Personal Care

Make it Bold with Fixate™ Superhold Polymer

Make it Bold
Express yourself! Making a strong statement in styling takes a powerful polymer.  Fixate™ Superhold polymer redefines strong hold, defying gravity as well as humidity.

NEW Fixate Superhold polymer (INCI Name: Polyacrylate-2 Crosspolymer) provides stiff hold and superior humidity resistance. This innovative, patent-pending polymer enables the creation of novel, cost-effective, low-to-high viscosity styling products with high clarity, excellent shine on hair, strong resistance to flaking and superior texture and aesthetics.

Key Benefits of Fixate Superhold Polymer:

  • Stiff hold
  • Superior high humidity resistance
  • Strong resistance to flaking
  • High shine
  • No tack after drying
  • Excellent compatibility with Carbopol® polymers and other thickeners, and commonly used styling additives

Excellent Shine
Single fiber luster analysis was performed using the Goniophotometer. Figure 1 indicates hair fibers treated with Fixate Superhold polymer show an average of 32% improvement in luster (shine) over those treated with PVP K-90, and a 34% increase in luster vs. untreated hair fibers.

Figure 1: Average Percent of Luster of Hair Fibers

High Stiffness
Stiffness of Chinese hair tresses treated with gels based on Fixate Superhold polymer and other fixative polymers was measured using a TA.XT.Plus® Texture Analyser with a 3-point bend fixture. Peak force (N) data show that Fixate™ Superhold polymer provides the highest stiffness, even at high humidity.

Figure 2: Average Stiffness of TressesSuperior Humidity Resistance
To last, styles must defy gravity and resist humidity. Treated tresses were wrapped on spiral rods, allowed to dry overnight, were removed from rods and hung in a humidity chamber (90% RH, 23ºC). As shown in the figure below, Fixate Superhold polymer exhibited superior resistance to humidity compared to traditional hard-hold polymers.

Figure 3: High Humidity Spiral Curl Retention TestResistance to Flaking
Fixate Superhold polymer exhibits strong resistance to flaking. Tresses treated with gels prepared from 2.0 wt% TS fixative polymer (as noted) with 0.3 wt% Carbopol Ultrez 21 polymer, were dried and then combed through. Combs were then compared to detect residue. The photographs below show that Fixate Superhold polymer shows significantly less flaking than PVP (K90) or VP/VA copolymer.

Figure 4: Visual Evaluation of Flaking

Broad Versatility in Styling Applications
Fixate Superhold polymer can easily be formulated into a wide variety of product forms such as:

  • Hair gels and mousses
  • Pump sprays
  • Curl enhancing crèmes
  • Styling waxes
  • Pastes, putties, puddings, glues

Texture and flow can be tailored to preference by altering usage concentration and pH.

Our family of fixative polymers also includes Fixate™ PLUS, and Fixate™ G-100 polymers.
Fixate PLUS polymer is a revolutionary polymer for hair styling that combines long-lasting style support and exceptional humidity resistance.

Fixate G-100 polymer is an acrylic copolymer and hair fixative having a highly branched structure with distinct hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains.

A broad range of hold and stiffness levels, from soft touchable hold to a firm crisp finish can be achieved with various usage levels and formulation techniques. Use the chart below to select the fixative polymer that is right for your application.