Thermoplastic Polymer Technology that Makes Heat-setting Hair Easy and Gives Hairstyles a Smooth, Soft Finish, and Application of the Technology

The rapid spread of hair irons now enables us to enjoy a rich variety of hairstyles. Yet for some hair styles, types, and strengths, shaping the hair even after repeated ironing is difficult, and the style may only last a few hours.

Endeavoring to solve this problem, Kao designed a styling product for hair irons that is softened by the heat of a hair iron to help with styling. The product forms a strong film at room temperature to retain a smooth, soft feel for a long time.
We worked together with the Fundamental Research Laboratory and succeeded in developing a heat-softening polymer that has a hydrophilic hard segment which is plasticized by heat and a hydrophobic soft segment that gives a smooth, soft finish. These segments form a microscopic phase-separated structure, which enables the polymer to combine the characteristics of both, and to achieve strong heat-setting properties, smooth glide of hair iron, and produces a long-lasting style that feels good to touch.

We applied this polymer technology to develop a hairstyling product so you can make the hairstyle you want regardless of hair type, with a smooth, soft feel that lasts all day long.