Ricardo shares his five favourite, most coveted hair care ingredients to boost hair growth and keep hair healthy.
With a plethora of ‘must try’ actives flooding our social media, and magazines – it’s hard to know what’s really worth trying and what’s simply an over-hyped craze. To save on time it’s best to refer to the experts on what will keep hair healthy and boost growth.
1. Growth Factors
Naturally occurring proteins, growth factors are found in a vast array of organisms – think plants, animals, and humans – and they are responsible for the growth and regeneration of cells. Just like the coveted protein that is collagen, growth factors decline as part of the ageing process, and this can lead to visible changes to our hair. Cue thinning, breakage, and dullness. Thankfully bio-identical growth factors or our very own growth factors extracted from our blood, can be injected into the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles, and encourage healthy hair growth.
2. Hydrolysed Keratin
Most tried and true hair treatments focus on the scalp, and more specifically our follicles to stimulate hair growth. But, what about the hair we’ve already got? That’s where actives like hydrolysed keratin come into play. Keratin makes up 95 per cent of our hair, so by feeding our tresses with hydrolysed keratin every six to eight weeks we can reverse damage, by ‘filling in’ gaps in our hair strands where keratin in missing. This leads to stronger, smoother, shinier, bouncier, softer, and denser looking hair.
3. B Panthenol
Vitamin B5 as its also known is a humectant, meaning it draws in moisture, making it an extremely hydrating ingredient for both the hair and scalp. It seals cuticles to lock in moisture making it a winning solution for dry hair types. With all that moisture comes a glossy healthy shine, elasticity and softness, all without weighing the hair down.
4. Hydrolysed Protein
Derived from oats, this water-soluble protein repairs the inner structure of the hair, to strengthen and build from the inside out. Like hydrolysed keratin, it fills in gaps in the cuticles of our hair and coats each strand with a protective layer that stops tresses from losing moisture. Alongside its ability to reduce breakage, soften, smooth, and moisturise, this protein has anti-inflammatory properties to keep our scalps in equilibrium and ward off sensitivity, itching, flaking, and redness.
5. Peptides
Used in conditioners, supplements and even within injectable cocktails, peptides aka amino acids, are the building blocks of much needed proteins. They help restore the inner bonding of the hair as well as aid in keeping hair cuticles in peak condition – resulting in stronger healthier hair strands. They boost growth too and increase density and elasticity making them a key ingredient to add to your arsenal if your hair is fine, has short growth phases, and is prone to breakage and split ends.
To discover how best to care for your hair, book a consultation.
