A cosmetically acceptable medium containing a component and an aqueous gel that includes water and: (a) a cationic polymer; (b) an anionic surfactant having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, where the amount of the anionic surfactant is less than the amount of the cationic polymer; (c) an amphoteric surfactant, where the amount of the amphoteric surfactant is less than the amount of the cationic polymer; and (d) optionally a long chain amine oxide, where the amount of said long chain amine oxide is less than the amount of the cationic polymer. The component is selected from a cationic surfactant, a conditioning agent, a synthetic amphoteric polymer, a synthetic ampholytic polymer, a synthetic non-ionic polymer, an amino acid, a protein, an oxidizing agent, a hair dye, dyes, pigments, a fragrance, one or more vitamins, and mixtures thereof. The cosmetically acceptable medium can be used to treat keratin-based substrates.