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. 2023 Jul 9;8(3):296.
doi: 10.3390/biomimetics8030296.

Protection and Restoration of Damaged Hair via a Polyphenol Complex by Promoting Mechanical Strength, Antistatic, and Ultraviolet Protection Properties

Hyun Jeong Won  1 , Tae Min Kim  1 , In-Sook An  2 , Heung Jin Bae  3 , Sung Young Park  1   4
Affiliations

Protection and Restoration of Damaged Hair via a Polyphenol Complex by Promoting Mechanical Strength, Antistatic, and Ultraviolet Protection Properties

Hyun Jeong Won et al. Biomimetics (Basel). .

Abstract

In this study, we developed a hair-coating polyphenol complex (PPC) that showed ultraviolet (UV) protection properties, antistatic features, and the capability to enhance the mechanical strength of damaged hair. PPCs prepared with different ratios of tannic acid (TA), gallic acid (GA), and caffeic acid (CA) simultaneously increased the self-recovery of damaged hair by protecting the cuticle. PPC prevented light from passing through the damaged hair during exposure to UV radiation. Moreover, surfaces coated with PPC1 (TA:GA:CA, 100:20:0.5) exhibited a higher conductivity than surfaces coated with PPCs with other ratios of TA, GA, and CA, with a resistance of 0.72 MΩ. This influenced the antistatic performance of the surface, which exhibited no electrical attraction after being subjected to an electrostatic force. Additionally, damaged hair exhibited a significant increase in durability and elasticity after coating with a PPC1-containing shampoo, with a tensile strain of up to 2.06× post-treatment, indicating the recovery of the damaged cuticle by the PPC complex. Furthermore, PPC1-containing shampoo prevented damage by scavenging excess reactive oxygen species in the hair. The combination effect promoted by the natural PPC offers new insights into hair treatment and paves the way for further exploration of hair restoration technology.

Keywords: UV protection; antistatic; caffeic acid; gallic acid; polyphenol; tannic acid.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
(a) Schematic illustration of polyphenol complex (PPC) synthesis using tannic acid (TA), gallic acid (GA), and caffeic acid (CA), (b) application of PPC-containing shampoo for hair protection and repair.
Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Ultraviolet (UV)–visible light spectra of PPC1, PPC2, PPC3, and PPC4. (b) Photograph of the UV light protection properties of PPC1, PPC2, PPC3, and PPC4 in the presence of visible (upper) and UV light (lower). PPC, polyphenol complex; DDW, double-distilled water; a.u., arbitrary units.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fourier transform infrared spectra of PPC1, PPC2, PPC3, and PPC4.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Coating stability of PPC-coated silicon (Si) wafer. (a) Source meter measurement, and (b) water contact angle of the bare silicon (Si) wafer, PPC1, PPC2, PPC3, and PPC4 without (0 times) and with (10 times) consecutive washing (n = 3).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Antistatic effect of PPC1-, PPC2-, PPC3-, and PPC4 shampoo-treated hair samples tested using a rubbed balloon. PPC, polyphenol complex.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of damaged hair samples (treated with H2O2 at 0, 6, and 9%) treated without (control) and with PPC1 shampoo (samples 1–3). (b) Confocal microscopy images of damaged hair samples treated without (control) and with PPC1 shampoo (samples 1–3). Yellow arrows defined the depth profile measurement location.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Tensile strength of damaged hair samples (treated with H2O2 at 0, 6, and 9%) treated without (control) and with the PPC1 shampoo (samples 1–3).
Figure 7
Figure 7
DPPH radical inhibition by PPC1, non-PPC shampoo, and PPC1 shampoo (n = 3, *** p ≤ 0.001). DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; PPC, polyphenol complex.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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