Eco-friendly hair repair adds to more natural personal care product pipeline
Why it matters: The global organic cosmetics market could grow to $US35.5 billion by 2034, impacting consumer choices and industry innovation.
- Flinders University researchers are developing a promising new structural keratin-type repair application from plant-based oils to reduce breakage and improve hair health.
- The latest study, published in ACS Applied Bio Materials, demonstrates a sustainable biopolymer mixture from tung oil acid emulsion can seal cuticles and increase elasticity in damaged hair.
- Professor Colin Raston, who leads the Raston Lab, highlights the Vortex Fluidic Device (VFD) microfluidic platform's ability to produce higher quality molecules and transform complex materials without expensive energy or harmful chemicals.
- Ph.D. candidate Xuejiao Cao is using the VFD technology to convert tung free fatty acids and plant-based medium-chain free fatty acids into organic hair and skin products, noting significant mechanical recovery in damaged hair from their tung oil-based tests.
- Market research suggests the global organic cosmetics market could rise from $US21.6 billion in 2024 to almost $US35.5 billion by 2034, driven by consumer awareness of harmful ingredients and environmental impact.
Flinders University researchers are pioneering a green chemistry approach to hair repair, utilizing plant-based oils like tung oil to create sustainable biopolymers that restore damaged hair. This innovation, driven by their Vortex Fluidic Device (VFD) technology, addresses the growing demand for natural personal care products and offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional keratin treatments.
