AccessFIX PBS-50

High-Performance Hair Fixative Polymer for Strong, Flexible Hold

INCI Name: Methacryloyl Ethyl Betaine Acrylates Copolymer

AccessFIX PBS-50 is a high-performance hair fixative polymer that provides the structure and hold for modern hair styling products. This film-former creates a clear, flexible coating on the hair shaft, delivering excellent style retention and humidity resistance without stiffness or flaking. Ideal for creating everything from firm-hold gels to light hairsprays, it allows formulators to achieve superior performance and a touchable finish.

Perfect For These Applications

Other cosmetic uses possible—contact us for formulation guidance.

Hair Gels

Creates crystal-clear gels with strong, durable hold and excellent style memory, allowing for sculpting and defining without a brittle feel.
Hairsprays (Aerosol & Pump)

Provides a fine, even mist that dries quickly to lock styles in place, offering superior humidity resistance and frizz control for a long-lasting finish.
Styling Mousses & Foams

Delivers volume and hold in a lightweight foam format, enhancing texture and definition without weighing the hair down.
Root Volumizing Sprays

Offers targeted lift and support at the roots, creating a strong foundation for voluminous, full-bodied hairstyles.
Brow Gels & Fixers

Tames and sets eyebrow hairs in place with a clear, non-sticky film for a polished, long-lasting, flake-free finish.
Edge Control Gels

Provides strong, sleek hold for styling edges and flyaways, delivering a polished finish with no residue or flaking.

How to Use AccessFIX PBS-50 in Your Formulations

Understanding AccessFIX PBS-50

If you’ve ever used a hairspray or gel that keeps your style in place all day, you’ve experienced the magic of a fixative polymer. AccessFIX PBS-50 is that key ingredient. Think of it as an invisible, flexible net that coats each hair strand. When you apply your product, the polymer is dissolved in the base (usually water and/or alcohol). As the base evaporates, the polymer molecules link together, forming a clear, strong film that holds the hair in its desired shape.

For the more technical-minded formulator, AccessFIX PBS-50 is an acrylate copolymer that functions as a film-former. Its primary role is to provide stiffness and style retention. What makes it a top choice for modern styling products is its ability to create a film that is both strong and flexible. This means it can withstand humidity and movement without cracking or flaking off, which helps prevent white residue. It provides the hold consumers want with a touchable, natural-looking finish.

Formulation Tips

AccessFIX PBS-50 is a versatile polymer that can be adapted for various hold levels. A good starting point is 1–3% for a light to medium hold, perfect for flexible hairsprays or light mousses. For firm-hold styling gels or maximum-hold sprays, you can increase the concentration to 4–10%. The final hold is directly related to the amount of polymer solids in your formula.

To use it, disperse the liquid polymer into the water phase with gentle mixing until uniform. The polymer is most effective after neutralization. Once fully dispersed, slowly add a neutralizer (such as Triethanolamine/TEA, Aminomethylpropanol/AMP, or Sodium Hydroxide) while mixing. The solution will clear and thicken as it approaches the optimal pH of 6.5–7.5. This "activates" the polymer, enabling viscosity build and maximum holding power.

Key Performance Benefits:

Customizable Hold: Easily adjust the usage level from 1–10% to create a full range of products, from light-hold finishing sprays to maximum-hold sculpting gels.
Excellent Humidity Resistance: Forms a film that helps block moisture from the air, preventing styled hair from drooping or becoming frizzy in humid conditions.
Flexible & Non-Flaking: Creates a strong but pliable film on the hair, allowing for natural movement without stiffness or brittleness and minimizing white residue.
Crystal Clear Formulations: Ideal for transparent styling gels and clear sprays, meeting consumer demand for clean, pure-looking products.
Long-Lasting Style Retention: Provides reliable, all-day hold that maintains shape and definition for hours.
Versatile Application: Suitable for aqueous gels, hydroalcoholic sprays, mousses, and styling creams.

Heading #1
Benefits	Frizz Control, Hair Care Benefits, Hold & Style Retention, Long-Lasting Effect, Multi-Sensory Experience, Performance Enhancement, Texture & Sensory
INCI Name	Methacryloyl Ethyl Betaine Acrylates Copolymer
Usage Rate	1%-10%
Functional Type	Film Formers & Fixatives, Hair Fixative Polymers
Phase Compatibility	Water Phase
Application Area	Hair, Scalp
Product Type Suitability	Gels, Hair Styling
Certifications	Cruelty-Free, Vegan
Physical Form	Liquid

Frequently Asked Questions About AccessFIX PBS-50

It’s the primary ingredient in styling products like hairspray and gel that makes them work. It forms a clear, invisible film on your hair that holds the strands in place, keeping your hairstyle from falling flat or getting frizzy.

For a light, flexible hold (like in a light hairspray), use 1–3%. For a strong, firm hold (like in a sculpting gel), use 4–10%. The more you use, the stronger the hold will be.

First, mix it into the water part of your recipe until it’s evenly distributed. Then, “activate” it by adding a neutralizer (e.g., TEA or AMP) slowly while stirring. As the pH approaches 6.5–7.5, the mixture will clear and thicken, indicating proper activation.

AccessFIX PBS-50 is designed to create a flexible, non-brittle film. It provides strong hold without excessive stiffness and resists flaking, minimizing white residue when brushing.

It’s ideal for crystal-clear hair gels, aerosol or pump hairsprays, styling mousses for volume, root-lift sprays, edge control gels, and even brow gels to keep eyebrows in place.

Yes. The film is designed to be broken down by water and surfactants (the cleansing agents in shampoo), so it rinses cleanly without buildup.

Neutralization adjusts the pH to the polymer’s optimal range (about 6.5–7.5) using a mild alkali. This step activates the polymer so it can build viscosity and deliver maximum hold.

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