Jong-Jun Kim

Change of Physical/Mechanical Property of Human Hair by Treatment using Water Soluble Chitosan

Chitosan is an environment-friendly and natural cationic polymer that can be used as a hair cosmetic additive. Healthy hair and damaged hair samples were experimented on according to treatment conditions using a water-soluble chitosan. Chitosan treated hair samples were studied on the physical and mechanical property changes. It is most effective when the water-soluble chitosan treatment was adjusted to the Neutral (pH6.8) or Acid (pH4.5). When the water soluble chitosan was treated at pH4.5, the tensile strength, tensile elongation, and elasticity of decolorized hair all increased. The virgin and damaged hair both changed into elastic and soft hair. The effect of chitosan treatment is more noticeable in the healthy hair than in the damaged hair.