The scalp: skin and tissue covering one’s head or the most commonly ignored part during one’s grooming routine. A quick massage with shampoo is typically considered a done deal. Any form of itching can be soothed with fingernails. Dandruff? A quick fix of a shirt colour will solve it till the problem goes from a light snowfall to a snow in. What then are we talking about when we refer to the skinification of hair?
Made for dandruff-prone scalps, the octopirox (a non-toxic active ingredient) in the Schwarzkopf Seborin Hair Tonic prevents formation of said head fluff while relieving itch. Used in the shower, all one has to do is to splash it over his head, massage for two minutes and rinse off.
“Our scalp is an incredibly complex ecosystem of hair, skin, oil and natural flora. It’s also the critical starting point for every hair we grow. Although the skin structure on your face and scalp are pretty much the same, the skin on your scalp is thicker. The scalp also has more sebaceous glands (i.e. lipid and sweat) than any other part of the body. In addition, the scalp has a lower barrier function, so it is not as good at replenishing hydration compared to skin found in other places,” says Melisse Shaban of Virtue Labs, an American hair care brand that uses pure, human keratin in its products.
Applied on towel-dried hair or on a dry scalp, the safe-for-coloured Goldwell Kerasilk Detoxifying Serum contains Kerasilk KeraTransform Technology™ to strengthen the hair shaft and Ectoin® that shields the scalp from oxidative stress. The latter also provides hydration.
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Amazonian buriti oil for hydration, pomegranate seed oil as an anti-inflammatory and Mongogo oil to nourish and protect against sun damage — the lightweight and fast-absorbing Leonor Greyl Huile Secret de Beaute Oil can even be used on the body as well as the face.
The scalp itches badly as compared to one’s face or body and it flakes even more excessively. Not to be confused with dandruff (the latter is actually dead skin cells), this is just the first sign of an unhealthy scalp that reinforces our point about the skinficiation of hair. The receding of hair on the temples and crowns of the head is the next sign that can trigger an early rite towards manhood.
While anatomy expert James B. Hamilton cracked the code back in 1942 by chalking it up to androgens, genetics and age, these are everyday problem for every man. Androgens are hormones that one’s body becomes more sensitive to as he ages, leading to hair loss. Genetics cannot be controlled (perhaps, as of now) and of course, age is the common denominator regardless of one’s race.
Each of these 13 vials of the Medavita Lotion Concentree Homme contains four ingredients — Serenoa repens that reduces the production of 5-alpha reductase (an enzyme that causes hair loss), moringa that cleanses and purifies, curcuma to soothe and ginger that improves circulation.
“As we age, we usually see some thinning of the hair as a result of changes to the diameter of the follicle and therefore, the circumference of the hair fibers diminish. Also, when the follicle size changes, so does the texture of your hair so that, although you may still have a lot of hair, it could be finer, or less curly, etc. As sebum production slows in the scalp, your hair may start to feel drier. Lastly, not only does gray hair change the appearance, it also often changes the texture — gray hair can be much coarser.”
To make matters worse, there is the heat and humidity of Singapore’s climate to contend with. Hair reacts to the latter negatively; its strands absorbing and swelling in the moisture that in turn, causes knotting and twisting that leads to hair loss. Couple them with the 365 days of sunny weather that leads to a higher porosity (a lack of ability to retain moisture) and the result is a double whammy of cuticle problems. The skinification of hair is very much needed.
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“Virtue® Exfoliating Scalp Treatment addresses the scalp microenvironment by exfoliating and removing dirt, oil and dead skin cell with a light whipped crème formulation that gently sloughs off dead skin cells, rebalances and conditions without adding residue. While most scalp scrubs out there in the market use salts or sugars which can be drying to the hair, Virtue Exfoliating Scalp Treatment takes a different approach. We use rice beads and fruit enzymes to provide gentle but effective dual-action exfoliation; Kalahari melon oil and jojoba oil to provide moisture balance; and Alpha Keratin 60ku® to repair your hair with each use.”
Panax root extract (derived from Ginseng) stimulates hair growth while Vitamin B3 improves scalp circulation and Vitamin E protects hair follicles. The extra addition of Lactic Acid in the Verdure Hair Growth Essence normalises pH levels to prevent clogged pores.
These products curated here — which include said exfoliating scalp treatment — are not an immediate solution when it comes to the skinfication of hair though it might be for some. Are they able to balance, de-flake and hydrate one’s scalp? Are some of them even purported to improve circulation leading to renewed hair growth? Of course. However, are they a replacement for a trip to a trichologist? Of course not. They are — in our opinion — a simple stepping stone to building a routine to one’s hair care akin to skincare. Hence, the term the skinification of hair. Tried, tested, and surprisingly fuss-free.
This story about the skinification of hair first appeared in the April 2021 issue of Men’s Folio Singapore.
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