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Panthenol is a prominent name in the cosmetic industry. It is a well-known beauty ingredient which is used extensively in many skin care and hair care products. In skincare, Panthenol is known for its nourishing, moisturizing, healing, regenerating and revitalizing properties, which help to keep your skin soft, smooth and supple. It forms a thin film over the surface of your skin, thereby protecting your skin from dry weather conditions. Panthenol is equally beneficial for your hair as it moisturizes and nourishes your hair. This makes your hair smooth, silky and shiny, thereby adding volume and bounce to your hair. Major skincare and haircare brands have capitalized on the incredible properties of Panthenol and have launched their premium range of skincare and hair care products which have this ingredient. Today in this article we are going to elaborate on the hair care benefits of Panthenol. So let’s get started.
What Is Panthenol
Panthenol which is a key ingredient in many cosmetic products is a chemical substance which is derived from Pantothenic Acid or Vitamin B5 produced readily in all living beings be it plants, animals or human beings. Panthenol is transparent and has got a thick viscous consistency at room temperature. It is also available in the form of white powder. Panthenol is also known as the alcoholic analog of Pantothenic Acid. Panthenol is the precursor of Vitamin B5 and when absorbed into our body gets easily converted into Vitamin B5. Panthenol is able to easily penetrate through the different layers of skin as compared to Vitamin B5, hence extensively used in the cosmetic industry as compared to Vitamin B5.
Panthenol is available in 2 forms
- D-Panthenol or Dexpanthenol
- L-Panthenol
Panthenol is considered to be a chiral molecule in which the molecular structure of 2 sides is the mirror image of each other. Both the D and L forms of Panthenol are the mirror images of each other. Among the 2 forms of Panthenol, D-Panthenol is considered to be biologically more active. When Panthenol is absorbed into our body it gets readily converted to Vitamin B5.
Synonyms Of Panthenol Visible On The Ingredient List
- Provitamin B5
- Dexpanthenol
- Butanamide
- D-pantothenyl alcohol
- Alcohol analog of Pantothenic Acid
Next time you happen to see the above-mentioned names on the list of ingredients in your favourite cosmetic products, then you need not be confused. It is the same old Panthenol which is listed under different names and is used in a wide range of beauty, cosmetic products to hydrate and nourish your skin and hair.
Also Read : Provitamin B5- An Elixir For Your Hair
Benefits Of Panthenol In Hair Care
Has your dry, dull, frizzy and brittle hair become a concern for you? Many people face the same issue, the reason being extreme climatic conditions, pollution, inappropriate lifestyle and excessive use of styling tools to name a few. All these take a toll on your hair and give rise to various scalp and hair issues. In order to keep hair issues at bay, you should always keep your scalp and hair well nourished, conditioned and moisturized. And Panthenol is always there for your rescue as it helps to keep your scalp nourished and your hair moisturized, enhancing the texture and appearance of your strands. Thus, Panthenol has secured a prominent place in a wide range of hair care products. Let’s dig deeper to find out more on how is Panthenol beneficial in hair care.
1. Acts As An Excellent Humectant
Humectants are known to hydrate your hair and scalp. It absorbs moisture from the surroundings and helps to retain moisture for a longer period of time. The increased level of moisturization is known to keep your scalp and strands from drying out. It helps to nourish your scalp and maintain its optimal health. It helps to condition your strands thereby making it soft, smooth and shiny.
2. Forms A Protective Coating On Your Strands
Panthenol forms a thin protective coating on your strands thereby protecting your strands from environmental aggressors such as extreme weather, pollution and due to exposure to the sun’s UV rays. It also protects your hair from the damage caused due to the excessive use of styling tools and chemical-laden hair care products. This protective coating over your strands seals the natural oils in your strands and easily reflects the light, making your hair look shiny and glossy.
3. Increases The Elasticity Of Your Strand
Dry hair tends to break easily because dryness causes your hair to become more brittle. Panthenol adds elasticity to your strands as it retains the moisture in your strands, thereby increasing its flexibility. When your strands are more flexible then it does not break while combing. Increased elasticity adds strength to hair and makes it less prone to breakage.
