Cellulose nanocrystals for gentle hair care products

Hair styling using conditioning products is part of the daily routine for many. However, people no longer simply want effective products, we also want products that are gentle on both the human body and the environment. Silicone oil, which is widely used as a hair conditioner, is not soluble in water and must be delivered to the hair as an emulsion. Cationic surfactants are commonly used in hair care products for this purpose, but frequently cause skin and eye irritation and allergic reactions, as well as damage to aquatic organisms and soil.

Cationic cellulose polymers derived from natural, renewable resources are currently being investigated as substitutes for these harsh products; however, their emulsifying properties and ability to deliver conditioning agents to the hair are inadequate. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have emulsifying properties of their own (they form Pickering emulsions), are safe, and are sustainably produced. Recently, Zhou et al. prepared cellulose-based complexes to replace surfactants in conditioning agents using CNCs and a cationic cellulose polymer. Because CNCs have anionic sulfate half-ester groups at their surface, the cationic cellulose polymer adsorbs onto them via electrostatic attraction, forming the cellulose complex.

The image above shows a schematic illustration of a silicone oil dispersion stabilized by CNCs and cationic cellulose polymer at the interface (top) and continuous phase (bottom). Cellulose nanocrystals and cationic cellulose polymer were found to exhibit synergistic emulsifying ability: silicone oil emulsions stabilized by the cellulose complex remained homogeneous for 7 days, while the emulsions prepared with either component individually phase separated. Deposition of silicone oil onto the hair surface by the cellulose-based emulsion was greater compared to the cationic cellulose alone. These cellulose-based complexes promise to provide a biocompatible, eco-conscious alternative for personal care, supporting sustainable practices and improving quality of life.

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For more information, please consult the full article:

A gentle conditioning agent consisted of oppositely-charged-induced cellulose nanocrystal and cationic cellulose: Stability, conditioning and delivery.