Answer to Question #61738 in Chemistry for Tom Lambert

Question

Have a shampoo formulation that is turning brown after 3 months
has lemon eucalyptus,and lemon in it could that be the problem

Answer 1

Shampoos are cleaning formulations made up primarily of chemicals called surfactants that have the ability to surround oily materials on surfaces and allow them to be rinsed away by water.
A variety of other compounds are included in shampoos if desired. Dyes for changing color, fragrances for changing the odor, pH adjustment ingredients, chelating agents, opacifying ingredients, and more. Frequently, story ingredients are included so marketers will have something to talk about. This includes things like vitamins, proteins, and herbal extracts which are not normally expected to have any impact on the final product performance.
However these components can significantly worsen the cleaning function of the shampoo, its storage and efficiency. Therefore lemon and eucalyptus in it could cause change of the color.