Valeri is vexed…Body wash can cost $4 or more. Some shampoos cost .66 to .99 cents. Is there that much of a difference between the two products to justify the price? I use the shampoo for body wash.
Left Brain’s bubbly reply…
Great question Valeri and an astute observation for even considering the possibility. The
truth is that shampoos and body washes are so similar that they can be used interchangeably. In fact, in the early days of body washes it was not uncommon for a company to take its shampoo formula, put it in a different bottle, change the label and call it a body wash.
Shampoo & Body Wash Similarities
Let’s look at some of the things that the two products have in common.
1. Water & detergent. Shampoos and body washes are designed to clean which means they’re mostly water and detergent. And for cleaning oil off of surfaces nothing beats surfactants. Body washes like Dove, Olay and Herbalessences all use Sodium Laureth Sulfate. This is the same surfactant that many shampoos use.
2. Fragrance & Color. No differences here. Body wash and shampoo use the same ingredients to make the product smell good and look pretty.
3. Conditioning ingredients. Since detergents can be a bit harsh, ingredients are added to improve the after-feel of hair and skin. Often body washes and shampoos use the same types of ingredients.
Shampoo & Body Wash Differences
While shampoos and body washes are quite similar there are some important differences.
1. Body wash uses less harsh detergents. Since skin is generally more sensitive than hair, body wash formulas are made with slightly less detergent and also less harsh detergents. The low cost shampoos use SLS or ALS which are excellent cleaners but can be drying to skin.
2. Different conditioning ingredients. Some of the ingredients that conditioner hair can also provide a nice feel on skin. However, many will not and this is often a key difference between shampoos & body washes.
A great comparison is to look at the list of ingredients of the Herbal Essences Body Wash versus their Shampoo. See the similar ingredients?
Companies have actually picked up on the similarities. In the Old Spice High Endurance Body Wash they show a guy washing his hair and body with the same product.
Beauty Brains Bottom Line
Shampoos clean and so do body washes. In general you’ll find it beneficial to use both a body wash and a shampoo. But there is really no reason you couldn’t use a shampoo to clean your entire body. If you use a daily moisturizer, then there is no need for a separate body wash.
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MsRebecca Says:
I always wondered if soap got you cleaner then bodywash, my family loves bodywash but I’m in love with soap.. I haven’t noticed a ring around anyone’s neck so I suppose it’s ok!
Linda Warren Says:
Baby wash is great for sensitive skin. I especially like Huggies with Shea Butter.
Cee Says:
I’ve used shampoo for a body wash and as a refill in handsoap dispenser for years. Believe it or not, my favorite body/hand soap is V05 Strawberries & Cream and it costs about 99 cents! It is gently moisturizing and has a very mild scent (I’m scent sensitive). I really like it as a handsoap because so many handsoaps are so highly fragranced that I get a headache. The only thing is….I’ve never tried it on my hair!
Lauri Says:
I use cheap shampoo in my laundry, too — clothes are an impportant part of beauty! Since it’s designed to remove body oil and the attracted dirt, I use it on cuffs and collars instead of the expensive products sold in the laundry aisle.
MoxieHart Says:
This kind of defeats the purpose of cheapness, but I love Philosophy brand Cinnamin Buns shampoo/conditioner/body wash. It’s $16, so I only use it as a reward for when I exercise. Plus, it saves room in my gym bag, since it’s 3 in 1.
MoxieHart Says:
Oh, I also use Philosophy to wash my delicates.
Anne-Marie Says:
We sell body washes that get used as shampoos and bubble baths on a consistent basis. It’s sometimes difficult to explain to someone used to using three or four different products for different body parts but ultimately, they seem to work all about the same! =)
Ellen Hamilton Says:
Does the price really matter? I work hard and I like to treat myself with body wash from Bath & Body. Today’s shampoos are targeted for all kinds of damaged hair, so there is a difference if you use the expensive products. I think I deserve the luxury of these products! Ladies spoil yourself!
Diella Says:
Even though I use bar soap and on occasion, “body wash”, sometimes when I am at my boyfriends and I forget my soap, I’ll just use shampoo and there really is no difference!
amy g. Says:
A word of warning - maybe shampoo will work fine as a body wash, but i’m not so sure about the vice versa - i was at the gym last night and used my aveno body wash in my hair since i forgot my shampoo, and now my scalp is so itchy its driving me nuts! Allthough it did leave my hair looking very shiny….
The Beauty Brains » Blog Archive » Dry Shampoo and Other Weird Ways To Wash Your Hair Says:
[...] is it? As we discussed in this post, body washes and shampoos are similar formulas. If you wanted to, you could use your body wash to wash your [...]
Rob Says:
I agree with Amy. These dual body wash / hair shampoo products make your scalp very itchy. I was scratching my head so much I had to use some shampoo I had laying around to get it to stop and this was only an hour after using the hair and body wash.