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Simply Suds Research Paper

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Lather, sometimes called soapsuds or simply suds is a frothy, white mass of bubbles that results when a cleansing substance or soap is combined with water. It is widely believed that the more lather a product generates, the better it is at cleaning. This belief, which is promoted through the marketing of products is incorrect, however, having become accustomed to copious amounts of lather in our beauty products, it has become the norm to expect it and to think more highly of products based (sometimes) solely on how much lather they generate.
Perhaps our love of lather begins in infancy and childhood when we are enticed to our baths by the presence of lots of white bubbles and spend countless minutes popping and blowing them. Perhaps we take this childlike wonder and love of bubbles into adulthood because we are apt to wonder just how clean or hair or skin is if our shampoo, soap or bod wash did not create lots of foam. Many of us go through life never realizing that lather is not necessary in order to get things clean. More often than not, lathering agents are added to products for the sole purpose of satisfying the expectations of consumers. The companies that make our personal care and beauty products …show more content…

Each surfactant is different and so produces different amounts of lather. Surfactants are added purely for purely for cosmetic purposes and are not required for getting our hair or skin clean. Lathering agents such as MEA (monoethanolamine), DEA (diethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine) are very common and in addition to creating the white bubbles we love to see, also help to make products such as shampoos thicker. These foaming agents have been classified as potential carcinogens. They are frequently used because they are inexpensive and allow manufacturing companies to make more money. The risk of cancer, however, is far too serious a consequence for unnecessary

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