New polymer for lasting colour and conditioning

For millions of women, the ‘just-out-of-the salon’ look is the best part of the 4 – 6 week hair care cycle. Women, who make up the majority of the permanent colour segment, use hair colour to cover greys and enhance their appearance. These consumers can be divided into three groups – ‘grey coverers’, ‘beauty lovers’ and ‘trend setters’.1 Each group has a different reason to use hair colour, but two key needs are common to all three groups: colour protection and repair of hair fibre damage. Many different commercial products try to address this need, as reflected in product claims for both hair colourants and colour protection shampoos and conditioners. However, consumer-perceivable colour fade occurs within the first ten washes after hair colouring. It is obvious why many consumers are frustrated at the rapid colour fading (within the first two weeks) after colouring their hair. 

Polyquaternium-113 (Trade name: ChromoHance™ 113 polymer) is a novel polymer that represents the next generation of hair colour protection technology. It is a new patent-pending technology specifically designed for shampoo and conditioner systems to lock in colour vibrancy and prevent oxidative dye colour fading. ChromoHance 113 polymer provides improved colour wash fastness – even in highly damaged, coloured hair – from rinse-off shampoo and conditioner systems. The polymer architecture is comprised of highly charged cationic and hydrophobic moieties. It is very substantive to hair, providing a barrier function to seal the cuticle and restore the hydrophobicity of the damaged hair surface.

Hair damage and colour fade