On April 3, 2023, Kao Corporation will launch sales of a new dry shampoo called Space Shampoo Sheet. The product will be offered in limited quantities on Rakuten Ichiba, one of Japan's largest e-commerce shopping malls. Pre-orders began on March 15.
Japan's veteran astronaut Koichi Wakata lived on the International Space Station (ISS) on a five-month mission from October 6, 2022 to March 12, 2023, setting the space duration record for an astronaut from Japan. His bags were packed with a supply of 3D Space Shampoo Sheets, a dry type of shampoo developed by Kao Corporation. The same sheet, now available commercially under the brand name Space Shampoo Sheet, can easily wipe impurities from the scalp and hair without water. A light massage of the contoured sheet over the hair removes excess sebum and refreshes the scalp. The sheets can be used indoors or outdoors, whenever a user wants to wipe away perspiration and stickiness without a shower or bath.
Shampooing on the International Space Station (ISS) is an operation rife with challenges. Water is scarce in space, and the splashing of shampoo solutions must be minimized in zero-gravity environments. Special shampoos are also needed due to restrictions placed on the amounts of alcohol allowed aboard space vessels.
When Kao researchers learned of the hair-washing challenges faced in zero gravity, they realized that the cleansing technologies Kao had cultivated over the years could improve the hygiene and QOL of astronauts. Their solution was the "3D Space Shampoo Sheet," a hair-washing sheet that easily wipes impurities from the hair and scalp without water. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) approved the product in 2021 and loaded it on the International Space Station (ISS) during Astronaut Wakata's five-month stay there from October 2022. The Space Shampoo Sheet to be launched commercially in April will be sold through FUNTECH Lab&Biz, Kao's open innovation platform.
Though originally created for zero-gravity use by Astronaut Wakata, the sheets will also solve hair-washing challenges of people on the ground.
"It really cleans me up, even up here without baths or showers. The contoured surface wipes away dirt when I massage, for a deep clean all the way from the roots up. A quick shampoo invigorates my scalp."
Koichi Wakata, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Photo courtesy by JAXA/NASA
Product Name | Space Shampoo Sheet |
---|---|
Quantity | 6 individually wrapped sheets |
No suggested retail price
Limited quantities available from April 3, 2023 from the FUNTECH Lab&Biz (Japanese) store in Rakuten Ichiba
Reservations begin in March 15, 2023 / "Rakuten Ichiba Cloud Funding (Japanese)"
A contoured dry shampoo sheet actually used in space by astronauts. The sheet can be easily used with one hand without water. Each sheet is individually packaged for easy portability, and can be used comfortably in space, or indoors or outdoors on earth. Space Shampoo Sheets are ideal when users seek a change of pace or are too busy to bathe or shower with water. A single shampoo leaves the hair and scalp feeling light and airy. Terrestrial users can experience the same zero-gravity hair-washing sensations as an astronaut in space.
Place your fingers in the slit and comb through your hair.
Wipe with a massaging motion along the strands of your hair.
(Press gently to avoid excessive scrubbing of the scalp.)
Kao creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its portfolio of over 20 leading brands such as Attack, Bioré, Goldwell, Jergens, John Frieda, Kanebo, Laurier, Merries, and Molton Brown, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people in Asia, Oceania, North America, and Europe. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,550 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 35,400 people worldwide and has 136 years of history in innovation. Please visit the Kao Group website for updated information.
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Kao Corporation