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

Studysummary This study investigated various proteins as eco-friendly hair perming agents for Asian hair and found that bovine serum albumin and keratin achieved perming results comparable to commercial products, while also increasing hair moisture, indicating a protective effect during heat styling. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

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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