Formulation and Evaluation of Hair dye from Atsuete (Bixa orellana L.) Seeds and Alugbati (Basella alba L.) Stem

Abstract

The quest for alternative and organic products has always been common in the community. Parallel group design was used in this study with three treatments groups and one control group and was subjected to spectrophometric analysis, substantivity, and acceptability evaluation. Using Atsuete seed and Alugbati stem, the researchers formulated and evaluated a semi-permanent hair dye from these plants that could be used as alternative hair dye. The researchers evaluated the aborbance level of the Atsuete-alugbati hair dye via spectrophotometer and found that the Treatment 3 (20mL Atsuete seeds dye with 10mL Alugbati stem dye) formulation yield for the least absorbance of light (therefore can protect the hair strands from photodegradation and phototendering).  Compared to Bremod synthetic hair dye in the market, Treatment3 has generally decreasing absorbance level of light in increasing wavelength while Bremod synthetic hair dye has generally increasing absorbance level of light in increasing wavelength. Further, the researcher evaluated the substantivity level (a property of hair dye to retain its color after eight washes) of the hair dye and Treatment3 was rated as ‘Moderately Substantive’ while Bremod synthetic hair dye was rated as ‘Not Substantive’. Furthermore, Atsuete-Alugbati hair dye was found to be generally ‘Highly Substantive’. With this, the use of Atsuete-Alugbati hair dye for home-made use is recommended