Lignin gel emulsions for environmentally benign hair conditioning.

Summary

This work introduces fully biobased micellar lignin gel emulsions that condition hair and match commercial benchmarks in stability, rheology, and performance. A 6% coconut oil formulation reduced wet combing force by 13% on damaged hair, and the solvent-free process simplifies ingredients and sustainability.

Key Findings

• Micellar lignin gels stabilized triglyceride oil emulsions with commercial-comparable stability and rheology.
• A 6% coconut oil lignin gel reduced wet combing force of damaged hair by 13%.
• Solvent-free processing simplified ingredient lists and supports environmentally benign lignin utilization.

Clinical Implications

While not a clinical trial, reducing surfactant load and simplifying formulations may benefit patients with sensitive scalp or contact dermatitis; dermatologists can monitor emerging safety data as greener conditioners enter the market.

Limitations

• No in vivo human scalp/consumer sensory testing
• Limited range of oil types and concentrations evaluated

Future Directions

Conduct human use and safety studies, broaden oil and polymer composition space, perform life-cycle assessment and biodegradability testing, and assess compatibility with sensitive scalp/atopic dermatitis populations.