Proteins as Hair Styling Agents

May 2021 in “ Applied sciences ”

Ana Tinoco, André F. Costa, Salomé Luís, Madalena Martins, Artur Cavaco‐Paulo, Artur Ribeiro

bovine serum albumin BSA silk fibroin SF keratin fusion recombinant proteins KP-UM KP-Cryst phosphate buffer pH levels BaByliss perming efficiency hair’s internal water content hair’s external water content

TLDR Proteins like BSA and keratin can effectively style hair and protect it, offering eco-friendly alternatives to chemical products.

The study investigated the use of bovine serum albumin (BSA), silk fibroin (SF), keratin, and two fusion recombinant proteins (KP-UM and KP-Cryst) as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional chemical perming agents for hair styling. The proteins were applied to virgin Asian hair using a phosphate buffer at different pH levels (5, 7, and 9) and styled with a hot BaByliss. BSA and keratin demonstrated the best perming efficiency and resistance to washing, comparable to commercial chemical products, especially at pH 5 and 9. Additionally, the proteins increased the hair’s internal and external water content, indicating a protective effect during heat application. This research highlighted the potential of proteins in developing new, environmentally friendly hair styling products.

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Research cited in this study

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