Film-forming polymer from Bayer in hair care products

Frequent washing, blow-drying, combing and straightening may style hair, but it also damages hair considerably over time. Hair gradually loses its shiny, healthy appearance when exposed to heat and humidity. These effects are compounded by age-related changes in hair, which is a significant issue in view of rising life expectancy worldwide. 

Hairstyling products with an anti-aging effect are therefore in demand. After years of work in this field, a team of researchers at Bayer MaterialScience has now made a breakthrough in hair care with the waterborne polyurethane dispersion Baycusan C 1008. Conditioning products containing Baycusan C 1008, a film-forming polymer stable up to 270°C, coat every single hair fiber and easily wash out later on, without leaving behind any residue. 

Extensive testing confirms the tremendous protective effect against heat: Electron microscope images of hair fibers that have been regularly treated with a straightening iron for a long period show significant differences compared to conventional heat protection products: The thin, highly elastic Baycusan C 1008 film protects hair against overheating at concentrated points. It expands with the hair under the influence of high temperature and shrinks again during cooling. 

These characteristics also were confirmed in tests of the tensile elastic behavior of hair strands: The heat protection of different conditioning products was examined on hair treated regularly with a straightening iron over a long period of time. Formulations based on Baycusan C 1008 display astounding anti-frizz properties. The film-former is proven to prevent frizzy hair for a period of up to 24 hours, even in weather with 90 percent humidity. At the same time, the protective film gives hair flexibility and shine. 

Studies show that using a two-percent test formulation of Baycusan C 1008 reduces the average length of split ends by over 90 percent.