To find new ways to shield hair from heat, sunlight and air pollution, researchers in Brazil are turning to vegan-friendly ingredients for shampoos and conditioners. Published in ACS Omega, early tests show that a fruit-algae combination added to haircare products coats strands with a protective film. Although the botanical film makes hair slightly less elastic, it improves shine and makes locks easier to comb compared to hair washed and conditioned with products not containing the biopolymer.
Heated styling tools, dirt in the air and sunlight damage keratin, the primary structural protein in hair, leading to dry, faded and brittle strands. To shield against this damage, some haircare products form a thin polymer film that coats hair strands and chemically…