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Hairspray Ingredients and Formulation

Hair spray contains complex polymers like vinyl acetate and methacrylate that are formulated to hold hair styles while resisting humidity, along with propellants, preservatives, and moisturizing agents. The polymers are carried in a water and alcohol base along with dimethyl ether as a propellant and other ingredients like emulsifiers, silicones, and vitamins that help the spray perform tasks like buffering pH, preventing tackiness, and adding shine and moisture to hair without flaking. The variety of ingredients allows hair spray to style hair effectively while resisting damage from humidity and combing.

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Erik Budi S.
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1K views1 page

Hairspray Ingredients and Formulation

Hair spray contains complex polymers like vinyl acetate and methacrylate that are formulated to hold hair styles while resisting humidity, along with propellants, preservatives, and moisturizing agents. The polymers are carried in a water and alcohol base along with dimethyl ether as a propellant and other ingredients like emulsifiers, silicones, and vitamins that help the spray perform tasks like buffering pH, preventing tackiness, and adding shine and moisture to hair without flaking. The variety of ingredients allows hair spray to style hair effectively while resisting damage from humidity and combing.

Uploaded by

Erik Budi S.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Ingredients Feedback Science Toys

Science Blog

Ingredients --

Hair spray

Hair spray

A simple little spray can, with a simple task -- keep hair in place. Why do
they need so many different things in there?

Hair sprays are formulated to hold hair in place and keep it shiny,
without flaking off, without failing in humid conditions, and yet retain the
ability to be washed out of the hair easily for at least 48 hours.

Complex polymers are needed to perform all of these tasks well.

The basic building blocks of these polymers are the same ones found in
acrylic paints and white glue, but they are put together in such a way
that they are flexible, shiny, non-clogging in the spray can nozzle, dry
quickly, and remain waterproof yet able to be washed out of the hair.

The two main polymers used are


Vinyl Acetate/Crotonates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Copolymer,
(a form of vinyl acetate) and
Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer,
a form of methacrylate.

These polymers are carried in a base of water and alcohol (usually


denatured), and the liquified gas dimethyl ether which acts as the
propellant. The dimethyl ether boils away as a gas when the spray head
is pushed down, propelling the rest of the ingredients out in a fine mist.

The emulsifier aminomethyl propanol serves several purposes in hair


sprays. It acts as a "buffering" agent, controlling the acidity of the
mixture to make it neutral ("pH balanced"). It also helps keep the
polymers mixed with the water and alcohol, and controls the water-
solubility of the final mist, giving it the humidity-resistance needed. It
also helps to form the polymers into a gel.

Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative, although it also functions as


a corrosion inhibitor.

Cyclopentasiloxane is a volatile silicone used to make the film water


repellent, and to eliminate tackiness. It is a thickener; it acts as a
lubricant and gives the resulting coating a silkier feel.

Sodium PCA is a moisturizing agent, drawing moisture from the air and
holding it.

Some sprays include vitamins such as tocopherols (Vitamin E) or


panthenol, which is metabolized in the skin to become pantothenic acid,
a B vitamin.

Since hair does not metabolize (it's dead, Jim), these perform the
functions of anti-oxidants (tocopherols), and add shine and moisture
(panthenol), rather than perform their normal vitamin roles. Moisture
helps prevent damage during combing.

Hydrolyzed soy proteins are also sometimes added. These are more
commonly known as soy sauce and MSG (monosodium glutamate), an
amino acid.

Butylene glycol is sometimes used as a humectant (moisturizer) and


preservative if the spray contains food items such as vitamins and
proteins. It also helps to retain scents.

By Simon Quellen Field


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