Solid cosmetics for hair care: survey of this trend in the scientific community and in the Brazilian market

Abstract

Solid cosmetics are a viable option to meet new needs in the cosmetics consumer market. There is a growing demand for cosmetics that use less water in their production process, and biodegradable packaging, such as
paper, which is lighter and easier to recycle. Furthermore, the product itself is smaller in size and weight, making it easier and less expensive to transport. It is possible to provide better activity in the treatment of
hair when compared to liquid cosmetics, as they have the advantage of concentrating the active ingredients compared to liquid cosmetics. Solid cosmetics are increasingly consumed, but there is very little scientific 
data on the study of these formulations and their production methods. Knowing this, this work aimed to understand the formulation of solid shampoos and conditioners, their ingredients and production process,
and health regulations. To identify relevant studies, searches were conducted in the Pubmed and CAPES Periodicals databases. The descriptors used were bar shampoo, solid shampoo, bar hair conditioner, solid
hair conditioner, and biocosmetics. Articles published between 2000 and 2023 were selected, which were available in full and in the English language. Research was carried out on the composition of solid shampoos and conditioners currently sold. In the database search, only one article was found that addressed the topic of solid shampoos. In market research into the composition of shampoos and conditioners, it was possible to determine which components are most used, such as surfactants and active ingredients in the formulation. After all the research, it became clear that the scientific community is lacking information about these products, both in research and development and in health regulations.