Polevan: A Multifunctional Natural Hair Ingredient, as Determined by In-Vitro and Human Studies
November 2025
in “
Cosmetics
”
TLDR POLEVAN® improves hair shine, moisturizes the scalp, and maintains foam quality in shampoos.
POLEVAN®, a levan-based polysaccharide, was evaluated in shampoo formulations for its ability to enhance hair glossiness, scalp moisturization, and foam production. The study found that shampoos with 2% POLEVAN® increased hair glossiness by 24% compared to formulations without it. In moisturization studies, POLEVAN® performed similarly to hyaluronic acid, showing no significant difference in hydration or TEWL over 4 weeks. Additionally, POLEVAN® enabled a 50% reduction in surfactant content without affecting foam quality. These findings suggest that POLEVAN® is a multifunctional natural ingredient that can improve the sensory and performance attributes of shampoos while allowing for gentler formulations.