Development and analysis of a commercial hair treatment

Abstract: Development and analysis of a commercial hair mask Our degree project has been to develop and analyse a hair mask. We tried out different “recipes” for the hair mask in the lab, and then used different methods to evaluate our recipes to find out which one is the best. Like many other industries, the hair cosmetic industry is facing a change where customers are asking for a new type of environmentally friendly cosmetic prod- ucts. Because of this, we wanted to develop a hair mask with mostly organic and natural ingredients. Our degree project was done in cooperation with a Swedish cosmetic company named Rapsodine, who provided ingredients and guidance in the process of developing a hair mask. We tried out two types of recipes, a classic one (which is similar to other hair masks on the market) and a more experimental one. For both types of hair mask, we tried out different versions where we made small changes to the proportions of the ingredients. The goal was to find the best version for both types (classic and experimental) and to then compare them to each other. To find out which of the different recipes actually worked best, we did a num- ber of different tests and evaluations: • We photographed and rated the hair masks based on five different charac- teristics and compared their photographs and points • We did a customer evaluation where six people got to try three of the hair masks at home in the shower and then give them points • We measured how well the hair could withstand compression before and after being treated with the hair masks • We looked at the hair masks in a microscope and compared them • We looked at hair treated with the hair masks in a microscope, before and after the treatment • We analysed the particles in the hair masks: both their sizes, their particle size distributions and how they change with time • We measured the pH-values of the hair masks 2 After our evaluation, we concluded that the classic recipe resulted in a better hair mask while the experimental recipe still needed a lot of work. We also found which classic recipe and which experimental recipe was most successful.