Hair Care
The Best Ingredients to Look for in Haircare Products
Aug
Shopping for haircare products can sometimes seem downright confusing. With so many different options out there, how are you meant to know which ones will actually work for your hair?
That’s where Nubi can help. The answer to that question lies in the ingredient list of each product. Ignore the marketing claims, ignore the snazzy packaging, and turn your attention to the list of ingredients that every haircare product legally needs to display. Sure, you’ve probably never heard of some of those long, scientific names before, but if you spot any of the following ingredients on there, there’s a chance that you’re onto a winner:
Plant Oils and Butters
Let’s start with plant oils and butters – some of the most popular ingredients in the haircare industry. Why? Because not only are they exceptionally hydrating, but they’re also loaded with antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that, over time, leave hair feeling stronger and healthier.
There are lots of different plant oils and butters that are used in haircare products, and you can’t really go wrong with any of them! However, some of the most effective are:
- Argan oil – packed with moisturizing fatty acids
- Shea butter – seals in hydration while lowering the feeling of scalp inflammation
- Coconut oil – softens and adds shine
- Lavender oil – has a conditioning effect
- Mango butter – richly moisturizing but lighter than other plant butters
- Cocoa butter – leaves brittle hair feeling stronger
Panthenol
Panthenol is a substance that comes from vitamin B5. It occurs naturally, both in the human body as well as in plants, and is a much-loved ingredient in haircare products.
Panthenol offers a few significant benefits. It acts as a humectant, meaning that it draws moisture to the air. It also locks that moisture in by forming a thin layer that prevents moisture from escaping. This not only gives the hair a smoother finish, but it also adds shine.
Panthenol is a great ingredient for leaving hair fiber feeling better protected against environmental damage. Research shows that when used in certain haircare products, such as shampoos and conditioners, the ingredient is deposited onto the hair in a very effective way.
Peptides
Peptides are a well-known ingredient in the skincare world. They’re now starting to really make a name for themselves in the haircare sphere, too. Peptides, which consist of chains of amino acids, are key compounds in several processes that keep hair healthy.
To start with, they help the structure of the hair to feel strong and intact. Some peptides also calm the feeling of inflammation and irritation, making them useful in haircare products designed to soothe the scalp. They also offer antioxidant protection, leaving strands feeling more resilient.
Peptides tend to be most effective when used in haircare products that are applied directly to the scalp, such as shampoos and scalp serums. While there are different peptides out there, keep an eye out for copper peptides – they do all of the above while also helping to prevent the appearance of hair loss.
Sea Salt
Sea salt is an ingredient that many won’t have expected to see on this list. Sure, it’s a staple in many skincare products, including the Nubi Facial Day Moisturizer and Exfoliating Body Scrub, but people are often unaware of how beneficial sea salt can be for the hair too.
To start with, it efficiently absorbs excess sebum. If you have a greasy scalp, sea salt is an ingredient that you’ll definitely want around. It also acts as a natural exfoliant, not only removing dead skin cells from the scalp but also clearing away flakes of dandruff.
Let’s not forget that sea salt is full of trace minerals, too. Between calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, all of these minerals are great for both your hair and scalp.
Prickly Pear
Prickly pear is a plant with an extremely rich nutrient profile. Many of those nutrients are of particular benefit to the hair, making it an ingredient that’s now being used more and more in haircare products.
Prickly pear is usually incorporated into haircare products in the form of an oil. However, it’s considered to be a ‘dry’ oil, meaning that it absorbs quickly without leaving behind any sort of greasy residue.
With 88% of prickly pear oil consisting of fatty acids, it’s a great ingredient for moisturizing the hair. It leaves strands feeling softer and more elastic, while also giving the hair a glossier finish.
While prickly pear is beneficial in all haircare products, formulas that are designed to be left on the hair for a while, like a conditioner or hair mask, are more beneficial than those that are immediately rinsed off, like shampoos.
Hyaluronic Acid
There’s a good chance that some form of hyaluronic acid features in your skincare products. Well, it’s now time to add this ingredient to your haircare arsenal too!
