简单的说，可以将常见洗发水里的成份分成八大类：
第一大类： 酸性成份
碱性制剂使头发干燥，所以一般使用让头发可以光亮的酸性制剂。
Acids: the innate alkalinity of soaps and detergents can make hair look dull because the hair cuticle swells and gets rough in an alkaline solution, so most shampoo manufacturers add acids to brighten hair’s shine. The pH of most shampoos is usually 6.5 to 7.5.
* ascorbic acid
* citric acid
第二大类：清洁剂
前2种就是先前讨论过的SLS和SLES了，简称硫酸钠，全名：月桂醇聚醚硫酸酯钠，又可称为十二烷基硫酸钠。比较强劲的表面活性剂。比较温和的是第三种disodium cocoamphodiacetate，二钠椰油两性二醋酸酯，是一种两性界面活性剂，也是可以和氨基酸相比的较好的界面活性剂，无刺激，清洁作用。常见于婴儿洗发用品。
Detergents: these remove oils from your hair and let them dissolve away in water.
* ammonium lauryl sulfate
* ammonium laureth sulfate
* disodium cocoamphodiacetate
* sodium lauryl sulfate
第三大类：起泡泡
Lather builders: suds improve shampoo’s cleaning action.
* cocamide mea
* cocamidopropyl betaine
第四大类：保护
Conditioners: these chemicals put a coating on the hair shafts to make them thicker, smoother, softer, easier to comb, and less prone to static; they also strengthen the hair’s cuticle.
* allantoin*
* ammonium xylenesulfonate
* dimethicone*
* glycerin
* hydrolyzed collagen*
* tricetylmonium chloride
第五大类：增稠
Thickeners: these add body to the shampoo and some also act as weak conditioners.
* xanthan gum*
* cetyl alcohol*
* hydroxyelthylcellulose
* stearyl alcohol*
* sodium chloride
* sodium citrate
第六大类：防腐
Preservatives: these keep down bacterial and fungal growth.
* diazolidinyl urea
* disodium edta
* methylisothiazolinone
* methylparaben
* propylparaben
第七大类：防晒
Sunscreens: ultraviolet radiation can damage your hair and scalp.
* octyl salicylate
* PABA
第八大类：其它
Other Stuff
* Glycol distearate gives pearly-looking shampoos like Pert their sheen
* Botanicals such as tea tree oil
* Anti-dandruff ingredients such as zinc, pyrithione, and alpha hydroxy acids
洗发水中诉求的蛋白，植物精华等，其实随着水会一起洗去，会让洗发水价格升高，但并不能实际的帮助头发。真正起作用的其实是上面这些成份。只要主要成份真正的作到它的工作：清洁，让你的头发看起来健康，并不会危害头皮及人体健康，那么就是一款好的洗发水。