Shampoos is an Amazon from a tribe in China, known as Joketsuzoku. While visiting her village, Ranma and Genma (in their cursed forms) ate a giant feast that was supposed to be the prize for the winner of an Amazon competition. Shampoo, having won and seeing two strangers eating her prize, challenged Ranma to a fight. Shampoo, however, lost. Since a rule of the Amazons is to give the 'kiss of death' to any outside female who defeats you in combat, Shampoo vows to follow Ranma to the ends of the earth and kill her. Seeing how persistent and serious she is, Ranma and Genma quickly flee back to Japan. However, they never expected Shampoo to actually follow them there!

Since Shampoo doesn't know of Ranma's curse, he tries to hide from her by avoiding water, and attempting to stay a boy. But while defending Akane from the angry Amazon, Ranma accidentally defeats Shampoo again--but this time as a guy. Expecting the kiss of death, he is understandably surprised when she suddenly kisses him, and tells him she loves him. Soon they learn that another rule of the Amazons is that any outside male who defeats them in combat, must become their husband.

So whenever Ranma's a girl, Shampoo tries to kill her--but when he's a boy, she's trying to marry him. But when Shampoo gives Akane the 'kiss of death' as well, Ranma decides to reveal his curse. Lying, he tells Shampoo that he's actually a girl, not a boy... and Shampoo, confused and heartbroken, returns to China.

Eventually, however, she does return... only to learn that Ranma really is a boy, and to reveal that she has a curse of her own: she now turns into a small cat. This was her punishment for failing to kill Ranma after she returned to her village. But she does not return alone. Accompanying her is her great grandmother, Cologne, who is determined to help Shampoo take Ranma back to China with them at all costs: and they will do anything in order to accomplish their goals.

Shampoo can be tricky, violent, selfish, and cruel. She is not opposed to using potions and other means in order to make Ranma love her, and appears to see Akane as one of her biggest obstacle in accomplishing this goal. She has also teamed up with Ukyo on several occasions in an attempt to try and separate Ranma and Akane.

For information on her feelings towards Mousse, click here.