What it is
The register’s chemical name for it: “2-Pyrrolidinone, 1-ethenyl-, homopolymer.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- PVP
- CAS number
- 9003-39-8
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for PVP in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Hair fixing
-
Holds a style in place. Gels, foams and creams that promise hold list these near the top.
Register definition: “Permitting physical control of hair style.”
- Antistatic
-
Cuts the static that makes dry hair fly away. Many conditioning ingredients carry this role too, because both work at the hair’s surface.
Register definition: “Preventing and/or reducing static electricity by neutralising electrical charge on surfaces.”
- Emulsion stabilizing
-
Keeps a cream’s oil and water from separating on the shelf.
Register definition: “Helping the process of emulsification and improving emulsion stability and shelf-life.”
- Film forming
-
Leaves a thin, continuous film on the hair as it dries. Polymers in gels and foams carry it; the film is what feels like a cast.
Register definition: “Producing (upon application) a continuous film on the skin, hair or nails.”
- Viscosity controlling
-
Makes a product thicker or thinner, so a gel holds its shape or a shampoo pours. Gums, cellulose and some salts carry this role.
Register definition: “Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.”
- Binding
-
Holds powders or pressed products together. On a hair label it usually sits beside another listed use.
Register definition: “Providing adhesive properties during and after compression in cosmetic tablets and/or cakes.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Rinse-out conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Stylers 9 labels First five names: 4 of 9 Stylers without it
- Heat protectants 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Heat protectants without it
- Curl refreshers 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Curl refreshers without it
Every label, product by product (14)
- Cécred Hydrating Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 40th of 50 names
- Giovanni Curl Habit Curl Shaping Hair Gel Styler 2nd of 21 names
- The Doux BIG POPPA Defining Gel Styler 4th of 15 names
- The Doux MOUSSE DEF Texture Foam Styler 5th of 17 names
- Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel Styler 12th of 38 names
- Aunt Jackie's Don't Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel Styler 8th of 20 names
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel Styler 5th of 12 names
- TRESemmé Bouncy Curls Defining Mousse Styler 9th of 20 names
- Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream Styler 13th of 21 names
- Kristin Ess Sea Salt Air Dry Mousse Styler 31st of 47 names
- OLAPLEX Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum Heat protectant 10th of 31 names
- Mielle Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray Heat protectant 12th of 28 names
- TRESemmé Protecting Heat Styling Spray Heat protectant 13th of 29 names
- Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray Curl refresher 8th of 25 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other hair fixing ingredients on these labels
- VP/VA Copolymer 11 labels
- Polyquaternium-69 5 labels
- Chitosan 4 labels
- Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer 2 labels
- Sodium Polyacrylate 2 labels
- Vp/Dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate Copolymer 2 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.