A group of 11th grade students make shampoo and conditioner from watercress and soapberry to prevent hair loss.

A group of students from Tran Phu High School (Tan Phu District) created shampoo and conditioner from watercress and herbs - Photo: NGOC PHUONG

After 8 months of research, a group of students from class 11B17, Tran Phu High School (Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City), including Nguyen Phuong Vy, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, Tran Thi Thuy Linh, Truong Trong Nghia, and Bui Nguyen Minh Tram, created a shampoo and conditioner product line called Danville.

Natural shampoo

The ingredients the group used to make the shampoo include watercress, soapberry extract, soapberry, basil, five-color grass, lemongrass, lemongrass and grapefruit essential oils. In addition, there are preservatives and foaming agents.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh said hair loss is not only a concern for adults, but also for students.

"Water spinach is an easy-to-find vegetable with a cheap price, so we use it as the main ingredient to make shampoo and conditioner. 30g of water spinach makes 330ml of shampoo, with steps such as preparing ingredients, cooking water spinach, mixing ingredients in a certain ratio, adding preservatives, foaming agents, essential oils to give the product a scent, and packaging the product," Ngoc Anh said.

During the research process, the group encountered many difficulties in finding foreign information and documents. Thanks to the teacher's support, after many practices, the group also gained experience.

"We were able to borrow the laboratory of the Faculty of Chemical Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade to carry out the project. With our passion, we tried to arrange time to participate in the research," Ngoc Anh shared.

Ms. Chu Thi Kim Huong (teacher at Tran Phu High School, Tan Phu District) assessed that your products have high commercialization potential.

"The group's shampoo and conditioner products are natural, environmentally friendly and suitable for users' scalps. When I tried them, the products were soft and smooth and had a pleasant scent. Because they use environmentally friendly ingredients, users may feel unfamiliar and a bit uncomfortable the first time they wash their hair," said Ms. Huong.

Ms. Huong also said that the group sent samples for testing and received benign results.

Practice in university lab

Currently, the shampoo has a capacity of 330ml, if commercialized it will cost 119,000 VND, the conditioner 300ml costs 99,000 VND - Photo: NGOC PHUONG

In addition to the product line from watercress and herbs, the group also makes shampoo and conditioner sets from nem leaves and cassia leaves.

Phuong Vy shared: "We apply many subject knowledge into research such as chemistry to find the exact formula. In addition, there are also biology, computer science, foreign languages ​​and mathematics to calculate prices, refer to foreign documents, and design product packaging.

The group wants to help people who are having problems with their hair, to help improve and restore their hair so that they can be more confident with their hair. The group also wants to learn, research and practice more, to know more theories in books and in reality."

Sharing about future plans, the group said they will continue to develop the project, perfect some more products to continue participating in competitions for students.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Anh (head of the organic cosmetic technology department, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade) said that when she knew the purpose of the students' project, she asked the faculty for support in lending research equipment and a laboratory.

"I see that the students are very good and enthusiastic about research activities. In the lab, they take turns exploring and practicing, and the results get better every day. Through that, they can improve their skills and improve themselves," Ms. Hong Anh added.

Award winning

Recently, the group won the second prize in the Student Startup Idea Contest, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training. The group also won the bronze medal in the Application Design and Manufacturing Contest, organized by the Center for Youth Science and Technology Development (Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union).

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhom-hoc-sinh-lop-11-lam-dau-goi-dau-xa-tu-rau-cang-cua-bo-ket-ngan-rung-toc-20240729123302098.htm