We’re often asked how we formulate new products and what determines which ingredients we use. This article gives some behind the scenes insight, using our new Rosemary Reviving Shampoo as an example. This exciting new formula is our first shampoo with peptides – natural ones of course. And it’s been driven by customer requests for a reviving shampoo that supports tired-looking, or thinning hair.
Where do you start?
The starting point for all our shampoos is our tried & tested Gentle Herb Shampoo, originally developed by Odylique’s founder, Margaret, for a friend with psoriasis in the scalp. It was the first shampoo ever to be certified organic by the Soil Association and has become a go-to shampoo for sensitive scalps. The cleansing agents are gentle, but effective, and it contains a powerpack of herbs such as aloe vera and rosemary (more on that later) that soothe the scalp and strengthen hair.
What is Reviving in a Shampoo?
Shampoo that helps thinning hair is highly sought after which is why Odylique shampoos always use reviving ingredients like silica-rich horsetail and nettle. But we live in exciting times of advances in natural ingredient research. So, to create a natural shampoo with extra reviving power, we’ve combed through many many ingredient profiles to find actives that have proven results, but are 100% natural and also pass the stringent eco criteria of organic certification.
In the end, we chose to fortify the formulation with extracts of rice water and seaweed. What makes them so attractive is their naturally rich content of amino acids and peptides.
Shampoo with Peptides - Why?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that are naturally present in the human body. They are the building blocks of the proteins needed by the skin (collagen, elastin and keratin) and hair (mostly keratin).
When applied to the scalp or hair, peptides work at a cellular level to stimulate hair growth and repair damage. They can increase blood flow to the hair follicles, in turn delivering essential nutrients and oxygen for optimal hair growth. Peptides also help to strengthen the hair by supporting the hair’s keratin, reducing breakage and promoting longer, healthier-looking hair.
Studies have shown that peptides can significantly improve hair density, thickness, and overall quality. They work over time, with an accumulative rather than instant effect. But with consistent use, products containing peptides can really help your hair, leaving it stronger, shinier, and more resilient.
Introducing Rice Water and Seaweed
As an organic brand, we would never touch a synthetic peptide. Happily, there are now several natural sources of peptides. The most common ones for haircare are hydrolysed proteins from various plant sources like soy, pea, oat, wheat, quinoa or lupin. Why did we choose rice water and seaweed?
Rice water comprises between 10-20% peptides that can penetrate the scalp and hair. These then help to boost hair growth and boost production of the hair’s main constituent, keratin.
Seaweed is a rich source of arginine, an amino acid that is particularly beneficial to the hair. Like rice water peptides, the amino acid arginine boosts production of keratin, strengthening the hair shaft and improving the overall strength and resilience of your hair. Research has shown that arginine can help prevent excess hair loss by supporting hair follicles and reducing hair shedding.
Arginine can also improve the texture of your hair. By improving blood circulation to the hair follicles and promoting healthy hair growth, arginine helps make your hair look and feel smoother, softer, and more manageable.
But that’s not all…
We believe natural peptides are a great addition to formulations for hair care. However, peptides are only part of the answer. We considered other key actives, as well as more simple factors like the shampoo’s scent.
In formulating a reviving shampoo, rosemary was an easy choice. Rosemary has many benefits for the hair and scalp as it stimulates the circulation to the hair follicles promoting a healthy scalp and, in turn, hair growth. It is a powerful antioxidant, helping to reduce free radical generation.
We’ve added both a concentrated CO2 extract of rosemary and rosemary essential oil to the Reviving Shampoo to maximise the benefits from this incredible plant.
To update the Gentle Herb Shampoo a little we’ve also introduced hair loving oils of avocado and jojoba.
You Put Us on the Right Scent
Many people prefer no scent at all to their products, either for allergy reasons or just personal preference (the Gentle Herb Shampoo or Prebiotic Gentle Herb Shampoo are ideal in that case). The scent of a product is a subjective, as well as personal choice. And that’s why we turn to you for guidance on scent. In our last customer survey ‘herbal’ was the number one choice when we asked what kind of scent you would like in a shampoo. So along with rosemary, we’ve chosen a blend of essential oils to give a reviving herby aroma to the shampoo.
Our panel of human testers gave it the thumbs up – we hope you like it too.
Reviving Rosemary Shampoo is available to buy here.