You have probably heard a lot of talk about retinol and AHAs when it comes to caring for the skin on your face – but you may not be aware of the benefits they can also have on your scalp. Did you know that retinol and AHAs reap incredible benefits for the scalp, including boosting hair growth, promoting scalp health and decongesting follicles? Let's find out more about the benefits of AHAs and retinol for the scalp...
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A – of which there are many different types called retinoids. These retinoids vary in strength, so you have to be careful which one you choose. The strongest is retinoic acid (otherwise known as Retin-A or Tretinoin), which is often used in prescriptions for acne. It’s the strongest because we naturally have retinoic acid in our skin so it gets absorbed and goes to work immediately. All other retinoids need to be converted before our skin cells can absorb them – on the plus side it means they’re less likely to irritate our skin. The next strongest are retinaldehyde, retinol and then retinol esters (such as retinyl palmitate) are on the more gentle end of the spectrum.
Benefits of Retinol on the Scalp
The benefits of retinol for the scalp are boundless. Recent research has shown that retinoids can work to combat hair loss, helping to decongest hair follicles, as well improving the absorption of other ingredients aimed at boosting hair growth.
The retinyl palmitate in MONPURE’s Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum is a gentle retinoid that works to clear the scalp of dead skin and debris, so that the serum’s other active ingredients such as pumpkin seed extract can be absorbed better and stimulate the scalp more effectively. The result? Healthier hair growth – and thicker, fuller hair at that!
Retinyl palmitate also strengthens the scalp by improving cell turnover, boosting collagen production to create the best conditions for hair to grow. At the same time, it can be used on sensitive scalps without irritation (we use a concentration of 0.5%).
Read more about the benefits of retinol for the scalp and hair loss here.
What are AHAs?
These are alpha hydroxy acids – to give them their full name – and they work to dissolve dead skin cells, dirt and debris and slightly stimulate the skin’s healing mechanism to speed up cell turnover. They’re widely used in acid toners to exfoliate and renew skin that’s dull and prone to congestion and guess what? It does the same for your scalp! Lactic acid is a popular AHA (any vegans reading this, don’t worry – it’s not milk-derived!) and features in our Nourish and Stimulate Scalp Mask, together with our Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum.
As well as AHAs, there are BHAs – well, in fact there’s only one BHA (or beta hydroxyl acid) and that’s salicylic acid. This cleanses at a deeper level, purging pores of congested oil and dirt and features in our Hydrate and Soothe Scalp Serum.
How quickly will I see results?
Like with any skincare product, regular application is key. If you use our products continuously, you should start to see an improvement in the condition of your scalp and the quality of hair growth within a few weeks.
There have been plenty of studies in skin care but very few in scalp care. We have conducted our own user trials, which brought the following results:
After using our Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum containing retinyl palmitate:
- 76% of people agreed that after continued use, their hair felt thicker
- 74% of people agreed that after continued use, hair growth was boosted
- 82.7% of people agreed that after continued use, it had a positive effect on the health and condition of their hair
- 84% of people agreed that the product had a positive effect on the health and condition of their scalp
Want to try the benefits of retinol and AHAs for the scalp yourself? Shop now.