New York State Cosmetology Practice Exam

The primary function of a shampoo is to cleanse the hair and scalp. Shampoos are formulated with surfactants and cleansing agents designed to remove dirt, oil, product buildup, and impurities from the hair and scalp. This cleansing process is essential for maintaining healthy hair and scalp conditions, as it helps to prevent issues such as dandruff and excess oiliness.

While conditioning the hair, restoring hair color, and styling are important aspects of hair care, they are not the primary purpose of shampoo. Conditioning products are specifically designed to moisturize and detangle hair, while hair color treatments are meant to alter the pigment of the hair. Styling products are used to achieve a particular look or hold, but these functions fall outside of the basic cleansing role that shampoo serves.