ChromoHance 113 polymer (INCI: Polyquaternium-113) is a new technology from Ashland for shampoo and conditioner products that shields oxidative colour-treated hair from surfactant stripping.
The patent-pending technology maintains colour vibrancy by forming a hydrophobic surface on hair. In panel studies, consumers perceive colour maintenance, conditioning and shine across a range of colour shades when following a shampoo and conditioning regimen with formulations containing the polymer.
“As the market shifts toward a shampoo, conditioner and style regimen, higher performing colour protection technology is required to preserve color vibrancy from rinse-out systems,” said David Popplewell, global marketing manager, hair care, Ashland. “In launching ChromoHance 113 polymer, Ashland offers the hair care industry the option to formulate shampoo and conditioner products with a technology proven to deliver consumer-desirable conservation of hair color vibrancy.”
One of the primary causes of colour fade is hair damage. Colour-treatment processes such as oxidative dyeing tend to remove the hydrophobic protective layer from the hair surface. Without a hydrophobic surface, dye molecules may leach out faster from the hair fibre during typical washing and conditioning practices with surfactant-containing products. ChromoHance 113 polymer restores a hydrophobic shield, helping to reduce leaching of colour molecules.
“Ashland has designed the ChromoHance 113 polymer in such a way that it is highly substantive to hair, hydrophobic in nature, yet absent of build-up” said Lidia Kulcsar, principal scientist, Ashland. “The result is a robust two-way shield that helps prevent water molecules from entering or exiting hair strands. In shampoo and conditioner systems containing the polymer, consumers observed a very significant maintenance of hair colour vibrancy over a control formulation without ChromoHance 113 polymer.”
Red hair tress test
Red hair dye is by far the most difficult colour to maintain. After applying a commercial permanent red hair colour on hair tresses, Ashland put ChromoHance 113 polymer to the test at 1 per cent active level in shampoo and conditioner. Following 10 wash and conditioning cycles, the hair tress was observed to be significantly brighter and darker than the control.
Performance and protection
A multifunctional technology, ChromoHance 113 polymer offers root-to-tip conditioning to help rejuvenate colour-treated hair, and at the same time, assure maintenance of colour vibrancy. An easy-to-use clear aqueous solution, the polymer is proven in both rinse-out and leave-in formulas at low use levels. ChromoHance 113 polymer is compatible with most hair care formulations and ingredients at levels that range from 1 to 5 per cent (as sold).
