Long-lasting colour protection, wash after wash

Chromapol ColorPOP polymer is a new hair care technology from Lubrizol Life Science Beauty to maintain the intensity and vibrance of colour-treated hair. Its benefits and high performance are supported by Lubrizol’s polymer expertise on colour deposition and film-forming properties. By Narjis Askar, Eulalia Peri, Juliana Gomiero, Elena Cañadas, Jean Xavier and Raquel Delgado of Lubrizol Advanced Materials (Cleveland, US)

Lubrizol Life Science Beauty recently launched Chromapol ColorPOP polymer (INCI name: Polyurethane-10) to meet consumers’ need for long-lasting colour protection in permanent, semi-permanent and temporary colour products, as well as in shampoos, conditioners and leave-on treatments. It is suitable for vegan products, easy to use, cold processable and compatible with various dyes, pigments, colourants and surfactants.

By speaking to women of different ages who dye their hair periodically, either at home or in-salon, Lubrizol Life Science Beauty identified key consumer insights into their colour protection needs. The conversations also revealed that colouring their hair allows a lot of women to feel good about themselves and it boosts their self-confidence.

Women’s top priorities when it comes to colouring their hair include grey coverage, longlasting colour quality from roots to tips, and conditioning performance for healthy-looking hair.

A MULTIFUNCTIONAL SOLUTION FOR VIVID COLOUR

Chromapol ColorPOP polymer showed excellent results when tested in hair care products and in hair colouring applications on various hair types, including 100% grey hair. In a permanent hair colour product, Chromapol ColorPOP polymer effectively protected the hue (measured by Delta E) and saturation of colour (measured by Delta L), while maintaining tonality (measured by Delta A) for up to 30 washes compared to a benchmark.

Chromapol ColorPOP polymer also extended the life of a semi-permanent colour, which normally lasts six washes, to 10 washes.

In sulfated shampoos, the polymer protected colour for up to 20 washes. In a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner combination, colour lasted up to 25 washes.

PERMANENT COLOURATION TEST

A test was conducted on 100% grey/white hair tresses to determine Chromapol ColorPOP polymer’s effect on colour protection for up to 30 washes. An average of three tresses per treatment were coloured with intense dark red cherry 6R (CO-0028) permanent hair colour with 0.4%TS Chromapol ColorPOP polymer or a benchmark polymer, mixed with a commercial 20V developer. Thereafter, colour protection was analysed using the TPBRK-0028 method.

The permanent colour with Chromapol ColorPOP polymer showed lower Delta E values than the benchmark polymer, helping to protect colour for up to 30 washes (see Figures 1 and 2).

CONDITIONING PERFORMANCE TEST

Level-4 European brown hair was used to test the conditioning performance of the polymer. An average of three tresses per treatment were coloured with intense dark red cherry 6R CO-0028 permanent hair colour with 0.4%TS Chromapol ColorPOP polymer, a benchmark polymer, or the control, mixed with commercial 20V developer. Thereafter, the tresses were washed with a 10%TS SLES-2 solution.

The results showed Chromapol ColorPOP polymer provided significantly better wet detangling, wet combing, and softness and smoothness performance compared to the control (see Figure 3).

HAIR CARE APPLICATION STUDY

To assess colour protection in a sulfated shampoo formulation, 100% grey/white hair tresses were coloured with 6R permanent hair colour (without a conditioning/colour protection ingredient), mixed with commercial 20V developer. Thereafter, an average of three tresses per treatment were washed with a sulfated surfactant formulation (4.5%TS SLES-2 and 9.0%TS cocamidopropyl betaine), containing 0.4%TS Chromapol ColorPOP polymer or a benchmark polymer, following the TPBRK-023 method. Then the TP-BRK-0028 method was used to conduct the colour protection assessment.

The sulfated surfactant formulation with Chromapol ColorPOP polymer protected the hair colour for up to 20 washes, with significantly better results than the benchmark polymer (see Figure 4 and 5).

CONCLUSION

Chromapol ColorPOP polymer maintains a true colour with vibrant tonality and intensity while providing conditioning benefits to the hair fibre. This helps to improve wet and dry feel while restoring softness and smoothness to the hair.

The polymer works effectively on all hair shades, including 100% grey.

Lubrizol Life Science Beauty has developed several ready-to-market formulations with Chromapol ColorPOP polymer. These include:

• permanent hair colour – intense dark red cherry

• semi-permanent hair colour – shimmering pink orchid flower

• sulfate-free colour care shampoo

• colour vibrancy protecting conditioner

• deep nourishment colour reviver temporary mask – intense red cherry.

Chromapol ColorPOP polymer is available locally from Carst & Walker, an approved distribution agent of The Lubrizol Corporation. •

The Chromapol trademark is owned by The Lubrizol Corporation or its affiliates.

Carst & Walker – carst.co.za

Lubrizol Life Science Beauty – www.lubrizol.com/beauty

Figure 1: Colour protection in permanent colouration – Delta E 30 washes. Results show statistical significance versus the benchmark polymer: **** p < 0.0001

Figure 2: Colour protection results in permanent colouration shown in pictures of tresses after five and 30 washes

Figure 3: Conditioning performance results in permanent colouration show statistical significance versus the control **** p < 0.0001

Figure 4: Colour protection in sulfated shampoo, Delta E 20 washes. Results show statistical significance versus the benchmark polymer: **** p < 0.0001

Figure 5: Colour protection results in sulfated shampoo formulations shown in pictures of tresses after five and 20 washes