An efficacy and stability study of a natural leave-in hair conditioner with antisolar and antioxidant properties

This work aimed to study the antioxidant and antisolar efficacy and stability of a natural leave-in hair conditioner to support the claims of the product. The formulation was characterized through physical-chemical and organoleptic analysis, antioxidant activity, and determination of the spectrophotometric UVB protection factor. Additionally, tensile test, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were performed on hair strands submitted, or not, to UVA radiation, with and without the previous application of the leave-in conditioner. Also, the formulation was submitted to preliminary and accelerated stability tests to evaluate the maintenance of the antioxidant and antisolar activities. The results showed the protective and restoring effects of the natural leave-in conditioner and the stability of the formulation under normal storage conditions. The efficacy and stability results obtained with this work support the “antioxidant” and “antisolar” claims for the natural leave-in hair conditioner studied. The study presented herein can contribute to the development of the hair cosmetics area, with a special focus on natural leave-in hair conditioners.