Reader Question: Living Proof Products

This post comes courtesy of my tweet buddy CHM! In case you have not heard of these products, here is a synopsis. Bob Langer (a pretty prolific scientist at MIT) joined up with a company to produce hair products. The biggest question was frizz but they have expanded on to thickening products and hair sprays.





 



How do they define frizz?

They define frizz as expansion of hair due to humidity




How do the products work?


The products work by blocking out water (so no, these products are not moisturing, but may work to seal in moisture).



What is new about the products? 

Most frizz products are based on silicone. These are supposed to be better because they use a different polymer (silicone is a polymer fyi). These polymer is identified as polyfluoroester



What is a polyfluoroester?

Teflon the non stick coating on pans is a type of polyfluoroester (Please note that I did not say that living proof contains teflon!). These type of polymers repel water quite well which is the basis of the technology. According to living proof, the polymers are supposed to also be smaller and more easily spread compared to silicone



What about the science? 

Frankly Bob Langer's group can do better. In order to convince me as a scientist, I would love to see real published results. L'oreal with their ceramide product did atleast show us a chemical map of hair showing where the product deposited (TOF SIMS for the budding scientists out there). They also have published results of tests proving that ceramides are beneficial for relaxed hair.





The scientists behind living proof instead give us a few videos with conceptual ideas. They show us visual tests too which while pretty standard are extremely subjective!



Are the products worth the money?


1. Silicone technology has moved on alot and there are plenty of new types. Therefore some silicone based products will work perfectly fine.

2. There is no guarantee that you will like this product, there have been mixed reviews (do an internet search). Many people seem to rate the styling cream highly but not the shampoo or conditioner.

3. Remember these products promise to repel water from your hair- Don't say I didn't warn you.