Fision KeraVeg18

A VEGETABLE ALTERNATIVE TO ANIMAL KERATIN

 AT A GLANCE
The structure of our hair is composed of three basic parts: the cuticle, cortex and medulla. The cuticle is the
outermost layer and serves to protect the hair fiber. The middle layer, known as the cortex, constitutes 80% of
the hair mass and is responsible for its strength, elasticity and flexibility. The medulla is the innermost layer of
the hair fiber. The hair itself consists predominantly of keratin, which is responsible for its structural properties,
including strength and elasticity. This specialized fibrous protein is composed of 18 amino acids. Keratin
derivatives are important ingredients used in hair care formulations to help improve the overall quality of hair,
usually derived from porcine, ovine or bovine sources.

Fision KeraVeg18 is a vegetable-based alternative to animal keratin that has properties comparable to, and
in some cases better than, hydrolyzed animal keratin. It can be used in any hair care formulations as a more
sustainable product offering. Fision KeraVeg18 is a cohesive solution containing wheat and soy amino acids,
with additional pure amino acids (of fermented vegetable origin) that are carefully selected to mimic the
functional ratios of amino acids in human hair.

RESEARCH METHODS:
• Amino Acid Distribution
• Strengthening Studies
• Elasticity Studies
• Wet & Dry Combing Studies
• Sensory Study
• Antioxidant Capacity
INCI:
Wheat Amino Acids, Soy Amino Acids, Arginine HCl, Serine, Threonine
RECOMMENDED USAGE LEVEL:
2-5%

PRODUCT FEATURES KEY BENEFITS SUGGESTED APPLICATIONS

• Alternative to hydrolyzed • Mimics the functional ratios • Shampoos

animal keratin in human hair amino acids
• Increases hair strength
• Vegetable-based • Conditioners
• Enhances hair elasticity
• Natural • Helps protect hair from
harsh salon processes &
• Leave-on hair treatments
• Paraben-free environmental stressors
• Makes hair look more
• Formaldehyde-free shiny & healthy • Styling products
• Improves combability of hair
• Reduces static & frizz
AMINO ACID COMPOSITION
Fision KeraVeg18 contains wheat amino acids and soy amino acids, in addition to three individual amino
acids; arginine, serine and threonine. These three amino acids were chosen to help mimic the composition
of human hair keratin. Arginine is widely known to help reinforce and strengthen hair fibers. Arginine has
strong affinity to the hair, thereby delivering strong conditioning & hydrating properties. Serine acts as a
precursor to ceramides and delivers conditioning benefits to the hair. Threonine is an essential amino acid
that helps to maintain protein balance in the body.

Amino Acid Distribution Chart Comparison

Amino Acid Hydrolyzed Keratin Fision KeraVeg18
Alanine 5.30 2.72

Arginine 11.41 10.51

Aspartic Acid 8.70 6.44

Cysteine 2.00 0.20

Glutamic Acid 16.27 22.19

Glycine 7.55 8.31

Histidine 1.10 1.28

Isoleucine 2.55 2.73

Leucine 5.60 4.91

Lysine 3.95 2.87

Methionine 0.55 0.86

Phenylalanine 2.40 3.52

Proline 8.21 6.61

Serine 10.46 11.75

Threonine 7.20 9.80

Tyrosine 1.10 2.35

Valine 5.65 2.95

Total 100.00 100.00

Values reported for hydrolyzed keratin are average values of 2 commercially available
hydrolyzed keratins from different suppliers
ARGININE

Arginine helps strengthen & hydrate the hair.

STRENGTH & ELASTICITY
Strength and elasticity are two of the defining qualities of healthy hair. Strong hair can better withstand frequent
combing and styling forces that can otherwise damage or break hair. Increasing the elastic nature of the hair fiber
can improve its resiliency and allow it to stretch during styling without becoming damaged.

IMPROVEMENT IN STRENGTH FOR IMPROVEMENT IN ELASTICITY FOR

RELAXED AFRICAN HAIR RELAXED AFRICAN HAIR
Percent (%) Change in Force Required to Break Hair

R R
B E TT E B E TT E

Percent (%) Improvement in Elastic Extension

4 20
3 3.9% T H AN T H AN
2 15
16%
1 0%
10
0
-1 5
-2.5% 5%
-2 0%
-3 0
2% Fision KeraVeg18 Placebo 2% Hydrolyzed Keratin 2% Fision KeraVeg18 Placebo 2% Hydrolyzed Keratin

