The Role of Sericin, a Natural Silk Protein for Hair, in Modern Hair Care Products: Enhancing Hydration, Strength, and Protection
The global hair care market is projected to reach a size of $107.31 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 3.40% from 2024 to 2029. The market is driven by factors such as the improved quality of life, the impact of beauty and personal care on self-esteem, and the steady consumer shift toward premium and luxury hair care brands. Sericin, a natural protein from Silk Cocoons is a phenomenal active ingredient to make quality products for Health conscious, Natural, Gen Z customers. Let us understand how ?
Types of Hair Care Products
The hair care market offers a wide range of products, each with a specific purpose:
Shampoos: Cleanse the scalp and hair, removing dirt, oil, and product buildup. They come in different formulations to address specific hair concerns like dryness, oiliness, dandruff, etc.
Conditioners: Moisturize and smooth the hair cuticle, improving manageability, softness, and shine. Rinse-out, leave-in, and deep conditioning formulas are available.
Hair Oils and Serums: Provide intense nourishment and hydration, especially for dry or damaged hair. They can help tame frizz and flyaways.
Styling Products: Include gels, mousses, waxes, and hair sprays to help create and hold hairstyles, add volume, or provide a glossy finish.
Hair Masks and Treatments: Deeply condition and repair damaged hair, often with the help of active ingredients like proteins, vitamins, and botanical extracts.
Effective Active Ingredients in Hair Care
Proteins (e.g., keratin, collagen, silk proteins): Help strengthen and repair damaged hair, improve elasticity, and protect the hair structure.
Vitamins (e.g., vitamin E, vitamin B): Nourish the hair and scalp, promoting healthy growth and preventing breakage.
Botanical Extracts (e.g., aloe vera, argan oil, coconut oil): Provide deep hydration, reduce frizz, and offer antioxidant protection.
Synthetic Polymers (e.g., silicones, acrylates): Create a smooth, glossy finish, improve manageability, and protect hair from heat damage.
Sericin: An Alternate or Enhancing Active Ingredient
Sericin, a natural protein derived from silk, has gained attention in the hair care industry due to its potential benefits:
Hydration and Moisture Retention: Sericin is a highly hydrophilic protein that can help improve hair’s moisture content and prevent dryness. This can be particularly beneficial for damaged or chemically treated hair. Sericin’s high serine content (30-33%) allows it to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, leading to increased hydration.
Anti-Frizz and Hair Straightening Properties: Sericin can form a protective film on the hair surface, helping to smooth the cuticle and reduce frizz. Some studies have also suggested that sericin may have mild hair straightening effects. The film-forming ability of sericin is attributed to its high content of hydrophobic amino acids like alanine and valine [1][2].
Anti-static properties: The natural anti-static qualities of silk proteins help prevent flyaways and static-induced frizz [21].
Strengthening and Repair: Sericin can help strengthen hair fibres and repair damage caused by environmental factors or chemical treatments. Sericin’s amino acid composition, particularly the presence of cysteine, allows it to form disulfide bridges that reinforce the hair structure[1][2].
Cuticle sealing: Sericin helps seal damaged cuticles on the hair shaft . This smoothing of the hair surface reduces roughness that can lead to frizz. [22]
Enhancing Other Active Ingredients: Sericin can be used in combination with other hair care actives, such as proteins, vitamins, and botanical extracts, to enhance their effectiveness. The hydrophilic nature of sericin can help improve the penetration and performance of these ingredients[1][2].
Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties: Sericin has been found to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help protect the scalp and hair from oxidative stress and inflammation. The antioxidant activity of sericin is attributed to its amino acid composition, particularly the presence of serine, threonine, and tyrosine[1][2].
Comparing Hydrolyzed Silk Proteins to Active Ingredient Alternatives.
- Sericin vs. Argan Oil:
- Sericin: Forms a protective film on the hair surface, smoothing the cuticle and reducing frizz more effectively due to its high content of hydrophobic amino acids like alanine and valine.
- Argan Oil: Primarily works by moisturizing and nourishing the hair, providing deep hydration and reducing frizz.
- Sericin vs. Keratin:
- Sericin: Coats the hair, forming disulfide bridges that reinforce the hair structure, making it gentler on the hair and less likely to cause damage with repeated use.
- Keratin: Often used in hair straightening treatments, very effective at smoothing the hair cuticle but can cause damage with repeated use.
- Sericin vs. Hyaluronic Acid:
- Sericin: Not only helps retain moisture but also forms a protective layer on the hair, offering more comprehensive benefits for frizz control and cuticle protection.
- Hyaluronic Acid: A powerful humectant that draws moisture from the air to hydrate the hair.
- Sericin vs. Glycerin:
- Sericin: Offers hydrating benefits and is more effective at smoothing the hair cuticle due to its film-forming properties.
- Glycerin: Commonly used for its humectant properties, helping to reduce frizz by keeping hair hydrated.
- Sericin vs. Silicones (e.g., Dimethicone):
- Sericin: Provides similar smoothing benefits without the risk of buildup, making it a potentially better option for long-term use.
- Silicones: Widely used for their ability to smooth the hair cuticle and reduce frizz but can sometimes lead to buildup on the hair.
In conclusion, sericin is a promising natural active ingredient that can be used in modern hair care products to enhance hydration, strength, and protection, as well as provide anti-frizz and mild hair straightening benefits. Its unique properties and beneficial effects make it a valuable alternative or complement to traditional hair care activities.
Modern day formulators, D2C cosmetics, and hair care brands targeting Gen Z and Millennials can source high-quality sericein from Serione (www.serione.com), a leading supplier of silk-derived ingredients in India, to create innovative and effective natural hair care formulations backed by scientific research.
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Citations:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9699483/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5124675/
[3] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228823994_Silk_sericin_and_its_applications_A_review
[4] https://blissy.com/blogs/the-blissy-blog/how-the-silk-protein-sericin-helps-hair-and-skin
[5] https://journalajob.com/index.php/AJOB/article/view/321
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0731708519329590
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[8] https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/5/4951
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4822939/
[10] https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/22/4931
[11] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271969543_Study_on_the_Application_of_Sericin_in_Cosmetics
[12] https://www.ubersilk.com/silk-protein/
[13] https://patents.google.com/patent/US20120164196A1/en
[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10003638/
[15] https://www.clinikally.com/blogs/news/how-mulberry-silk-transforms-your-skin-and-hair
[16] https://www.scientific.net/AMR.796.416
[17] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S001393512300213X
[18] https://patents.google.com/patent/US8709455B2/en
[19] https://jnanobiotechnology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12951-021-00774-y
[20] https://www.dsm.com/personal-care/en_US/products/skin-bioactives/sericin.html
[21] https://spotstyl.com/blogs/news/do-silk-scrunchies-prevent-hair-loss-frizziness
[22] https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2017042048A1/en