Useful amine oxide surfactants include those having the formula R1 R2 R3 N???O wherein R1 is an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 28 carbon atoms, from 0 to about 2 hydroxy groups and from 0 to about 5 ether linkages, there being at least one moiety of R1 which is an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and R2 and R3 are selected from the group consisting of al