Treatment
Treatment Treatment
Treatment

STUDY 1
African Hair Strength & Elasticity Studies
Objective:
To observe benefits Fision KeraVeg18 can deliver when compared to hydrolyzed animal keratin by measuring the
elastic extension and total work required to break individual hair fibers.
Study:
• 90 hair fibers from no-lye relaxed African hair (originally curl type VII)
were divided into 3 groups (30 fibers/treatment)
• Group 1: 2% Fision KeraVeg18 in commercial shampoo & conditioner
• Group 2: 2% Hydrolyzed keratin in commercial shampoo & conditioner
• Group 3: Commercial shampoo & conditioner (placebo)
Hair was relaxed using Soft Sheen Carson Healthy Gloss 5 kit, per manufacturer’s instructions. After relaxing,
hair was treated with 5 cycles of shampoo (1 minute) and conditioner (2 minutes). Hair dried for 24 hours
under ambient conditions. Brass crimps were added to the ends of the fibers following Dia-Stron’s methods.
Results:
In these tests, Fision KeraVeg18 is shown to help counteract hair concerns by improving elasticity and strength.
Improving both elastic extension and strength will make the hair healthier and less prone to damage and breakage
from styling. In these tests, Fision KeraVeg18 appeared to be more effective than hydrolyzed keratin.
 IMPROVEMENT IN STRENGTH FOR IMPROVEMENT IN ELASTICITY FOR
TRIPLE BLEACHED CAUCASIAN HAIR TRIPLE BLEACHED CAUCASIAN HAIR
30

Percent (%) Improvement in Elastic Extension

Percent (%) Change in Force Required to Break Hair

R
30 25 B E TT E
25 20 T H AN
20
25% 15 18%
21%
15 10

10 5 0%
5
0% 0

0 -5
-1%
2% Fision KeraVeg18 Untreated 2% Hydrolyzed Keratin 2% Fision KeraVeg18 Untreated 2% Hydrolyzed Keratin

Treatment
Treatment Treatment
Treatment

STUDY 2
Caucasian Hair Strength & Elasticity Studies
Objective:
To observe benefits Fision KeraVeg18 can offer when compared to hydrolyzed animal keratin by measuring
the elastic extension and total work required to break individual hair fibers.
Study:
• 90 triple bleached Caucasian hair fibers taken from the same swatch
• Group 1: 2% Fision KeraVeg18
• Group 2: 2% Hydrolyzed keratin
• Group 3: Untreated
Hair was soaked a total of 3 times in treatment solutions for 30 minutes. For the first and second treatments,
hair was allowed to dry for 24 hours under ambient conditions. After the last treatment, hair equilibrated for an
hour prior to testing. Brass crimps were then added to the ends of the individual hair fibers following Dia-Stron’s
methods. Elasticity and tensile strength were then determined on the individual hair fibers.
Results:
Overall, the studies performed on both African and Caucasian hair show Fision KeraVeg18 is effective on a variety
of hair types and can help improve properties such as elasticity and tensile strength. In addition to leaving hair
stronger and more resilient, these results also suggest Fision KeraVeg18 may help repair damage caused by
chemically processing the hair.
WET & DRY COMBING
Hair is weakest when wet and is more susceptible to breakage. Dry hair may be difficult to comb towards the
ends, thus requiring the use of excess force that can create split ends and breakage over time.

REDUCTION IN WET COMBING FORCE REDUCTION IN DRY COMBING FORCE

0 0
Percent (%) Decrease in Force Required to Comb Wet Hair

Percent (%) Decrease in Force Required to Comb Dry Hair

-5 -10
9%
-10 -20
15%
-30
-15
38%
-20 -40

-25 -50 53%

59%
-30 -60
67%
-35 -70

-80
-40
43% 43%
-45 -90

2% Fision 2% Hydrolyzed
Application 1 2% Fision 2% Hydrolyzed
Application 5 Application 1 Application 5
KeraVeg18 Keratin KeraVeg18 Keratin

2% Fision KeraVeg18 2% Hydrolyzed Keratin 2% Fision KeraVeg18 2% Hydrolyzed Keratin

STUDY 3
Wet & Dry Studies
Objective:
To show improvements in manageability (wet & dry combing) that Fision KeraVeg18 can provide after multiple
applications compared to the placebo. Results for hydrolyzed animal keratin are also shown for comparison.
Study:
• 9 single bleached brown Caucasian hair swatches approximately 15 cm in length (3 swatches per test material)
• Group 1: 2% Fision KeraVeg18 in shampoo & conditioner
• Group 2: 2% Hydrolyzed keratin in shampoo & conditioner
• Group 3: Shampoo & conditioner (placebo)
The force required to comb the hair was measured using the Dia-Stron MTT175 Miniature Tensile Tester. A pre-
treatment of 10% SLES was used to clarify the hair swatches. After pre-treatment, swatches were dried under
ambient conditions for 24 hours. Hair was then treated with the respective shampoos and conditioners for a total
of 5 cycles. After treatments, the wet combing force was measured. Hair was allowed to dry for 24 hours under
ambient conditions before measuring the dry combing force. For both studies, combing forces were measured
after 1 and 5 applications. All treatments were tested in triplicate.
Results:
The data indicates Fision KeraVeg18 effectively improves manageability
by making hair easier to comb. In addition to improving the overall styling
experience of both wet and dry hair, Fision KeraVeg18 may help limit further
damage. The results also confirm that Fision KeraVeg18 is a good alternative
to hydrolyzed animal keratin by delivering equal combing benefits to wet hair
and greater benefits to dry hair. Improvements in combability are also an
indication of a smoother, healthier cuticle.
 SENSORY STUDY

