Comparative Physicochemical Evaluation of Some Marketed Hair Creams in the Nigerian Market

Abstract

Hair is one of the vital parts of the body and a protective appendage on the body and considered accessory structure of integument along with sebaceous glands, sweat glands and nails. Hair creams are widely used by the consumer of the cosmetic industries. Many brands are available in the market under different category for the purpose of cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance and for anti-microbial activities. Ten hair creams brands were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, Physical characterization, pH, Iodine value, Saponification value, Peroxide value, Acid value and Free-fatty acid value. The leading brands of hair creams in the market with code names, APP, TS, PX, COC, SM, DM, S-8, SW, FEM and AT were standardized for their above physicochemical properties. The hair cream samples complied for the requirements by SON. Most of the hair cream's pH were close to the pH of the scalp mantle of 5.50, thus is likely to make the hair creams more scalp compatible and less likely to cause scalp problems. Exception is DM with pH 2.043 ± 0.006. Results from this study also showed that at 95% confidence level, p<0.05, there is significant difference among the physicochemical parameter values of all the hair creams under study.