Leading hair care ingredients of 2011
Cosmetics development and manufacturing company Unipex launched an ingredient designed to reduce hair loss and promote new hair growth.
The new ingredient, Capixyl, targets three of the root causes of hair loss, hair miniaturisation; hair anchoring and inflammation, according to the company.
A combination of a peptide and a red clover extract, it has two different mechanisms of action; “The first mechanism of action is to increase ECM [extra cellular matrix proteins such as collagen] integrity and the other is to inhibit DHT modulation,” a spokesperson stated.
DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a hormone known to play a role in hair loss. The company claims that by targeting these two pathways, Capixyl can help stimulate hair growth, reduce hair loss and reduce inflammation in the scalp.
Anti-dandruff
Cognis active ingredients division Laboratories Serobiologiques has launched a natural-based active hair care ingredient that targets sensitive scalps and dandruff conditions by regulating sebum production.
The LS research and development team worked around the principle that excessive sebum production leads to oily hair and scalp conditions, which in turn leads to bacterial proliferation or hyperkeratosis, precursors to dandruff.
Sanicapyl is based on a selection of natural extracts, including fruit, as well as a piper negrum pepper and inga alba bark, together with sodium lauroyl lactylate and butylene glycol. It is designed for use in shampoos, conditioners and lotions and is also designed for all hair types.
Magnetic fibres
Originally designed to cover balding and thinning hair, magnetic fibers, are currently in development for a new wave of hair care styling products, which work by attracting positively charged polymers to the hair shaft, giving the hair a more real and blended appearance.
The fibers are naturally textured substances or polymers made up of ingredients like rayon, cotton, keratin, nylon, ammonium chloride and silica.
The magnetic fibers also coat the vellus hair (otherwise known as baby hair) which covers the scalp, giving the normally thin and fleshy coloured area the appearance and coloured of voluminous hair.
