L’Oréal has secured a U.S. patent for an innovative technique that reshapes keratin fibers without relying on traditional chemical processes, such as reduction or oxidation, which are often associated with hair damage.
The patented method was developed by Saki Tsuzuki and Natsumi Komure, based in Musashino and Kawasaki, Japan, respectively. The official assignee on the patent is L’Oréal, headquartered in Paris. The patent, numbered US 12,324,849 B2, outlines a step-by-step procedure involving a specially designed composition and a controlled heating process.
At the core of the method is the application of a formulation that includes magnesium gluconate. This ingredient is used in a concentration ranging from 0.01% to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the mixture. Notably, the composition maintains a pH level in the range of 8.0 to 12.0, conditions that allow it to function effectively without altering the internal chemical bonds of the keratin.
Once the product is applied, the keratin fibers are subjected to heat, with temperatures ranging from 70°C to 180°C. This thermal step is key to reshaping the fibers while maintaining their structural integrity. After heating, the fibers are rinsed to complete the process.
This approach does not involve any chemical processes that would reduce or oxidize the keratin structures. That sets it apart from some conventional fiber reshaping methods, although the patent does not elaborate on comparative mechanisms.