One in three natural blondes dyes her hair brown to be taken more seriously in the workplace; this statistic is based on a recent survey of 2,500 British women conducted by beauty retailer Superdrug. As reported by UPI,* the current economic crisis has influenced many to do what it takes to appear more successful—and 62% of women surveyed believe brunettes appear more professional.
Rising prices to maintain a brilliant blonde hair color in this economy also sway consumers to go darker and match their roots. Or, as The Telegraph notes, Hollywood stars like Scarlett Johansson who dye their light hair dark prompt new trends. Regardless of the reason, women apparently are dyeing their hair darker. What does this mean to product developers? Opportunity.
For years, innovation in hair care has remained somewhat flat, probably since hair fibers are dead. However, recent developments have focused on changing parameters like light refraction or moisture content to provide specific sensory attributes such as shine, softness and strength to hair.
This issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine examines two innovations in hair care: color retention and natural shampoo efficacy. In line with the trend for dyeing hair darker and extending time between salon visits, Gao et al. present a broad spectrum UV filter for rinse-off formulations to protect hair from colorfade and integrity damage. In addition, while natural products are still in high demand, natural shampoos leave much to be desired in the areas of efficacy and aesthetics. In response, Hloucha et al. describe a “green” microemulsion that improves the conditioning and combing performance of natural shampoos.
Beyond hair, von Oppen-Bezalel offers a dual-sided approach to aging with a cosmeceutical based on dormant Narcissus tazetta bulb extract that slows cell turnover, and colorless carotenoids to absorb UV radiation. And Boudier et al. offer a new method to quantify the number of lipids present in the cornified cell envelope via a fluorescence technique. Finally, making its debut, “The Anatomy of A Formula” is a new quarterly column from Eric Abrutyn that dissects formulas currently on the market to understand their component parts. This month’s topic covers antiperspirants and deodorants.
This issue of C&T digs down into root issues faced by hair care formulators, among others, in hopes of providing solutions that match those challenges. As always, your feedback is welcome.
*www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/03/18/Survey_Blondes_go_brunette_for_jobs/UPI-91501237398204/
