pindakaas
21 september 2003, 20:11
Secret of African hair is uncovered
L’Oréal, the French cosmetics multinational, today unveils the first scientific research into how African hair grows, as part of its multimillion-pound drive to capture the neglected hair care market for black people.
The results are being revealed by scientists from L’Oréal and the Howard University, at the International Symposium on Ethnic Hair and Skin in Chicago.
The scientists have discovered that the African hair bulb is a completely different shape from that of Caucasians. The bulb is curved, forcing the hair to grow in a tightly curled fashion. A strand of African hair has an elliptical cross-section and a different lipid content to Caucasian hair, giving it a tendency to be uneven in texture, drier and more fragile.
The research is already leading to new shampoos that reduce hair breakage, part of L’Oréal’s drive to capture a big chunk of the $1.7 billion global market in ethnic hair products.
The cosmetics giant, which owns Soft Sheen Carson, is the market leader in the US and South Africa, selling hair relaxers and shaving products for black men.
New hair care products for black people are in the pipeline, L’Oréal said, thanks to an $11 million investment three years ago in its Ethnic Hair and Skin Institute in Chicago. With about 1.5 million people of African descent living in Britain, L’Oréal believes there is a large and neglected market for the Soft Sheen Carson brand.
Alain Evrard, L’Oréal’s director for Africa, said that the US and French markets together could be worth as much as €100 million.
He said: “Even in the US, major retailers such as Walmart only have 40 per cent of the market. We want to make this market mainstream.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voor de mensen die misschien weer eens wat anders willen dan kroeshaar zit er waarschijnlijk een goed middel aan te komen.
Peace.
L’Oréal, the French cosmetics multinational, today unveils the first scientific research into how African hair grows, as part of its multimillion-pound drive to capture the neglected hair care market for black people.
The results are being revealed by scientists from L’Oréal and the Howard University, at the International Symposium on Ethnic Hair and Skin in Chicago.
The scientists have discovered that the African hair bulb is a completely different shape from that of Caucasians. The bulb is curved, forcing the hair to grow in a tightly curled fashion. A strand of African hair has an elliptical cross-section and a different lipid content to Caucasian hair, giving it a tendency to be uneven in texture, drier and more fragile.
The research is already leading to new shampoos that reduce hair breakage, part of L’Oréal’s drive to capture a big chunk of the $1.7 billion global market in ethnic hair products.
The cosmetics giant, which owns Soft Sheen Carson, is the market leader in the US and South Africa, selling hair relaxers and shaving products for black men.
New hair care products for black people are in the pipeline, L’Oréal said, thanks to an $11 million investment three years ago in its Ethnic Hair and Skin Institute in Chicago. With about 1.5 million people of African descent living in Britain, L’Oréal believes there is a large and neglected market for the Soft Sheen Carson brand.
Alain Evrard, L’Oréal’s director for Africa, said that the US and French markets together could be worth as much as €100 million.
He said: “Even in the US, major retailers such as Walmart only have 40 per cent of the market. We want to make this market mainstream.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voor de mensen die misschien weer eens wat anders willen dan kroeshaar zit er waarschijnlijk een goed middel aan te komen.
Peace.