The tests were carried out as per IS: 7123:
1993 specifications for hair oil, the Weights and Measures (Packaged
Commodities) Rules,1977 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940.
The peroxide value is prescribed to check
the rancidity of hair oil. The higher the oxidation, the greater
the chances of emission of an unpleasant rancid odour. Jabakusum
Taila (11.50) and Swastik Perfumed
Castor Hair Oil (17.12) did not comply with the
IS specification for the peroxide value limit of 0-10 milliequivalents
(meq) per 1000 gram.
The Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged
Commodities) Rules 1977 specify the maximum permissible error
on declared net quantity (volume) by 6.75 ml for 150 ml. Dabur
Vatika Premium Coconut Hair Oil recorded an average
weight of 141.7 ml. This was less than the permissible error.
Unjust Enrichment : While
Shanti Amla
gave more than the labelled weight and New
Nihar Coconut gave the labelled weight,
all the other 11 brands gave less than their labelled weight.
Jabakusum Taila and Swastik
Castor — two of the three non-conforming
brands — gave you the least when price and quantity were
considered.
The IS specifications for microbial parameter
permits not more than 1000 micro-organisms (bacterial growth)
per gram of oil. The microbial limit is established for safety
of the product. Parachute Coconut Oil(2300)
did not conform to the IS requirements.
Two brands of hair oils, namely, Parachute
Coconut Oiland Jabakusum Taila,
were found to be having suspended particles.
The colour of the oil varied in different
batches of Banphool Oil.
Our panellists also tested the hair oil
brands for performance, fragrance and appearance and easiness
of spreading in the sensory tests. On a 5-point scale attributed
to overall liking, Dey’s
Keo Karpin Hair Oil scored the highest at
83, while Swastik Perfumed Castor Hair Oil
(48) scored the least.
Clinic
Plus Coconut Hair Oil and New
Nihar Coconut Amla Hair Oil achieved the
highest overall score with 91, followed by Marico’s
Hair & Care and Parachute
Jasmine (90) each in the second position
andBajaj Almond Drops(87) in the third position.
We recommend Shanti
Amla Hair Oil as our ‘Best Buy’,
based on its reasonable price and a good overall score.
Hair Creams
We tested 3 brands of hair creams - Brylcreem
Protein Plus, Brylcreem Dandruff Control and Clinic
Active.
The tests were carried out as per IS: 7679:
1978 specifications for hair creams, the Weights and Measures
(Packaged Commodities) Rules,1977 and the Drugs and Cosmetics
Act of 1940.
All the brands met with all the requirements
as per the standards.
Brylcreem
Dandruff Control
tops the chart with an overall score of 72, followed by Brylcreem
Protein Plus (70) and Clinic
Active (61).
Our panellists also tested the hair creams
for performance, fragrance and stickiness in the sensory tests.
On a 5-point scale for overall liking, Clinic
Active scored the highest at (76) followed
by Brylcreem Dandruff Control
(71) and Brylcreem Protein
Plus (64).
With a good overall score and a reasonable
price Brylcreem Dandruff Control
Hair Cream is our ‘Best Buy’.
Consumer
Education & Research Centre (CERC) - Copyrights Reserved 2003.