Hairstyles are one of the first visual features to be observed in people. In order for our hairstyle to stay in the desired shape for longer periods of time, we have to use hair styling products. After the review of literature and the offer on the Slovenian market, we have concluded that the terminology and classification of these products are still a little vague. Considering the active ingredients, they are divided into two groups, products containing emollients and products containing polymers. Since there are always new forms of hair styling cosmetics that are put on the market, we have decided to include powder products in our research as well. We analysed 140 randomly selected products, found in Slovenian stores and on the websites of different cosmetics companies. 77 of them were polymer products, 57 emollient products and 6 powders. During our research, we focused mostly on the main active ingredients and the ingredients, which are often questionable in terms of safety - preservatives, fragrances, dyes and UV-filters. Based on toxicological data that was available, we evaluated safety of the most commonly used ingredients. Due to strict regulations and changes in consumers’ needs, manufacturers are forced into developing new polymer systems. However, based on our research, polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone, polymers that have been used for decades, are still the most commonly present polymers in hair styling products. Synergy can be achieved with the combination of different polymers, yet the products containing only one film-forming polymer were the most frequent. On average, there were four emollients present in emollient products and the most commonly used emollient was beeswax. The most commonly present preservative was phenoxyethanol, which was found in 58% hair styling products. There were 16 out of 26 fragrances, known as allergens, present in reviewed products, among which the most common was linalool, found in nearly two thirds of products. Among all hair styling products only 16% contained dyes, most of which were present in emollient products. The most commonly used dye in coloured products was Brilliant blue FCF, found in 30% of those products. UV-filters were found in one quarter of products, benzophenone-4 being by far the most common, present in 74% of those products. There has also been made a comparison between nine different cosmetics companies, whose products can be found on the Slovenian market. In terms of safety, there was only brand of a certain manufacturer that stood out, due to the highest average number of ingredients and the type of ingredients used, which may increase some risk of causing irritation and allergic reactions.
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