If you have noticed a loss of hair density or more hair strands in your hairbrush than usual, you may be experiencing hair shedding or thinning. While there are dozens of causes, scalp and hair follicle health have a direct effect on healthy hair growth. At MONPURE, our innovative formulas use powerful active ingredients to deliver a triple-layered approach to maximising hair growth, that is - improving the health of the scalp, the hair follicles and the hair itself.
How Scalp Health Impacts Hair Growth
Every single hair on our head (approximately 100,000) is produced and nurtured by a mini-organ called a hair follicle. Hair follicles are embedded in the scalp and are extremely dependent on their surrounding environment. Just like plants require healthy, nutrient-rich and carefully-tended soil for optimal health and prosperity, our hair needs a nourishing environment to grow.
Similarly to our skin, our scalps can accumulate bacteria, are affected by hormonal fluctuations during periods like menopause and postpartum, are exposed to pollution, UV radiation, harsh chemicals, oxidative stress and more. They contain hair follicles that become clogged, contain underlying blood vessels, build up with sweat, become inflamed, irritated and directly impact hair growth. So, why does our scalp not receive the care it truly deserves?
Balancing the scalp microbiome and optimising its dermatological condition are the foundations of healthy hair growth. The scalp microbiome is the first line of defence against harmful pathogens, shielding the hair follicles and the scalp from infection, toxins, irritation, hair damage and more. This results in a stronger scalp barrier and healthier hair.
Changes in the scalp and its microbiome can lead to several problems like itchiness, irritation, and dandruff. Microbes also reside in the hair follicle, and a disruption in this delicate environment may lead to hair loss.
Signs of a Healthy Scalp
A healthy scalp is generally free of redness, irritation, dryness, flakes or build-up. On the other hand, an unhealthy scalp can show signs of excess oil, extreme dryness, itchiness, redness and inflammation. In severe cases, you may experience burning, irritation or pain.
MONPURE’s Top Tips for a Healthy Scalp
Add Exfoliation to Your Routine
Introduce a gentle, moisturising exfoliator into your routine. The Clarifying Scalp Scrub uses biodegradable jojoba beads to gently slough away build-up, sebum and residue from the surface of the scalp while also polishing and refining the scalp’s texture. Argan oil and shea butter work to regulate moisture on the scalp, instead of stripping it, and condition the surface to boost overall scalp health.
Avoid Sulphates and Silicones
Stripping away the scalp’s natural defences with harsh shampoos or cleansing ingredients can lead to an imbalance in the scalp microbiome and impede scalp health. Stripping the scalp is usually a result of using a shampoo formula that contains traditional sulphates, a cleansing ingredient that can remove an excessive amount of your natural scalp oils. Sulphates create a foamy lather and have been linked to the deterioration of scalp health including itchiness, dryness, flakiness, and loss of hair density. Check your shampoo labels for ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, these are the two used most commonly in traditional haircare products.
The Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo is sulphate, silicone and paraben-free and is formulated with high-performance active ingredients such as vegan silk peptides and vegan keratin. It works to fortify the hair, rebuild the structure of damaged strands, restore moisture to the scalp and protect the hair, scalp and follicles from environmental aggressors.
Repair the Scalp-Skin Barrier
When dealing with inflammatory flare-ups or dryness, add a quenching scalp serum to your routine that repairs the scalp-skin barrier. The Hydrate and Soothe Scalp Serum is an intense, anti-inflammatory solution that hydrates dry, irritated scalps and soothes redness. This calming antidote helps relieve symptoms of redness, acne, eczema, sun damage and general scalp discomfort.
How Hair Follicle Health Impacts Hair Growth
Did you know that by week 22 of pregnancy, the developing foetus has already formed all of its hair follicles. New follicles don't form after birth, so babies are born with all the hair follicles they'll ever have. This is why it is so important to maximise the health of our follicles to support healthy hair growth.
The hair follicle, made up of the dermal papilla and the bulb, is a small organ found in the epidermis layer of the skin that anchors the hair into the scalp. Hair strands grow from the bottom of the follicle, out of the skin and reach the surface of the scalp.
