Have you ever sought eco-friendly ingredients that match or outperform their synthetic alternatives? Cationic guars, part of Ashland’s responsibly sourced guar initiative, boast a high naturality index and are inherently biodegradable. These guars serve as excellent substitutes for synthetic polymers, and by optimizing their molecular properties, different styling attributes and benefits can be achieved. As the demand for eco-friendly ingredients in hair care rises, consumers increasingly expect these ingredients to offer the same styling capabilities and performance as traditional products. To meet these expectations, Ashland has developed a range of biopolymers known as styleze™ es, designed to fulfill consumer needs regarding hold and longevity while also safeguarding hair from the damage caused by heat styling tools. Daily grooming can harm both the hair’s surface and its internal structure. Applying heat directly to unprotected hair quickly strips it of moisture and natural oils. Although styling tool temperatures can be adjusted, the necessary heat levels for altering hair texture – whether straightening or curling – can be quite damaging. Cationic guars, due to their positive charge, effectively adhere to hair, forming a protective film on the cuticle. This film shields the hair from the harmful effects of heat styling, including brushing, blow-drying, flat ironing, and curling. The styleze™ es technology represents a multifunctional line of naturally derived polymers that offer exceptional heat protection. We have demonstrated the effectiveness of these innovative technologies in shielding hair from both surface and internal damage, particularly when using high-heat styling devices. Objective measurements using differential scanning calorimetry reveal that both Td (denaturation temperature) and ΔHD (enthalpy of denaturation) significantly decrease in hair that has not been treated with a heat protectant before flat ironing. In contrast, hair treated with 1% and 2% styleze™ es-forza or styleze™ es-dura polymer solutions showed a markedly smaller decline in Td and ΔHD, indicating reduced protein degradation compared to the control sample. Similar results were observed when the hair was brushed and blow-dried. Ashland’s proprietary styleze™ es (eco-styler) polymer line is plant-derived, offering an outstanding performance and sustainability profile. These polymers provide an excellent styling and sensory experience, enabling formulators to create products tailored to unique and personalized hairstyles while simultaneously protecting the hair.
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