Live from ATC Americas - Day One Report

Posted: February 6, 2006

ATC Americas kicked off to a great start Feb. 6, 2006, with inspired attendees revving up Q&A sessions. Sergio Nacht addressed both the skin and hair tracks and presented a detailed and eloquent description of the skin, identifying parallels in skin and hair. He explained that both are derived from the same embryonic tissue, which accounts for their similarities but does not explain their differences.

Hair track: Manuel Gamez-Garcia, Ph.D., warmed up the hair sessions with descriptions of the main types of cuticle damage and repair. Robert Lochhead Professor (University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymers & High Performance Materials) presented on shampoos and conditioners, followed by Patrick Obukowho's (Advantage Research Lab) discussion on emulsions for relaxer actives.

Obukowho exaplined that relaxers are the most aggressive products used in the ethnic product line for processing curly hair. Active ingredients such as sodium hydroxides, guanidine hydroxides and lithium hydroxides used in relaxers are very aggressive by way of their reaction. He said it is necessary to understand emulsion formation and the chemistry of ingredients used in designing relaxer creams. His presentation focused on the chemistry and selection of primary emulsifiers and co-emulsifiers used in relaxer emulsion preparation.  

The final hair track presenter, Steve Herman (Aromatic Fragrance and Flavors International/Fairleigh Dickenson University), covered Fragrance in Action: Hair Products. Herman discussed how fragrance is an important component in most personal care products--either for masking or to provide a pleasant scent. He explained what fragrance does in base and in hair. The interaction of fragrance on substrates was considered, as well as ways to protect and extend the life of the aroma.

Skin track: Sewon Kang, MD, sparked the skin session with discussions on the rationale for the use of antioxidants to prevent photoaging. Following Kang, Luigi Rigano (Studio Rigano Industrial Consulting Laboratories) presented on antioxidants and their role in the prevention of aging.