Posts on topic: Hair Care

Articles


Published on by

How to Prevent Hair Loss

Read entire post: How to Prevent Hair Loss

Prevent Hair-Loss

More than 80% of men and almost half of all women experience significant hair loss in their lifetime. Fortunately for us, there are plenty of science-backed anti-hair loss ingredients available to help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.

Hair loss affects both men and women, but it's not usually something to worry about unless it's in excess of 125 hairs per day. Obviously, no one expects you to count them, but it’s important to remember that losing between 50-100 hairs daily is a normal part of the natural shedding process.

In this article, we'll explore the different phases of the hair growth cycle, and how the efficacious ingredients contained within our Hair Growth Mist can support scalp and strand health at every stage.

Prevent Hair Loss

Phases of the Growth Cycle

Why does hair loss happen?

Some hair shedding is a very normal and healthy part of the hair growth cycle. We’ll explore the life cycle of hair a bit more, further down. But abnormal hair loss can happen for a whole host of reasons; genetics, hormonal changes, aging, stress, diet, and environmental exposure are all common culprits. Men typically experience a receding hairline and thinning at the crown due to androgenic alopecia, while women may notice diffuse shedding or a widening part due to telogen effluvium. Regardless of the cause, early intervention is key to maintain healthy hair growth and prevent further loss of hair.

So how can we prevent excess shedding of hair?

Fortunately, scientific advancements in topical treatments have made it possible to slow down hair loss and even promote hair regrowth. Hair care products with ingredients like peptides, caffeine, saw palmetto, and red clover extract have been shown to support hair follicle health, improving strength and density over time. These active compounds work by stimulating blood circulation, blocking DHT (the hormone linked to hair thinning) and nourishing the scalp with essential nutrients.

STEP 1: Prolong Growth Phase

The first stage of the hair life cycle is called the Anagen phase. It is also the longest lasting, where each hair strand is firmly attached to the follicle, which is essentially its 'root' beneath your skin. Hair in this phase is living its best life, getting all the nourishment it needs from the blood vessels at the follicles base.

What we want to do here is encourage the follicles to stay within this phase for as long as possible by providing capillary stimulation. By encouraging blood vessels to dilate, we increase the supply of nutrient and oxygen rich blood to the follicle, keeping the hair strands anchored here happy and healthy.

Both caffeine and turmeric extract have been shown to have bio positive effects on the hair growth phase, which is why both are included in our hair growth spray. Turmeric helps to reduce DHT (the hair loss hormone) while caffeine counteracts the suppressive effects of testosterone on hair growth, with a higher hair shaft elongation seen at 120 hours after caffeine administration.

 

> Discover Caffeine Anhydrous BP/USP and Capilia Longa™ (Turmeric Extract) ingredients to use in your own formulas.

Prevent Hair Loss
Prevent Hair Loss

STEP 2: Protect Existing Hair

The second phase of the hair life cycle is called Catagen, where after exhausting its growing phase, hair follicles start to shrink before finally detaching from the dermal papilla. The hair strand is then cut off from the blood supply and the cells that promote growth.

With very little growth at all during this time, it is vital to nourish the hair strands and improve anchorage so they don't break or easily fall out. This is where Panthenol and tetrapeptide 3 come in, with humectant moisturising properties protecting the hair from dehydration, adhering each strand strongly to its cuticle and penetrating deep into the cortex of the hair shaft, bettering its resistance to mechanical stress.

Our hair growth spray contains both Panthenol and Hydrolysed Rice Protein, which is made from amino acids shown to rebuild and strengthen the hair structure from within, resulting in a decrease of fiber breakage.

> Discover Panthenol - Vitamin B5 Liquid and Complexyl™ (Tetrapeptide-3) ingredients to use in your own formulas.

 

STEP 3: Promote New Growth

The third phase is telogen, where fully grown hair decides to have a rest. 10-15% of our hair is in this relaxed state at any given time, during which it's important to encourage new, healthy hair to grow.

This is where the growth promoting actives in our hair mist really shine, with red clover, saw palmetto and rosemary extracts working in tandem to regenerate hair follicles and kickstart fuller, healthier hair. Studies have shown these natural extracts to be effective in the treatment of alopecia when compared to minoxidil.

> Shop Saw Palmetto and Rosemary Liquid Extract ingredients to use in your own formulas

 

Prevent Hair Loss
Hair Growth Mist

Step 4: Shorten The Shedding Phase

The final phase is called exogen. In its terminal stage, hair is gradually loosened from the follicle before falling away completely. All is not lost, however, as siberian ginseng helps to shorten the exogen phase and get you back into the anagen (growth) phase faster.

With continued use, our hair growth mist helps improve blood circulation to the scalp, aiding hair anchorage for decreased loss and accelerating healthy new growth resulting in thicker, longer, stronger hair.

> Discover Ginseng Siberian ingredient to use in your own formulas today

 

In Summary:

Our hair growth mist contains all the ingredients you need to support growth and prevent loss at all stages of your hair’s life cycle. Combining scalp-stimulating actives and natural botanical extracts, this advanced formula works to thicken, lengthen and strengthen your hair.

References

The effects of caffeine on hair shaft elongation
Amino Acids and hair structure
Dermatologic effectiveness for androgenic alopecia
Hair Growth potential of ginseng

Read entire post
More about: Hair Care
Published on by

Protein, The Stuff of Hair

Read entire post: Protein, The Stuff of Hair

While it is true that both the skin and hair are protein rich materials, protein science really comes into its own once we start formulating hair care products.

The structural and functional integrity of hair can be attributed to a protein called Keratin. There are many types of keratin in the natural world ranging from that which you find on hooved animals and tortoise shells through to the softer keratins of feathers, fur and even to the sticky, gloopy mess that is the slime from an eel-like creature called a hagfish! Human hair keratin is most similar to sheep's wool although it is unwise to consider them to be interchangeable as while they look very much the same on initial analysis, dig a bit deeper and you find some very different properties not least the way they deal with hygral stress (water logging).

Read entire post
More about: Hair Care, Keratin, Proteins
Published on by

Behind the Brand with Austin Jackson from Stag Men’s Grooming

The relationship between Austin and New Directions started with him attending our skin care and business courses. Since then, Austin has been a client of the technical Help Desk and general business.

Read entire post
Published on by

Taming the Mane - An Experiment in Hair De-tangling

A common question we get asked here at New Directions is 'Is it possible to make a natural or organic hair de-tangling product?' The answer is both yes and no.

In terms of natural ingredients that help smooth out the hair and make it easier to comb it is hard to go past Apple Cider Vinegar (or any non-sugar containing vinegar for that matter).

Read entire post
More about: Hair Care, Hair Detangler
Published on by

Nurture Hair with a Natural Haircare Line

Millions of consumers around the world are now demanding high quality natural haircare products that care for their hair and are also gentle on the environment. It's a smart time for businesses to start a Private Label Natural Haircare line.

The saying goes that our hair is our "crowning glory" and for many it is our precious hair that bears the stress of the daily use of hair dyes, blow-drying, hair straighteners and chemical styling products such as gels, waxes and hair sprays. These all take a toll on the condition of our hair.

Read entire post
More about: Hair Care
Published on by

Quaternium 80 - High Performance Hair Care

So right about now I guess that you are thinking "what is a quat"? It's a perfectly reasonable question but it has a perfectly complicated answer thanks to those pesky chemists and their INCI names. However, with a little patience we can get to the bottom of this...

Read entire post
More about: Hair Care