Hair follicles have three stages of growth: anagen (growth) phase, catagen (transition) phase, and telogen (resting) phase. During anagen, cells rapidly divide and the hair strand lengthens. About 90% of hairs are in this phase, where hair grows about 1cm every 28 days. During catagen, cells stop dividing, the hair follicle shrinks and active growth ceases. About 3% of hairs are in the catagen phase. During telogen, the hair cannot grow and eventually sheds from the scalp. Telogen hairs can also be removed by brushing. Then, new hairs begin to form in the follicles. About 10-15% of hairs are in the telogen phase.
Certain conditions and environmental factors can impact the health and functioning of hair follicles, and in turn, the hair itself. Androgenic alopecia is a condition that affects the hair growth cycle of hair follicles embedded in the scalp. During periods of hormonal fluctuation, such as perimenopause, menopause and natural ageing, increased sensitivity to the androgen (male) hormone DHT brings about a process called follicular miniaturisation. Androgens are primary regulators of the normal hair growth cycle. Sebaceous glands attached at the base of the hair follicles, the hair follicles themselves and skin cells express androgen hormones and the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that converts testosterone to its more potent form, DHT.
During follicular miniaturisation, hair follicles that were once producing healthy hairs start to generate thinner hairs with more fragile shafts. As women reach menopausal age, many will experience increased shedding, delayed new hair growth and finer, thinner hair. Over time, hair becomes more brittle, fragile and thin, as well as more sparse in density. In women, gradual thinning usually begins at the part line and sides, followed by increasing diffuse hair thinning radiating down from the top of the head.
Signs of Healthy Hair Follicles
Since hair follicles sit beneath the scalp and aren’t visible, there are other ways to determine if they are healthy or damaged. It is normal to lose about 50 to 100 hairs per day, which is about 0.001% of our total hair. However, when you notice that amount doubling or even tripling, that is your telltale sign that your hair growth cycle is too short.
MONPURE Top Tips for Healthy Hair Follicles
Target the Hair Growth Cycle
When combating hair thinning or shedding, it is important to get down to the source and minimise hair loss by targeting the hair growth cycle itself. MONPURE’s best-selling Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum works like fertiliser to a flower-bed. It initially minimises excess shedding and also boosts the growth of new hair follicles leaving the telogen (shedding) phase and entering into a new cycle of the anagen (growth) phase, which usually takes around 6 months.
The product’s star ingredient, pumpkin seed extract, has been scientifically proven to block the 5-alpha reductase enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT, the hair-loss-causing androgen that shrinks the follicle’s growth phase and prolongs its shedding phase. The serum is also formulated with skincare-staples retinol and lactic Acid, that gently decongest clogged hair follicles, promote healthy cell renewal and enhance the absorption of other ingredients and nutrients.
Feed the Hair Follicles
It is important to feed your follicles with essential nutrients to cultivate regrowth. Coupled with boosting your nutritional intake and ensuring you are including hair-healthy foods in your diet, the Nourish and Stimulate Scalp Mask works like food to the hair follicles. It delivers essential nutrients, vitamins and fatty acids to cultivate the ultimate environment for hair growth.
Increase Microcirculation to the Scalp
Blood flow helps extend the anagen phase of the hair, promoting hair growth. Hair follicles derive their nourishment from surrounding blood supply, which delivers oxygen and hair-building nutrients. Healthy blood circulation in your scalp ensures a steady supply of blood to the hair follicles, thus supporting a longer anagen phase.
Red Light Therapy uses a red LED therapy device that delivers concentrated wavelengths of natural light to the scalp-skin, without chemicals, UV rays, or excess heat. These red and near infrared wavelengths of light stimulate the mitochondria in your cells, reducing oxidative stress and increasing blood circulation. This helps speed up the healing process, reduces scalp inflammation and has a stimulating effect on the dermal papilla cells that promote hair cycling and growth.
Book your Red Light Therapy treatment at The MONPURE Hair Clinic.
In the pursuit of achieving luscious locks and maintaining healthy hair, it's clear that focusing on scalp, follicle, and hair health is paramount. A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair, and the condition of hair follicles directly impacts the hair growth cycle.
By nourishing the scalp microbiome, providing essential nutrients to hair follicles, and employing innovative solutions like Red Light Therapy, MONPURE offers a triple-layered approach to maximise hair growth. We are leading the way in revolutionising hair care by prioritising scalp, follicle and hair health, helping you kickstart your journey to fuller, thicker and healthy hair.
