The science behind healthy hair
We grow up believing that hair loss and thinning are problems faced exclusively by men or older individuals; but the reality is - anyone can experience these conditions, regardless of their age or gender. In fact, most of us will experience some kind of hair thinning in our life, due to genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors. It is very common, very normal, and with the right treatment and care – very fixable. And it starts with understanding the science behind hair growth and scalp health.
What Is The Hair Growth Cycle?
Your hair growth cycle is your hair’s lifetime – and it plays a crucial role in whether your ‘life’ is one of healthy growth or loss and thinning. Basically, hair grows from follicles, which are small structures beneath the surface of the scalp; and these follicles contain hair bulbs, which are responsible for producing hair. At any given moment, all of the hairs on your head are in different phases. Anagen, catagen, and telogen are also known as the growth, transitional and resting phases. Each hair on the scalp grows for a period, before entering the resting phase, after which it falls out and is replaced by a new hair that begins to grow from the same follicle.
Why Does Hair Thinning Happen?
Most hair thinning can be attributed to an interaction between genetics and hormones. The hormones carry out an ‘order’ from the genes (dihydrotestosterone or DHT) to attack cells in the hair follicle, which ultimately causes it to shrink, resulting in gradually thinner hair.
For individuals experiencing hair miniaturization, the growth phase becomes shorter while the resting phase becomes longer. This means that hair strands have less time to grow and strengthen. Over time, this leads to a gradual reduction in hair density and thickness. Additionally, many will lose the ability to grow their hair long due to the shortened growth phase.
How Does Scalp Health Affect Hair Health?
Our scalps are different from the other areas of our skin in several ways - the first being that the scalp has a lower barrier function, which means the scalp is prone to more skin problems than many other areas on the body since it does not have the same protection from unwanted environmental influences. While the skin structure of the scalp is somewhat similar to our facial skin, the scalp is different in several important ways.
- The scalp has a lower barrier function, which means it is more prone to skin problems because it does not have the same protection from environmental influences.
- It has more and larger hair follicles and more sebaceous glands. Excess sebum production can result in follicular inflammation.
So, in other words, it’s way more sensitive to internal and external factors - the main one being ‘build up’. When the scalp produces an excess of sebum, or too much sebum accumulates on the scalp from improper cleansing, it can clog hair follicles and prevent hair from growing properly. This can lead to increased hair thinning and loss.
Another culprit of an imbalanced scalp microbiome/reduced hair quality is inflammation. Scalp inflammation is caused by a variety of factors, including stress, poor diet, medical conditions, and (again) improper cleansing habits. When inflammation occurs, it can damage hair follicles and interfere with hair growth – meaning a proper scalp care routine with regular, correct cleansing is incredibly important. The better you treat your hair follicles, the longer and healthier hairs they will produce.
How Does Scalp Aging Affect Hair Thinning And Scalp Health?
Did you know the scalp ages 12x faster than our body skin, and 6x faster than our facial skin? Scalp aging has a direct impact on hair thinning because an aging scalp is less efficient in fighting DHT – aka the attack hormone.
This means the follicle’s receptors become more sensitive to the attacks from the hormone, causing even small amounts to have a significant impact and lead to more hair follicles miniaturizing. What’s more, as the scalp undergoes the natural aging process, it experiences reduced blood flow, reduced levels of sebum production, and decreased levels of essential nutrients needed for optimal hair gain and hair health.
Why Is A Holistic Approach To Scalp And Hair Health Important?
In addition to genetics, other factors can contribute to hair miniaturization, including a compromised scalp barrier, stress, nutrient deficiency, hormonal imbalances, and side effects from medication and certain medical conditions. These factors can affect the hair growth cycle, leading to a disruption in normal hair growth and, in time, hair thinning. That’s why it’s important to take a holistic approach to scalp and hair health. Diet: Deficiencies in certain nutrients like iron, ferritin, zinc, vitamins A, C, D, E, and several B vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids can impact hair growth negatively, and can lead to scalp dryness, and other issues. While a diet consisting of fresh unprocessed, nutrient-dense, food can greatly improve hair health. Sleep: Prolonged lack of quality sleep can negatively impact hormonal balance and reduce the capacity for normal cellular functioning, including healthy hair growth. Most people need more sleep than they think and understanding how to “prepare” for good sleep can be very important. Hydration: Dehydration can cause dryness, itching, and flakiness of the scalp, which can hinder hair growth. Additionally, drinking good quality Spring water from specific sources (like Evian, Aqua Pana, Vittel, Fiji, and Icelandic water) that contain high levels of essential trace minerals and micronutrients is essential for hair growth. Exercise: Regular exercise, even if only 15 minutes a day, can greatly impact your overall health and promote body circulation, which can increase blood flow to the scalp, promoting a healthier scalp and hair growth. Stress: Chronic and acute stress can greatly affect your overall health, and it may also trigger an imbalance in your scalp microbiome, which can lead to scalp irritation, dandruff, and flaking and have a negative impact on your hair quality due to pro-inflammatory chemicals that can compromise the scalp's barrier function.
How Does The Hair Gain Extract Optimize Hair Gain And Scalp Health
Formulated with unique proprietary technology, our topical Hair Gain Extract works by creating a symbiotic defense system against the attack and deterioration of the cells in the hair follicles that lead to miniaturization - the most common cause of hair thinning and shedding. The base formula contains ingredients that, when used synergistically, build this defense system, elongating the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle and reducing the telogen (resting) phase. It also contains constituents derived from burdock root, calendula, and cow's milk, which work together to prevent inflammation, while nourishing and balancing the scalp microbiome. When used with our cleansing products, the routine helps to break down scar tissue, regulate the scalp microbiome and deliver nourishing, nutrient-dense ingredients into the hair follicles. Everything that is needed to create the optimal conditions for hair gain. A holistic approach, you might say.
Our Promise To You
We only take on clients we know we can help. During your initial consultation, a Hair Specialist will assess your scalp and hair condition and discusses relevant history and information in order to determine candidacy. We are able to help people in most circumstances, however we cannot help someone with alopecia areata, alopeciatotalis, or other autoimmune or scarring hair loss disorders.Additionally, if there is a severe scalp condition or we suspect an underlying cause of the hair loss, we might refer the person to a dermatologist or to another specialist.
Unsure where to start?
We only accept candidates who we believe we can help, which is why our online Hair Assessment is the best place to start. Based on your results, you will either qualify for immediate treatment or we will organize a consultation.
