How to Use AccessFIX PNP-20 in Your Formulations
Understanding AccessFIX PNP-20
If you’ve ever used a hair gel or hairspray that keeps your style in place all day, you’ve experienced the power of a film-forming polymer. AccessFIX PNP-20 is exactly that—a specialized ingredient that creates a strong, invisible film on the hair to provide hold. Think of it as a microscopic net that locks hair strands together in your desired shape. When you apply the product, the polymer is dissolved in the base (like water or alcohol); as the base evaporates, the polymer molecules link up, forming a stiff, clear coating on the hair.
For the more technical-minded formulator, AccessFIX PNP-20 is a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate. This structure is specifically designed for excellent adhesion to hair, high humidity resistance, and good solubility, making it a reliable and versatile choice for modern styling products. Its primary function is to provide fixation, which is the technical term for “hold.”
Formulation Tips
AccessFIX PNP-20 is a versatile polymer that can be used to achieve various levels of hold. For a light, flexible hold suitable for styling creams, start with a usage rate of 1–3%. For a medium to strong hold in gels and mousses, use between 4–7%. For maximum, firm hold in styling gels or finishing sprays, you can go up to 10%.
This polymer is typically added to the water phase of your formulation. It requires good mixing to ensure it is fully dispersed and hydrated without forming clumps. For best results, sprinkle it slowly into the vortex of your mixing water. It performs well in a typical pH range for hair products, around 5 to 7.
AccessFIX PNP-20 is compatible with many other common hair care ingredients, including conditioning agents, humectants, and other styling polymers. You can blend it with other fixatives to fine-tune stiffness versus flexibility and to customize the sensory profile.
Key Performance Benefits:
- Strong, Durable Hold: Provides excellent fixation to lock hairstyles in place for extended periods, maintaining the desired shape and structure throughout the day.
- Excellent Humidity Resistance: The polymer film creates a barrier against environmental moisture, reducing frizz and preventing style collapse in humid conditions.
- Crystal-Clear Formulations: Dissolves clearly in water, enabling transparent gels and sprays that are visually appealing to consumers.
- Non-Tacky & Clean Feel: When properly formulated, it dries to a clean, non-sticky finish without a gummy or greasy residue.
- Versatile Performance: Works across gels, mousses, sprays, creams, and pomades, giving formulators broad creative freedom.
- Easy Wash-Out: Despite strong hold, it removes easily with standard shampoo to help prevent build-up.