We’re putting the spotlight on the ingredients in your scalp care products
As lovers of all things healthy scalp and hair, we’re proclaiming a new adage: a scalp care product is only as good as its ingredients. The actives in your chosen products are absolutely critical to seeing results, and beyond that, results that actually last.
So, it’s time to take a closer look – we’re breaking down some of the ingredients you’ll find in skelp! products and uncovering why they’re total superstars on the hair and scalp care fronts.
What is Biotin (vitamin B7) and why is it good for the scalp and hair?
To kick things off with a bang, let’s start with one of the most talked-about haircare ingredients around – Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7. Often touted as a miracle worker for hair strength and promoting hair growth, Biotin is found in many haircare products and can also be taken in tablet form to supplement or replete the body’s natural stores. But, why is Biotin’s reputation so stellar?
The main reason Biotin is so beloved is because it has several positive effects on the hair and scalp – put plainly, it’s not a one-trick pony. It strengthens the hair follicle from the inside-out, reducing breakage and helping the hair to look thicker and fuller as a result. It also improves the elasticity of the hair, which means fewer split ends and hair that’s better at resisting damage. Lastly, it’s good for the scalp, too – as an antioxidant, Biotin has the ability to improve the overall condition of the scalp, resulting in better scalp and hair health.
Find Biotin (Vitamin B7) in the skelp! Clean Sweep Shampoo and The Healer Serum.
The benefits of Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) in scalp care products
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is another vitamin B variant that has been shown to possess excellent restorative properties for the hair and skin, making it a great choice for inclusion in scalp care products. You may have already enjoyed the benefits of this ingredient in your skincare – it often pops up in moisturisers and serums to hydrate the skin while balancing oil production. For the hair and scalp, it has similar effects, regulating sebum to balance out the ‘ecosystem’ of your scalp and prevent it from becoming too oily or too dry.
As well as restoring balance to the scalp, Niacinamide has a few additional properties that can really turbocharge your scalp care routine. Because it’s an antioxidant, this ingredient protects the scalp against damage from free radicals, ensuring the environmental aggressors we encounter in our everyday lives aren’t able to wreak unnecessary havoc on our hair and scalp health.
If you thought Niacinamide did it all, you’d be right – it’s also amazing for promoting healthier, stronger hair, as it has been found to boost keratin production and support the synthesis of Ceramides. Keratin is the key structural element of our hair, so keeping levels high is critical for strength, fullness, and shine, while Ceramides are responsible for keeping the hair’s proteins intact, leading to smoother and more resilient strands.
Ready to reap the rewards of Niacinamide? Add the skelp! Clean Sweep Shampoo to your routine.
Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid for the scalp
The idea of putting acids on your scalp (or anywhere on your body, for that matter) may seem a little scary – but we promise there’s nothing to fear, as long as you’re using the right ingredients in the right ways. Enter Alpha Hydroxy Acids, often referred to as AHAs. Effective exfoliators, these acids are anything but harsh when used at the correct concentration and frequency. Both Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid are types of AHA that have risen to popularity in skincare, and more recently, haircare products. They work well separately, but are often found together in product formulations as they serve their own different (albeit overlapping) purposes that can accelerate the health of your skin, hair, or scalp.
Their biggest claim to fame is chemical exfoliation, which is something many of us may be ignoring, but is actually critical to ensuring the turnover of new skin cells and a healthier, happier scalp. Chemical exfoliants in the form of AHAs can be much gentler than manual exfoliants (i.e., scrubs) but just as effective, if not more so. Not only do they pry dead skin cells from the scalp’s surface, but they’re also great for reducing product build-up that has accumulated over time, and for promoting scalp circulation, which can consequently lead to healthier hair growth. Both Glycolic and Lactic Acids are also humectants, which means they’re able to draw moisture into the hair shaft and lock it down to increase hydration and elasticity.
You’ll enjoy Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid in the skelp! Head First Pre-Cleanser.
How fruit extracts can work wonders for the hair and scalp
While they mightn’t be the most well-known ingredients in the biz, natural fruit extracts like the ones found in the skelp! Protector Conditioner are exceptional at revitalising and nourishing the scalp for healthier hair. The more fruit extracts you try in your hair and skin products, the more you’ll realise that every fruit has different properties – but something they all have in common is their incredible antioxidant properties.
As a quick reminder, antioxidants are ideal ingredients to look for in your hair products, as they can help protect the hair and scalp from the environmental aggressors we face every day through exposure to free radicals, UV damage, and pollutants. Regular antioxidant use can also improve the texture and overall health of the scalp, and reduce hair fall.
Sold? So are we – so here’s a quick rundown of the four antioxidants you’ll find in our Protector Conditioner. First up is Blueberry Extract, which helps to promote hair growth and soothes the scalp for nourished, hydrated hair. Sugarcane Extract is a natural source of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), which we know are expert exfoliators, gently sloughing away dead skin cells to reveal a healthier scalp. Refreshing Lemon Extract cleanses and offers inherent antibacterial properties, and lastly, Sugar Maple Extract conditions, adds shine, and reduces brittleness. Together, these four fruit extracts could be the key to softer, shinier, and more resilient hair, and a healthy scalp to match!
Give fruit extracts a try with the skelp! Protector Conditioner.
Spotlight on Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) for scalp and hair
Finally, let’s put a fan-favourite antioxidant under the microscope. Yep, we’re talking about Vitamin C! Potent and multitalented, Vitamin C is also known as Ascorbic Acid – and whatever you call it, it’s a total game-changer for hair and scalp health. It has a huge range of benefits, but let’s narrow in on some of its best properties, starting with free radical protection. Vitamin C is often touted as a total superstar for protecting the skin against environmental damage, and when it comes to the scalp, it’s no different. By incorporating it into your routine, you’ll prevent oxidative stress, and as a result, delay physical ageing signs like hair thinning and poor scalp and hair texture.
Another benefit of Vitamin C is that it boosts collagen production – and just like it is for the skin, collagen is critical to healthier, stronger, and more elastic hair. Stronger hair and a healthier scalp go hand-in-hand with hair growth, fewer split ends, and a shinier appearance. The bottom line? Vitamin C may well be what’s standing in the way of you and haircare commercial-worthy tresses.
Let this killer ingredient work its magic with the skelp! Head First Pre-Cleanser and The Healer Serum
Just like the products we put on our face, the foods we eat, and even the clothes we wear, quality is everything, which is why at skelp!, we use only the highest grade, most effective ingredients possible to formulate our products. Shop the skelp! range today to see what all the fuss is about – trust us, your scalp and hair will be singing our praises in no time.
