The Skinification of Hair

It always seems to be the goal to have luscious, shiny strands. Whether you’re rocking a pixie cut, a purple shag, or long locs, hair is a big focus in the personal care industry. But more recently, the focus has shifted to your scalp. And what is your scalp, if not an extension of your facial skin? Much like the skin on your face, your scalp needs some TLC, too. Thus, the “skinification” of hair was born.  

What does skinification of hair mean?

“Skinification” is the treatment of a certain area on the body the same way one would treat their face. Specialized products for exfoliation, hydration, oil reduction, and so on are marketed as scalp treatments to uphold the belief that your scalp is the most important part of any haircare routine. As you may know, the hair we tend to focus on with oils and styling products is dead. While products can hydrate and condition these strands to repair cuticle damage or align strands and can have a genuine benefit (check out our Deserticola Hair Serum for just that and FOUR other benefits in one bottle), the health of your hair starts at the root. If your scalp has an accumulation of dead skin cells or lacks hydration, inflammation or over production of oils can reduce the perceived health of your hairdo. 

Physiology of hair

Your hair shaft is the part of your hair that extends beyond the dermis and is visible to the outside world. This thin, flexible cylinder is comprised of non-living keratin. ^[1] But attached to this shaft and located beneath your skin is the follicle. It is where the hair can grow – specifically, the hair bulb, which anchors the follicle to the skin, actively produces hair.^[2] Sebaceous glands neighboring the follicle provide sebum as a lubricant for this hair; over or underproduction of this sebum can cause opposing problems, oily scalp or dry scalp.

Taking a step back to look at the surface layer of skin on your scalp, you’ll find that it, too, has a major role in perceived hair health and general hair growth. The scalp is comprised of skin cells, just like any other portion of your skin on your body, and these cells need to properly go through their cellular cycle to sluff off dead cells and have fresh, healthy cells form beneath. Inadequate removal of these dry cells can often lead to dandruff, irritation, or dryness.

 Even more important is the scalp microbiome. A Microbiome is a community of simple organisms that populate many different areas of the human body, both internally and externally, and they aid in basic functions. Don’t freak out; these organisms are here to help us. A balance of beneficial bacteria ensures your skin is happy and healthy. But if this microbiome is unbalanced or disturbed, negative organisms can begin to populate the skin –  C. acnes, for example, are the bacteria that can often lead to acne formation. Malassezia furfur, a genus of fungi, can cause dandruff and scaly patches in overgrowth.^[3] Thus, it is crucial that the scalp microbiome is maintained, proper cell processes occur, and your follicles are healthy to truly claim a happy head of hair. 

How does skinification help this, and where does RIMAN come in?

With the focus on treating the scalp, targeted treatments help maintain this balance and even promote beneficial hair growth. Scrubs, serums, and even specialized shampoos set you in the right direction. Hair issues like dandruff, oily hair, or dry scalp can all be treated at the root with the right tools. Our Deserticola Shampoo is the best place to start. Deserticola is derived from a desert microalgae that thrives even in the harshest of arid conditions – it contains a high concentration of Loliolide, which is an essential metabolite that can fortify and moisturize strands. Utilizing Deserticola on the hair transfers its resiliency, fortifying your scalp to maintain proper processes and improve hair density. Nettle extract comes in to provide proper vitamins, minerals, and general nutrients to the scalp to help prevent against hair loss and inhibit dandruff.^[4] To seal the deal, our keystone ingredient, BYoungpool leaf water, provides the proper antioxidants and moisturizing benefits so that your skin can properly cycle and your microbiome can remain balanced. 

To keep the good vibes going, our Deserticola Water Treatment brings that extra dose of moisturization so that you step out of the shower like you just had a spa experience. Not only does it contain the same key ingredients as the shampoo, but the formula itself is also unique in its activation and provides for a sensory, healing experience. It applies water thin but turns into a cream as it is activated with water. This activation is accompanied by a gentle warming to reinvigorate scalp and strands. The Deserticola Shampoo and Water Treatment work together to bring high doses of nurturing ingredients to the scalp so that you can experience the skinification of hair for yourself. 

It is time to start acknowledging that hair health begins at the scalp. Take your first steps towards maintaining its integrity by checking out our hair offerings here.