The Beauty Cluster celebrates the second edition of the Hair Care International Congress, bringing together more than 140 professionals from the hair care and innovation sector. The international event took place in Barcelona at the Business School Management of Pompeu Fabra University, and gathered renowned professionals from the hair care industry. The event was supported by Bicosome, Impag, LipoTrue, Oxiproteomics, and Special Chemicals.
The day began at 9:00 AM with a welcome from Patricia Gisbert, Innovation Manager of Beauty Cluster, who thanked the attendees for being part of this second edition. Following that, Marta Lázaro, Head of Hair Care Lab at Symrise, presented on the rise of curly and wavy hair and how this trend is driving innovation in hair care product textures and formulations. Then, in this first block, Dr. Cristina Fornaguera, Associate Professor of the Bioengineering Department at IQS-URL, explained how pharmaceutical encapsulation technologies are being adapted to the dermatology world, also impacting hair care. Despite the advances, there remains a gap in the market for products that effectively treat specific hair conditions and promote overall hair health. The encapsulation of active ingredients in nanoparticles or microparticles presents a promising solution for selective delivery to hair follicles, optimizing ingredient absorption and minimizing potential side effects. Fornaguera discussed her work, which involves using biodegradable polymer systems and extracellular vesicles to highlight the potential of encapsulation technologies to usher in a new era of personalized and effective hair care solutions.
Next, Diana Dashi, Cosmetic Chemist Designer from the University of Trieste, spoke about the role of dyes in hair care, their impact on hair health, and the most respectful alternatives currently available. Traditional dyes with synthetic components damage the hair in the long term. To address these concerns, there is growing interest in using natural plant-derived dyes. These plant-based options are valued for being biodegradable, sustainable, non-toxic, and widely applicable. Dashi shared the main conclusions of a study conducted on twenty plant extracts aimed at developing effective and long-lasting hair dyeing methods, revealing the results and advances of this study.
The fourth presentation of the day was given by Dr. Raffaella Matarazzo, a biologist and trichologist in Biología del Cabello. Matarazzo explained the changes that occur in the hair and scalp during cancer treatment. During these processes, one of the most common symptoms is hair loss, changes in the scalp's skin, loss of eyebrows and eyelashes, all of which leave side effects on the patient's emotional state. Matarazzo emphasized the biological needs of the scalp during this process to improve the patient's quality of life during treatment.
The honorary guest speaker was Dr. Gillian Westgate, a lecturer at the University of Bradford and Director of Cosmetics Cluster UK and Gill Westgate Consultancy. Westgate shared her presentation on the latest advances in hair biology and their applications in the cosmetic sector. One of the key insights she shared was that, thanks to numerous studies, it is now known that the hair follicle has its own microbiome, which plays a crucial role in the microbiome of the scalp.
The final presentation of the first block was delivered by Dr. Cristina Quílez, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Bioengineering Department of Carlos III University of Madrid, who discussed advances in in vitro testing models for hair care.
After the first round of presentations from industry professionals, attendees enjoyed an hour of networking accompanied by a brunch. The presentations resumed at 1:00 PM with Fernanda Cantú, Marketing & Sales Manager for Spain and Latin America at Beauty Streams. Cantú shared her analysis of the impact of beauty trends on the hair care industry. She explained that macrotrends and beauty movements such as hyper-personalization, scalp health, longevity, and self-expression will profoundly transform the hair care sector.
Following Fernanda Cantú's talk, the Industry Innovation Pitches began. Elaine Ferreira, R&D Project Manager at Lipotrue, discussed the botanical adaptogen power for harmonizing oily scalps. Laia Sallan, Regulatory Affairs Specialist & R&D Manager at Special Chemicals, spoke about the "skinification" of the scalp and the new perspective surrounding scalp care. Diego Barrios, Technical Sales Manager at Bicosome, discussed the key role of lipids in hair integrity and their use in smart technologies to protect and strengthen hair. Andrea Cavagnino, Study Director at Oxiproteomics, explained the new molecular targets for hair repair and protection. Rebeca Alonso discussed combating hair loss through selective delivery technology. Neelam Sagoo, Head of Sales Western Europe at TRI-K Industries of Keyser & Mackay, highlighted the role of keratin and its integrity, explaining how it forms and reverses oxidative damage in hair. Elodie Cuq Arnaud, Hair Care Manager at Seppic – Safic Alcan, shared some insights on consumers' main concerns, such as hydration, and spoke about lipids, ceramides, and the scalp's barrier function. Andrea Grósz, Marketing and Business Development Manager for Hair Care EMEA at dsm-firmenich, dedicated her talk to textured hair and how these types of hair can enjoy pleasure through fragrances. Elena Grau, CEO of EG Active Cosmetics, discussed the role of the scalp microbiome in hair growth and how it can be affected by hair conditions such as dandruff, itching, or scalp flaking. Dr. Òscar Expósito, CEO, CSO, and co-founder of Vytrus Biotech, spoke about innovative techniques to improve hair disulfide bonds: a biotechnological approach. Finally, Shital Bhanushali, Founder of EnzyChroma, discussed the primary mission of her company, an innovative bi-color technology for hair dyeing.
After more than seven hours focusing on hair innovation, Patricia Gisbert, the Innovation Manager of Beauty Cluster, thanked the speakers for their attendance and announced that the date for the next edition is yet to be confirmed.