A novel approach is taken to understand the mechanical performance of fixative-treated hair tresses. Polymer composite principles are applied to explain the performance. Examples are given for polyacrylate-2 crosspolymer that show that the choice of neutralizer affects the film properties of anionic acrylic polymers by plasticization or by hardening through ionic (physical) crosslinking. The effect of these changes in the polymer film on the composite properties was determined by mechanical stiffness and high-humidity curl retention testing. It is shown that both adhesion to the hair and polymer cohesion are important in determining fixative polymer performance. The implications of the results for the formulation of fixative systems are discussed.