SAO PAULO, Brazil— Beraca has developed BBA (BioBehenic Active System), a pracaxi-based hair conditioning ingredient with Ecocert and USDA Organic certification. Sourced from a popular tree in the Amazon rainforest, pracaxi oil is a raw material for BBA for hair softness and shine.
The pracaxi—Pentaclethara macroloba Wild—is a well-known tree in the Amazon region. Its antibacterial and anti-hemorrhagic properties have made the plant traditional among local populations in the treatment of snake bites, healing of ulcers and surgical sanitation. The oil extracted from pracaxi seeds has several applications in the cosmetic industry. As a powerful dermatological moisturizing, it helps cell renewal and treats stretch marks, skin discoloration and depigmentation. When applied to hair care products, it provides an excellent conditioning effect, eases combing, and enhances hair smoothness and shine.
Due to its high concentration of behenic acid (C22), the BBA system is a natural alternative to surfactants and cationic agents in conditioners. Free of quaternary groups and non-comedogenic, it provides viscosity and helps in stabilizing emulsions. The BBA also creates a hydrophobic layer around hair fiber, which shields it from humidity and controls the volume.
Being a Brazilian company, Beraca is able to work in partnership with 500 members of Amazonian communities involved with the Biodiversity Enhancement Program. They are responsible for collecting pracaxi seeds, which are then sent to the Beraca’s plant, located in the metropolitan region of Belém—in the north of Brazil—where oil extraction and processing take place.