General Styling Products
This section details the chemical composition common to individual product types. In many instances these products will share similar ingredients. Where possible an indication of percentage is given, identifying the composition of each product type.
Hairspray
A hairspray will normally contain the following ingredients:
Ingredient Type
- Additional ingredients (UV filters, neutralising agents)
- Care ingredients (Proteins, vitamins, herbal extracts)
- Film formers (Silicon-based polymers)
- Perfume (Synthetic or plant-based)
- Propellants, max. 30% (Dimethyl Ether, Propane/Butane)
- Solvents (Ethanol, Isopropanol, water)
Setting Lotion
A setting lotion may contain an anti-static, cationic substance that reduces static charge on the hair, making it easier to comb and style.
Ingredient Type
- Anti-static (Cetrimonium Bromide)
- Care ingredients (Panthenol)
- Film formers (PVP/VA copolymer)
- Perfume (Synthetic or plant-based)
- Solvents (Water, alcohol)
- Stabilisers (Carbomer)
Mousse
Mousse will often have an anti-static ingredient that neutralises damaged, negatively charged hair, creating smooth, easily managed hair.
Ingredient Type
- Additional ingredients (UV filters, plant extracts)
- Anti-static (Cetrimonium Bromide)
- Care ingredients (Proteins, vitamins, silicones)
- Film formers (Polymers)
- Perfume (Synthetic or plant-based)
- Propellant, max. 5% (Propane, Butane)
- Solvent (Water, alcohol)
- Stabiliser (Tenside)
Gel
Gel is a water-based product and is a combination of two active ingredients which give the hair hold and protection: homo-polymeric additives contain film formers that give the hair 'super hold' and co-polymeric additives provide effective protection from external influences.
Gel contains a balanced combination of conditioning silicone and film formers. The silicone provides a caring element and added shine.
Ingredient Type
- Care ingredients, max. 5% (Moisturiser, vitamins, amino acids)
- Colouring, max. 0.1% (CI-77499, Iron Oxides)
- Film formers, max. 8% (Polymers)
- Perfume, max. 1% (Fragrance)
- Preservative, max. 1% (Sodium Benzoate)
- Solvents, max. 5% (Alcohol - may have up to 40%)
- Stabilisers, max. 3% (Tenside)
- Thickeners, max. 1% (Hydroxypropyl Guar)
- The main ingredient, water, makes up the remaining percentage.
Styling Cream
Styling creams are composed of the following general ingredients; they can be either a water-in-oil or an oil-in-water emulsion.
Ingredient Type
- Care ingredients, max. 50% (Moisturisers, Silicone, vitamins)
- Colouring, max. 0.1% (CI-77499 - Iron Oxides)
- Emulsifiers, max. 25% (PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil)
- Film formers, max. 12% (Polymers)
- Thickeners, max. 12% (Hydroxypropanol Guar)
- Perfume, max. 5% (Fragrance)
- Preservatives, max. 2% (Sodium Benzoate)
- Resin, max. 60% (Waxes, oils and fats)
- Solvent, max. 25% (Water, Ethanol)
- UV filter, max. 15% (Benzophenone-4)
- In the case of oil-in-water emulsion, water will constitute the remaining percentage. The opposite is true for water-in-oil emulsion.
Wax
Wax is mineralised oil, which becomes soluble in water by mixing it with special emulsifiers. Emulsifiers improve the distribution of a product throughout the hair and ensure that the product is easy to wash out. The silicone content of wax gives the hair shine. A humectant ingredient aids styling by giving the hair softness, which enables flexible styling.
Soft Wax
Soft wax is almost identical to a styling cream in chemistry and composition, however a higher percentage of resin ensures a more waxy consistency.
Hard Wax
Hard wax contains the following general ingredients; note the higher resin percentage when compared to soft wax:
Ingredient Type
- Care ingredients, max. 5% (Silicone)
- Emulsifiers, max. 10% (PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil)
- Perfume, max. 5% (Fragrance)
- Preservatives, max. 2% (Sodium Benzoate)
- Resin, max. 85% (Waxes, oils and fats)
- The solvent water makes up the remaining percentage.
