A Study on the Hair Protective and Ameliorating Effects of Sedum takesimense Leaf Extract on Damaged Hair

This study was conducted to verify the functional efficacy of Sedum takesimense extract on damaged hair. First, control hair samples soaked in purified water and experimental hair samples soaked in Sedum takesimense extract were prepared to measure their methylene blue absorbance and moisture loss rate. In addition, to determine whether the hair-protective effect of the Sedum takesimense extract is maintained under physicochemical damage conditions, permanent waving and UV treatments were applied to the hair samples soaked in each solution before establishing the final control and experimental groups. Subsequently, the differences between the two groups were compared by measuring methylene blue absorbance, moisture loss rate, tensile strength, and wave efficiency.The results of the study are as follows. First, a comparison between the hair samples soaked in purified water and those soaked in Sedum takesimense extract revealed that the experimental group treated with the extract exhibited a decreasing trend in methylene blue absorbance and moisture loss rate compared to the control group treated with purified water. This suggests that treatment with Sedum takesimense extract may positively contribute to improving hair surface properties by lowering the degree of dye adsorption on damaged hair and mitigating moisture loss.Second, even in hair samples secondarily subjected to physicochemical damage through permanent waving and UV treatment, the Sedum takesimense extract-treated group showed a tendency for reduced methylene blue absorbance and moisture loss rate compared to the control group, while significantly increasing tensile strength and wave efficiency. These findings demonstrate that Sedum takesimense extract can alleviate the structural weakening of hair under damaging conditions and help maintain its physical properties. In conclusion, Sedum takesimense extract is considered a promising material for hair protection and improvement, exerting positive effects on the surface properties, moisture retention, tensile strength, and wave formation of damaged hair. However, the findings of this study are limited to evaluations based on methylene blue absorbance, moisture loss rate, tensile strength, and wave efficiency, and do not directly elucidate whether the active components of the extract are absorbed into the hair shaft. Therefore, future studies should evaluate the practical safety and efficacy of the extract by applying it to various hair care product formulations and conducting further analyses to confirm the surface adhesion and internal penetration of its components.