Hair styling foams are among the most commonly used products for temporary hair styling. Their performance is primarily based on ingredients that form a film on the hair surface, enabling hairstyle fixation, volume enhancement, and improvement of the overall appearance of the hair. The aim of this thesis was to examine the composition of hair styling foams available on the Slovenian market and to determine which groups of ingredients occur most frequently in these products.
A total of 50 hair styling foams were collected from drugstores and online stores and their compositions were analysed. Individual ingredients were classified according to their function, and the frequency of their occurrence was determined. Particular attention was paid to ingredients that contribute to hairstyle formation. The products were also categorized according to their price range and the intended purpose stated by the manufacturers.
The results confirmed that polymers represent the most prevalent group of ingredients. In total, 34 different polymers were identified, with polyquaterniums, copolymer VP/VA and polyvinylpyrrolidone being the most frequently used. Among humectants, panthenol was the most common ingredient, while amodimethicone was the most frequently occurring emollient. Vitamins B were the predominant cosmetic active ingredients. UV-filters were also identified, with benzophenone-4 being the most common. The most frequently occurring fragrances were linalool and hexyl cinnamal, while phenoxyethanol was the predominant preservative. Most products belonged to the lower price range, and the majority were intended for volume enhancement and the styling of curls and waves.
The analysis of composition of selected products showed that the formulations of hair styling foams are primarily based on polymers, whereas other groups of ingredients mainly provide complementary, protective, and conditioning effects. None of the analysed products contained ingredients prohibited by European cosmetic legislation.
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