If you are not familiar with the amino acid-rich seed which has a fluffy, slightly crunchy texture, then let me introduce you to the protein - quinoa. Although it is not exactly a staple in the kitchen yet, as more people gravitate toward healthier living, more cooks are adding it to vegetarian dishes because of its high protein content.
While many consider quinoa a grain, it is actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard. It is a recently rediscovered ancient “grain” once considered “the gold of the Incas.”
Well, this is not a food blog so let me get to the point Quinoa is high in complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. There is a new formulation in the works that uses quinoa as one of its main ingredients.
This new hair conditioning ingredient is designed to help hair retain moisture and repair damage left by chemical treatments (hair color, chemical straighteners, perms, etc).
This hydrolyzed protein from the South American grain Quinoa binds to the hair shaft and penetrates the cortex, helping to repair damage deep in the hair.
According to testing, after 5 treatments, the formulation showed a 32% improvement to the outside of the hair and a 26% reduction of damage inside the hair cortex.
While this new ingredient will primarily be used in hair care, it might eventually break into the skin care arena.
Are you a little rough on your hair (colors, straighteners, perms)? Would you try a product that is made from quinoa?
Tags: quinoa, quinoa hair treatments