Just like your skin, your hair naturally contains hyaluronic acid. However, as you age, the amount of hyaluronic acid that’s produced by your body declines, leaving your hair lacking. Using the ingredient topically helps to replenish your hair’s reserves, which can prevent the appearance of thinness and dryness that often accompanies the aging process.
What makes hyaluronic acid even more appealing is that it works well on all hair types. You can even safely use it if your hair has been color-treated – it’s not going to cause your color to fade.
Ceramides
Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids. They’re most famous for how they form an integral part of the skin’s natural protective barrier. They do the same for the hair too. They can be found inside the cuticle of the hair shaft, with their role being similar to that of the skin barrier – keeping moisture locked in while keeping anything harmful locked out.
Unfortunately, when your hair shaft experiences damage, such as that caused by excessive heat or over-processing, ceramides are lost. Haircare products that contain the ingredient allow you to replace those lost ceramides, keeping your mane in good condition.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another ingredient that’s most commonly associated with skincare. However, it’s now also increasingly being found in haircare products, for a few reasons…
As you probably know, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, which is why it’s loved by the skincare industry. Those same antioxidant properties apply when the ingredient is used on the hair too, enabling it to keep strands feeling protected against UV rays, pollution, and other forms of environmental damage.
Vitamin C is also a crucial component in the absorption of certain minerals, such as iron, which is crucial for hair growth. A lack of vitamin C can lead to deficiencies that affect the hair, which is why topical supplementation can be helpful.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is an ingredient that many already know and love. It’s famous for its soothing effects on the skin, and it works in the same way when used in haircare products that are applied to the scalp.
Aloe vera contains proteolytic enzymes that can help to remove dead skin cells from the scalp. This not only improves how healthy the scalp feels overall, but also boosts circulation, which can help with hair growth in the long run.
Aloe vera is also a deeply moisturizing ingredient. It leaves the hair feeling much silkier, making detangling a breeze!
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is another vitamin that has made it onto this list. It’s a water-soluble form of vitamin B3, with a multitasking nature that makes it a very useful ingredient to look for in haircare products.
One of its biggest claims to fame is that it regulates how oily the scalp feels. Whether your scalp is overly greasy or incredibly dry, niacinamide will leave your scalp feeling balanced.
Niacinamide also plays a key role in keratin production. Keratin is the main protein that makes up your hair – the more you have, the stronger your hair will feel.
Of course, niacinamide is an excellent antioxidant as well. It keeps the appearance of environmental damage at bay while lowering the feeling of inflammation.
Algae
When it comes to keeping your hair looking soft, shiny, and vibrant, hydration is everything. We’ve already mentioned a few hydrating haircare ingredients to look out for, and algae is another one. Just like hyaluronic acid, it acts as a humectant, drawing moisture to the hair and scalp.
Many forms of algae are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These contribute to shine while also reducing the appearance of frizz. Meanwhile, the numerous vitamins that can be found in algae help to create a healthy environment for hair growth.
Algae is used in haircare products in a few different forms. The most effective? Algae extract is one. The extract really concentrates the ingredient’s powerful properties. Algae powder, which is sometimes used in hair masks, can also be a good way for your strands to soak up the ingredient.
Honey
While the thought of applying honey directly to your locks may seem sticky and unappealing, you can save yourself the mess while still reaping the ingredient’s benefits by opting for haircare products that contain it. From shampoos to conditioners to hair masks, it’s now found in a variety of formulas.
What’s so great about honey? For starters, it’s a natural humectant. It’s incredibly hydrating and moisturizing. It also smooths down the hair cuticles to give the hair some extra shine.
Honey has a soothing effect, too. It can alleviate the feeling of discomfort and itching that various scalp conditions cause. Meanwhile, it’s also known for lowering the feeling of inflammation.
Thanks to the small amount of protein in honey, it can also help to boost how strong and resilient your strands feel.
Understanding Haircare Ingredients
Once you get to know some of the different haircare ingredients out there, shopping for haircare products will suddenly seem much easier. Rather than trying to guess at which formulas might help your locks, you’ll be able to make an educated decision on which products your strands do and don’t need.
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