Rice Germ Oil and Ferulic Acid Effects on Hair

Abstract

Hair can be significantly damaged following exposure to environmental agents and physical and chemical treatments. The aim of this study concerned the evaluation of the protective and restructuring efficacy of a hair mask containing two rice derivatives: rice germ oil GX-N and ferulic acid. This evaluation was performed on hair damaged by bleaching, UV irradiation, and heat treatment by applying the following techniques: FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), a stress–strain test, polarized light microscopy analysis, and protein loss determination. The application of the masks highlighted an improvement in the characteristics of the hair. Rice germ oil GX-N showed very interesting and protective properties in all the treatments; however, the inclusion of a low concentration of ferulic acid did not provide additional benefits.