What's in our Scalp Elixir formulation?

Developing our Scalp Elixir was quite a journey for us. It was the one of many firsts. First formulated product for Pressed, first time we understood supply chain, first time we met our cosmetic scientists, and the first time we pressed and distilled our own oils. So it's a product that is near and dear to our hearts. It set the tone for how we would approach all future product development.

We very carefully selected our ingredients ensuring that our core values were upheld the whole process. Here's our ingredient list with the what's and why's

Antioxidant - Green tea contains an abundance of catechins, which are antioxidants in nature. These compounds help in reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for hair loss.

Anti-inflammatory - The powerful ingredient is rich in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a kind of polyphenol. This, combined with the abundance of catchines, help reduce inflammation.

Stimulant - The caffeine in green tea can help stimulate blood flow to the follicles aiding in healthy hair growth

Clinical Study - Data suggests that EGCG stimulates human hair growth and extends the anagen stage (hair growth stage) of your hair

Kwon OS, Han JH, Yoo HG, Chung JH, Cho KH, Eun HC, Kim KH. Human hair growth enhancement in vitro by green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Phytomedicine. 2007 Aug;14(7-8):551-5. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2006.09.009. Epub 2006 Nov 7. PMID:

Hibiscus

Antioxidant - These striking flowers contain a high concentration anthocyanin which possess anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties

Conditioner - Contains a high amount of mucilage which acts as a natural conditioner for the scalp and hair strands, reducing loss due to breakage

Clinical Study - The extract from the plant and flower was proven to encourage early regrowth of hair

N Adhirajan, T Ravi Kumar, N Shanmugasundaram, Mary Babu, In vivo and in vitro evaluation of hair growth potential of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 88, Issues 2–3, 2003, Pages 235-239, ISSN 0378-8741,https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(03)00231-9.

Antioxidant - Contains vitamin E, sesamol, phytosterols and sesaminol to help fight free radicals.

Cellular Repair - The reparative qualities from this oil come from the high content of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which help stimulate hair growth

Clinical Study - Sesame seed oil was proven to have statistically significant results in hair regrowth among patients with alopecia areata

Khalifa E. Sharquie, Adil A. Noaimi, Muna S. Abass, Sesame and Pumpkin Seed Oil are New Effective Topical Therapies for Alopecia Areata, American Journal of Dermatology and Venereology, Vol. 8 No. 2, 2019, pp. 28-32. doi: 10.5923/j.ajdv.20190802.03.

Pumpkin Seed Oil

Antioxidant - Contains Vitamin E and mineral antioxidants giving this oil a broad diversity of antioxidant abilities protecting your scalp from environmental stress

Moisturizing - Rich levels of Omega 6 Fatty Acids and Vitamins E, A & K effectively moisturizing the scalp

Clinical Study - A clinical study was conducted in 2021 paying great homage to this incredible ingredient. Pumpkin seed oil has been proven to reverse the effects of female and male pattern baldness in numerous studies conducted over the years and further confirmed in 2021. The oil is naturally rich in oleic and linoleic acids which is believed to act as DHT inhibitors.

 

Ibrahim IM, Hasan MS, Elsabaa KI, Elsaie ML. Pumpkin seed oil vs. minoxidil 5% topical foam for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: A randomized comparative trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Sep;20(9):2867-2873. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13976. Epub 2021 Feb 12. PMID: 33544448.

Castor Oil

Anti-inflammatory - Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid which breaks down to produce oleic acid, an essential omega fatty acid found to fight inflammation.

Cellular Repair - The fatty acids in castor oil are actively used by skin cells for repair, regeneration and to nourish hair follicles, reducing breakage.

Clinical Study - Did you know there has been no clinical studies done on castor oil. We still love this powerhouse ingredient with its abundance of fatty acids to condition and nourish your scalp.

Emollience - A quick absorbing oil rich in oleic acid and essential nutrients. It works as a natural emollient and occlusive, conditioning your scalp and roots.

