our hair shiny. But it also collects dirt, and, if left untouched for too long, sebum can cause our hair to become greasy¹. There are no disadvantages from a health perspective to letting our hair be greasy, says Eleanore Richardson, Trichologist at Fulham Scalp and Hair Clinic, but many people choose to wash their hair regularly for aesthetic² reasons.

　　And so we reach for the shampoo bottle. Shampoos contain a group of chemicals called surfactants. They grab the dirt and grease from the surface of our hair, meaning when we rinse³ away the shampoo, we also wash away the grease and dirt. But, as Laura Waters, who's a Professor of Pharmaceutical⁴ Analysis in the School of Applied⁵ Sciences at Huddersfield University, points out, 'some surfactants work too well' and take the natural oils out of the hair, as well. More expensive shampoos may contain less harsh surfactants, but – adds Laura Waters – the type of shampoo doesn't really matter. 'It's on our hair very briefly⁶ and gets washed away'. It's the conditioners and styling products that we use after the shampoo that make a bigger difference to the texture⁷ and feel of our hair.

　　Of course, the more we put onto our hair, the more we need to cleanse⁸ it off, creating a vicious circle. So, yes, it seems we do have a need for shampoo, but we also shouldn't expect it to be a miracle cure. And, finally, next time you're in a shampoo aisle⁹, remember that hair is made up of dead protein cells and that, sadly, not even the most expensive shampoo can bring them back to life.

　　词汇表

　　brand 品牌

　　repair 修复

　　nourish 滋养

　　strengthen 使强韧，强化

　　volume 数量

　　sebum 皮脂

　　oil-like substance 类似油类物质

　　scalp 头皮

　　shiny 有光泽的

　　greasy 油腻的

　　aesthetic 美观的

　　chemical 化学品

　　surfactant 表面活性剂

　　surface 表层

　　rinse 冲洗，清洗

　　harsh 刺激性强的

　　conditioner 护发素

　　styling product 美发定型产品

　　texture （发）质，质地

　　cleanse 清洁，清洗

　　miracle cure 灵丹妙药

 

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