Healthy Hair is the result of a healthy Cuticle
If our cuticle is damaged our hair will look dull and will be open to even further damage. Ingredients in hair formulas can deposit on the hair and help to protect and repair the cuticle and seaweed extract is one of these wonder ingredients.
So, what exactly does our hair cuticle look like?
The Layers of the Hair Strand
Our hair strand is made up of 3 layers as the diagram above shows. Each layer has a function.
- The CUTICLE is made up of overlapping layers, a bit like roof tiles, that strengthen and protect the hair shaft. It also regulates the amount of water that can flow into the cortex.
- The CORTEX gives our hair its colour/pigment and is made up of melanin which is also found in our skin. If your cuticle is damaged then it is likely that damage will penetrate the cortex.
The diagram below shows a healthy cuticle and a not so healthy one!
The cuticle can become damaged/stressed in different ways such as:-
- Environmental – pollution particles and free radicals in the air
- Chemical – hair dyes and solvents. In order for hair dyes to penetrate into the cortex the cuticle must be opened/raised.
- Mechanical – brushing and heat styling
Even with the most careful hair regime we will still be exposed to some of the 3 hair stresses. Everyday pollution particles stick to our hair surface and will penetrate the hair fibre. Regular shampoo will not remove these particles. Brushing and overstyling will again impact the cuticle and of course any form of solvent based product will raise the cuticle and it will not be able to lye completely smooth.
Seaweed – a little miracle in haircare
But, add our seaweed based ingredient into the mix and magic will start to happen.
Seaweed in its usable form in haircare formulations consists of a marine carrageenan which acts on the hair surface, the cuticle, to protect and repair. Carrageenan is extracted from the red algae Furcellaria Lumbricalis which is a common seaweed in the Baltic Sea – a prehistoric pro-glacial lake with low salinity as it is fed from snowmelt and covered in ice in the winter.
So, is there science to prove that this works?
I think the table above speaks for itself – there is a 78% reduction in pollution particles being able to stick to the hair.
And, if you needed further proof just look at the difference in pollution levels on this microscopic photo. Pollution will of course make the strand look dull, whereas the strand without pollution will of course look shiny and smooth which is how we would all like our hair to be!
This ingredient even though used in small quantity can help to repair the cuticle from further attack be that environmental, chemical or mechanical.
Why seaweed as a hair repair?
As we love the sea it was important for us to have a marine based ingredient within our formulas and we are delighted that this ingredient is able to bring such great benefits to the table especially as it has been produced without synthetic processes and relies purely on CO2 extraction.