Hair Care

The role of raw materials in the production of hair care cosmetics

In the hair care production process, raw materials are selected in such a way as to ensure:

• effective yet gentle cleansing of the scalp,
• conditioning and smoothing the hair fibre,
• stability of the cosmetic’s consistency,
• adequate foaming and ease of rinsing,
• protecting the hair from dryness and damage.

Examples of hair care cosmetics

Chemical raw materials used in the production of hair care cosmetics are used in a wide range of products, such as:

• Shampoos,
• Conditioners,
• Masks,
• Leave-in products, e.g. conditioners and heat protection products,
• Oils,
• Serums,
• 2-in-1 cosmetics.

Raw materials used in the production of hair care cosmetics

Raw materials used in the production of hair care cosmetics are divided into several key groups of ingredients, which together determine the effectiveness, stability and comfort of use of the finished products. These include:

• Surfactants,
• Emulsifiers and solubilisers,
• Emollients and humectants,
• Rheology modifiers,
• Stabilisers,
• Excipients.

Surfactants – the basis of cleansing

Surfactants are a key group of chemical raw materials used in the production of shampoos and cleansing products. They are responsible for removing impurities, sebum and styling residues. Depending on the formulation requirements, anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants are used to achieve the right balance between cleansing effectiveness and gentleness.

Emulsifiers and solubilisers – formulation homogeneity

Hair care cosmetics often contain oil-based ingredients, fragrances or conditioning components that require a stable combination with the aqueous phase. Emulsifiers and solubilisers enable the creation of homogeneous, stable formulations without the risk of product separation.

Conditioning and softening agents

Raw materials that improve the properties of the hair fibre play an important role in the production of hair care cosmetics. These ingredients help to smooth, reduce frizz and improve the elasticity of the hair. In addition, they improve the comfort of use of the cosmetic, giving the hair softness and shine.

Rheology modifiers

Thickeners and consistency stabilisers allow you to achieve the desired texture of shampoos, masks and conditioners. These raw materials affect the viscosity of the product, its stability over time and ease of dosing, which is important both technologically and in terms of use.

Functional additives – sensory properties and comfort of use

This group includes substances that improve the user experience or supplementary properties of formulations, e.g. increase foaming, improve smoothness, affect fragrance or pH stability. The PCC Group’s offer includes, for example:

• High-foaming agents that affect foam quality, most commonly used in shampoos and shower gels. These include products from the ROKAmina® and SULFOROKAnol® series.
• Pearling agents, i.e. EXOpearl N and EXOpearl SF, are chemical raw materials which, when combined with water, form a milky dispersion with a pearl effect, giving a visual pearl shine.

Benefits, safety and compliance with European regulations

Chemical raw materials for the production of hair care cosmetics must meet the requirements of the European market in terms of quality and safety. Their use is based on compliance with applicable regulations, in particular Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products and REACH regulations. The availability of technical documentation, the assessment of physicochemical properties and the predictability of performance in finished formulations are also of key importance.