FREE.HOLD 100g

All hair and skin types.

Almost always the first ingredient listed in water-based products.

People looking for smoother, more manageable hair or richer, creamier product textures.

Despite the name, fatty alcohols are moisturising and conditioning rather than drying. They also help stabilise and thicken many haircare formulas.

Those with dry or dehydrated hair types looking for extra moisture retention.

It is a sugar-derived ingredient often used alongside other moisturisers to improve hair softness and manageability. It can also support product texture and stability.

Anyone looking for longer-lasting hold, enhanced definition or improved style memory.

It is widely used in gels, mousses and sprays because it creates a flexible film on the hair shaft. Its performance can vary with humidity, so it is often blended with other polymers for stability.

Those who like richer conditioners or masks that feel smooth and spread easily.

It also offers light conditioning and can help soften the feel of hair. It is widely used in both skincare and haircare for its reliable stabilising properties.

Those who prefer creamy, uniform formulas that spread easily through the hair.

It is widely used in conditioners and styling products to keep formulas stable and consistent. Although derived from fatty acids, it primarily functions as a processing and texture ingredient.

Those with very dry, coarse or textured hair that benefits from richer conditioning.

Lanolin is derived from wool wax and is valued for its ability to boost softness and shine. It can feel rich, so it is typically used in small amounts in modern formulas.

Those who prefer products with a creamy, uniform texture.

It is commonly used in conditioners and styling products to keep formulas consistent and easy to apply. It also supports even distribution of other ingredients through the hair.

Those seeking lightweight natural oils for moisture, shine or scalp comfort.

It is rich in fatty acids that support hair softness without feeling overly heavy. Often used as a carrier oil in both rinse-off and leave-in formulas.

Those seeking smoother, more manageable hair or added moisture without heaviness.

Jojoba oil is structurally similar to natural scalp oils, which makes it versatile in many haircare formulas. It is commonly used to enhance softness and shine.

People who prefer botanical, warming fragrances or who want ingredients that may help invigorate the scalp; those with very sensitive skin should patch-test first.

It provides aroma and contains compounds (eg. cinnamaldehyde, eugenol) that can have antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. It may produce a warming sensation and can be a skin sensitiser in some individuals, so formulations use it diluted and patch testing is recommended for sensitive use.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (true cinnamon) bark extract is used in shampoos, conditioners, serums and scalp treatments for fragrance, perceived scalp stimulation and as a source of polyphenols. The exact composition varies with extraction method; related constituents such as cinnamaldehyde can contribute to aroma and bioactivity and may also be present at low levels in finished products. As with many botanical extracts, manufacturers control concentration to balance efficacy with skin tolerance, and products containing cinnamon extracts can sometimes contain declarable fragrance allergens depending on formulation.

Those who enjoy naturally derived fragrance components in haircare.

As a plant-derived essential oil, its aroma profile can vary slightly between batches. It is used in small amounts to enhance the overall sensory experience of a formula.

Those who enjoy naturally derived essential oil fragrances.

As an essential oil, it is used in small amounts to provide aroma and may also offer a soothing sensory experience. It can contain trace levels of naturally occurring fragrance allergens, which must be listed separately if present above regulatory thresholds.

Those looking for added conditioning support or antioxidant benefits in their haircare.

It is commonly used because it is more stable than pure vitamin E while still offering similar benefits. It appears in many leave-in and rinse-off formulations.

Dry or dehydrated hair, and many curl and moisture routines.

A very common, well-tolerated humectant used across countless products.

Most hair types as part of a balanced formula.

Usually present in small amounts to balance the formula.

All products, especially in hard-water areas.

Used in tiny amounts to keep formulas performing reliably.

All products that need protecting from spoilage.

A very common, well-studied preservative used at low levels.

Anyone who uses water-based products that benefit from reliable preservation.

It is commonly used alongside other preservation systems to maintain product freshness and extend shelf life. It is generally well tolerated in rinse-off and leave-in products.

All products that need a preservative system.

Often paired with other preservatives for broad protection.

A fragrance component that must be listed separately on labels because a minority of people can be sensitive to it. Its presence is normal, required disclosure and is not a quality signal.

A fragrance component that must be listed separately on labels because a minority of people can be sensitive to it. Its presence is normal, required disclosure and is not a quality signal.

Those who enjoy citrus-style fragrances or want products with a fresh aromatic profile.

Citral is naturally present in several essential oils and is listed on labels because it is a recognised fragrance allergen. Only small amounts are typically used to adjust or enhance a product’s scent.

Those who enjoy subtly sweet, complex fragrance profiles in their haircare products.

It is one of the fragrance components that must be listed individually when present above certain levels, as some people may prefer to monitor specific scent materials. Its presence does not indicate the overall strength of a product's fragrance.

People who enjoy a scented product.

Fragrance preference is personal. Some people prefer fragrance-free formulas by choice.