IMPROVEMENTS IN WET HAIR IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY HAIR

CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS
40 40
37%
35 35 31%
35% 34%
30 30

25
Percent (%) Improvement

25

Percent (%) Improvement

26%
25%
20 20

15 15 16%
14% 15%
15%
13%
10 10 12%
11%
10%
5 5
1% 3%
0 0

Knot Level of Flexibility Knot Styling Shine/

Removal Tangle Formation & Movement Removal Ease Luster Frizz Static

Characteristics Characteristics
2% Fision KeraVeg18 2% Hydrolyzed Keratin 2% Fision KeraVeg18 2% Hydrolyzed Keratin

STUDY 4
Sensory Study
Objective:
To show perceivable improvements in hair after 4 applications of Fision KeraVeg18 by evaluating parameters such as
knot removal, styling ease, flexibility, shine/luster, frizz and static.
Study:
• 5 females of various descents to evaluate mannequin heads with Caucasian hair
• Treatment 1: 2% Fision KeraVeg18 in commercial shampoo & conditioner
• Treatment 2: 2% Hydrolyzed keratin in commercial shampoo & conditioner
A pre-treatment of 10% SLES was used to clarify the head. Evaluators rated the condition of wet & dry hair based on
parameters referenced above. In this half-head study, hair was divided down the middle. Heads were shampooed
and conditioned for a total of 4 cycles with the respective treatment. Subjects rated improvements in wet hair
first. Hair was allowed to dry under ambient conditions for 24 hours prior to performing the dry hair evaluations.
Evaluations were determined on an 11-point scale from 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Results:
In the wet hair evaluation, panelists favored Fision KeraVeg18 for its ability to improve hair flexibility and allow for
easier knot removal. In the dry hair study, panelists rated Fision KeraVeg18 as delivering equal performance benefits
to hydrolyzed keratin. Improving the appearance of hair by increasing shine and reducing frizz will leave hair
looking healthier. These results further demonstrate the multiple benefits Fision KeraVeg18 can deliver to refortify
and rejuvenate the hair.
ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS
Hair is continuously exposed to many types of oxidative damage, which includes Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
that act as free radicals that can damage the hair and scalp. ROS are generated by UV and heat treatments, and
can accelerate the aging of hair, weaken hair fibers and irritate the scalp. In addition, hair is extremely sensitive to
oxidation when wet and can be more easily damaged. Conversely, hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids can help
limit oxidative stress to help prevent further damage.

ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY

250

200
Trolox Equivalents (uM)

150
152 157
100

50

1% Fision KeraVeg18 1% Hydrolyzed Keratin

Ingredient

STUDY 5
Antioxidant Capacity
Objective:
To measure the antioxidant protection Fision KeraVeg18 and hydrolyzed keratin can offer against peroxyl radicals
compared to trolox (a water-soluble Vitamin E analogue.)
Study:
Oxygen Radical Absorbancy Capacity (ORAC) that measures the ability of a material to limit the oxidative degradation
of fluorescein
• Ingredient 1: 1% Fision KeraVeg18
• Ingredient 2: 1% Hydrolyzed keratin
Results:
Based on the ORAC protection study, Fision KeraVeg18 has comparable antioxidant protection to hydrolyzed
keratin to help limit oxidative damage to the hair and scalp.
Fision KeraVeg18
A VEGETABLE ALTERNATIVE TO ANIMAL KERATIN

KEY BENEFITS
• Mimics the functional ratios in human hair amino acids
• Increases hair strength
• Enhances hair elasticity
• Helps protect hair from harsh salon processes & environmental stressors
• Makes hair look more shiny & healthy
• Improves combability of hair
• Reduces static & frizz

SUGGESTED APPLICATIONS
• Shampoos
• Conditioners
• Leave-on hair treatments
• Styling products

TRI-K Industries, Inc. • +1 (800) 526-0372 • info @ tri-k.com • www.tri-k.com

The information contained in this publication is provided in good faith and is based on our current knowledge as of the date hereof. No legally binding promise or
warranty regarding the suitability of our products for any specific use is made. Claim ideas are offered solely for your consideration, investigation and verification. TRI-K
Industries, Inc. will not assume any expressed or implied liability in connection with any use of this information.

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