Clinical Study - There have been no extensive studies done on sunflower oil and scalp health. However, we added this oil to function as a light carrier oil for our heavy lifting ingredients

Cellular Repair - Contains up to 70% of linoleic and linolenic acid making it one of the richest plant sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. This rich ingredient is useful for cellular repair at for the scalp. The reparative qualities address dry and/or flaky scalp and nourishing your hair to reduce breakage.

Hair Elasticity - Packed with a rich source of vitamin E, B1, B2, B6 and biotin. These compounds can help with hair texture at root level

Clinical Study - Shown to have a positive effect on hair width, potentially linked to the alpha linoeic acid content of the oil which serves as a DHT inhibitor

katiba, Berouel & Z, Maameri & Halmi, Sihem & B, Benlakssira & A, Agabou & Youcef, hamdi pacha. (2013). Effects of Linum usitatissimum L. ingestion and oil topical application on hair growth in rabbit. International journal of medicinal and aromatic plants. 3. 459-463.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory - Rich source of nigellone and thymoquinone which are natural powerful antihistamines giving you antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits

Conditioning - High concentration of fatty amino acids conditioning your scalp and roots

Clinical Study - Results obtained indicated that Nigella Sativa (Black Seed oil) is effective in promoting hair growth in cases of Telogen Effluvium within 3 months (mass shedding of hair).

A Rossi, L. Priolo, A. Iorio, E. Vescarelli, M. Gerardi, D. Campo, D. Nunno, S. Ceccarelli, S. Calvieri, A. Angeloni and C. Marchese, "Evaluation of a Therapeutic Alternative for Telogen Effluvium: A Pilot Study,"Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, Vol. 3 No. 3A, 2013, pp. 9-16. doi:10.4236/jcdsa.2013.33A1002.

Thyme Oil

Anti-microbial - Thymol, an active ingredient in thyme oil, helps kill bacteria and germs that trigger inflammation. With a healthy growing environment, hair cells can become stronger and healthier.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant - Contains bioflavonoid compounds which are anti-inflammatory. They ease inflammation affecting your scalp and hair follicles to help promote hair development.  These properties help preserve the ability of the hair follicles to continue growing hair, as inflammatory reactions can damage hair shafts to the point of breakage, and oxidizing agents (like the ones antioxidants neutralize) can also damage the hair follicle structure.

Clinical Study - There has only been one study done in 1998 which tested the effects of a formulated scalp treatment which included thyme oil and showed successful treatment of alopecia areata (patterned baldness). Thyme oil has not been studied on its own, but we really think it’s only a matter of time before this ingredient has its moment to shine in the science community.

Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 1998 Nov;134(11):1349-52. doi: 10.1001/archderm.134.11.1349. PMID: 9828867.

Rosemary Oil

Anti-inflammatory - It improves circulation and acts as a vasodilator meaning that it can open and dilate the blood vessels, so blood flows more easily through the vessels. This increased blood flow to the scalp provides a host of benefits to the hair and scalp itself. The improved circulation found in the scalp help hair follicles thrive.

Anti-microbial and antioxidant - Carnosic acid, a key ingredient in rosemary oil, has antioxidant and microbial properties. These factors can help to keep hair follicles healthy and dandruff at bay

Clinical Study - The hot topic ingredient in the science community for scalp care. A famous study in 2015 pinned rosemary vs minoxidil 2% and the results proved that rosemary oil can be as effective as minoxidil 2% in treating androgenetic alopecia

Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A. Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial. Skinmed. 2015 Jan-Feb;13(1):15-21. PMID: 25842469.

Wheat Germ Oil

Natural Preservative - High levels of vitamin E allows us to use this ingredient as a natural preservative

Antioxidant - Natural vitamin E to protect scalp skin from environmental stress 

Clinical Study - There are plenty of studies done on the benefit of wheat germ oil for hair and scalp, but we included this ingredient because of its high vitamin E content which serves as a natural preservative in our oil-based formula