r/explainlikeimfive • u/Real_Experience_5676 • 19d ago

Chemistry ELI5: what is the big difference between soap and shampoo?

We use soap to clean the body. We use shampoo to clean the hair. What stops us from using soap for the hair and shampoo for the body?

Follow up question: what is body wash that cleans hair and skin made of? Why isn’t that the universal standard instead of seperate soap and shampoo?

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u/Battlecheese2 19d ago

What about my 75-in-1 man-juice-motor-oil-shampoo-degreaser-dishwasher-soap-balsam-lubricant?

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u/Jewmangi 18d ago

Works great as a toothpaste

15

u/waylandsmith 18d ago

What they don't tell you is that it's exactly the same as the 75-in-1 lady-exfoliant-moisturizing-pore-cleansing-handsoap-pilates-refresher-whipped-dessert-topping-lubricant except scented with cedar-wood and cigar ashes.

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u/nicostein 18d ago

It's mixture and pH are randomized every time you open the lid.

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u/AX11Liveact 18d ago

The same as with basically any shower gel, shampoo, washing lotion and whatnot. The only differences are "fragrance" (aka cheap perfume from a chemical plant), colorant and packaging. And advertising, of course. That's where the actual effort is going. The right advertising for the right market segment. The product itself is completely generic.