Polymers as Conditioning Agents for Hair and Skin

One class of conditioning agents is cationic (positively charged) quaternary ammonium salts, in which the cationic portion contains the surface active portion. Improvement of conditioning effects on hair and skin has been achieved by virtual replacement of monomeric quaternary ammonium compounds by cationic polymers. Polymers find their chief use as substantive conditioning agents in hair. However, a number of cationic resins find value in skin care because of their emollient smooth feel on the skin (1). Noncationic polymers are also finding a place as conditioning and substantive agents for skin and hair.