Retinol for hair - from skincare to haircare
You have probably heard about retinol being the staple skincare ingredient for issues like wrinkles and acne – but less people are aware of the benefits it can bring to your scalp and hair. Retinol is effective in boosting hair growth and reducing hair loss due to its rebalancing, decongesting and stimulating properties.
What is retinol in haircare?
Retinol remains a minefield to navigate, as there are so many types, percentages and ways to use it. But when it comes to delivering visible anti-ageing benefits, its proven track record is off the charts – making it one of the most sought-after ingredients in skincare. In a nutshell: it increases skin cell turnover to make skin more plumped and firm, diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. It also smooths and resurfaces, which is why it’s a popular treatment for acne and pigmentation scarring.
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.
The benefits of using retinol for hair loss
So, what are the benefits of retinol for hair? Recent research has shown that retinoids can work to reduce 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 growth. At the same time, it can be used on sensitive scalps without irritation (we use a concentration of 0.5%). It's safe to say that retinol is an effective ingredient in improving hair growth and minimising shedding. By bridging the gap between skincare and haircare, MONPURE has focused on formulating skincare-grade ingredients for optimal results.
Hair growth results using a retinol solution
Like with any skincare product, regular application is key. If you use retinol safely and continuously within a topical, results-driven formulation, 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 it for yourself? Shop now.
