Hair Care Ingredient Makers Get Creative

Consumers demand a lot from hair care products beyond keeping hair clean. They want shampoos and conditioners that make hair shiny, manageable, and soft. They want to repair hair damaged and weakened in the dyeing process, and they want to protect newly colored hair from fading in the sun or with repeated washing. They also want a tonic, if they can get it, to make hair grow. Chemists who formulate hair care products and those who develop new ingredients bring a veritable arsenal of raw materials to hair treatment. Some of them work for major consumer product brand owners such as L’Oréal and Henkel; others work for chemical companies that supply ingredients to the personal care industry. Ingredients for hair care include the well established: silicones for shine, quaternary ammonium compounds for easier combing, proteins for thickening, and polyvinylpyrrolidone for shaping and styling. But the hair care sector is being ...