4. Gets Easily Absorbed Into The Scalp
Panthenol is known to be the derivative of Vitamin B5 which is found in your body due to which Panthenol is able to penetrate deeper into the scalp and provides moisturization and nourishment to your scalp, thus maintaining a healthy scalp. A well-nourished scalp is devoid of dandruff, itchiness and irritation of the scalp.
5. Boosts Cell Regeneration
As Panthenol is easily absorbed into the scalp, it plays an important role in the metabolic regeneration of epidermal cells which accelerates the healing process of the damaged scalp and strands.
6. Adds Thickness To Your Hair
Panthenol is considered to be an excellent humectant as it absorbs the water from surrounding and at the same time retains the water. This enhances the texture and appearance of your strands. The increased moisture content in your hair shaft causes it to swell to accommodate extra water which makes your thin hair appear thicker. Panthenol adds thickness to your strands and makes your hair look denser and fuller.
Panthenol is known to be soluble in water and added to a wide range of hair care products. Panthenol is incorporated in hair care products which are known to moisturize your scalp and strands such as shampoos and conditioners. Due to its emollient property, Panthenol is also incorporated in hair creams, mousses. These beneficial properties help to get rid of dry, dull and frizzy hair, making your hair silky soft, smooth, shiny and bouncy.
7. Makes Your Dry Hair More Manageable
Panthenol makes your dry and frizzy hair more manageable as it helps to keep your strands moisturized. Panthenol which acts as a humectant attaches itself to the cuticles of the hair making the hair smooth and soft. Wet hair gets tangled easily and Panthenol helps your strands to detangle without causing friction. Using Panthenol based conditioner helps to detangle your hair and makes it more manageable.
Uses Of Panthenol
Panthenol or Pantothenic Acid resemble each other in biological activities. Panthenol changes to Pantothenic Acid or Vitamin B5 in the skin. Panthenol is used in many skincare, haircare and personal care products due to its beauty-enhancing properties. It makes your skin and hair nourished, moisturized, conditioned and is known to repair the damaged cells and tissues.
1. Skincare Products
Because of its emollient properties, Panthenol is used in creams, lotions, foundations, lipsticks, mascaras etc. It is also used in many skincare ointments to treat various dry skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis. It is present in several skincare ointments used to treat insect bites and diaper rashes.
2. Hair Care Products
Panthenol is used in a wide variety of hair care products such as shampoos, conditioners, leave-in conditioners, serums, hair creams, hair masks and mousses.
You can check out Anveya Instant Volumizer Serum enriched with keratin for instant hair volume. It contains Plant keratin for deep strengthening, Vitamin B5 for hydration of hair follicles to promote healthy hair growth and Mandarin extract for instant shine and bounce for hair.
ANVEYA INSTANT VOLUMIZER SERUM,120ML
• Add instant and long-lasting volume.
• Achieve noticeably thick and shiny hair.
• Act as a heat protectant.
• End your lifelong struggle with limp,flat hair strand.
3. Nail Products
Panthenol is used to add strength to your nails and keeps it hydrated. Hence used in many nail strengthening and nail care products. It also adds shine to your nails, hence used in nail paints. It is widely used in cuticle oils and hand creams.
Thus, Panthenol has become a key ingredient in various cosmetic products due to its incredible benefits.
Side Effect Of Panthenol
Panthenol is considered to be mild and safe for topical use. Side effect on your skin or scalp due to Panthenol is generally very rare, but in some cases, it is known to cause contact dermatitis. In haircare, Panthenol is not much beneficial for porous hair as it penetrates deeply into the hair shaft and tends to make it brittle. It is always recommended to perform a patch test if you are using it for the first time. It is also considered to be safe for ingestion in limited quantities as it is used as a nutritional supplement in many beverages.
Also Read: D-Panthenol - Benefits And Uses For Skin And Hair
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