After years of taking care of your skin, you've managed to stave off unsightly fine lines and wrinkles. But are you doing the same for your hair? If haircare companies have their way, every woman in Asia will soon be giving their locks the same kind of care they give their skin. In the past couple of years, the beauty and wellness industries have released many products claiming to turn ageing hair around.
From scalp tonics to leave-in conditioners, the market has seen a flood of products that claim to give users a thicker, healthier head of hair. Which begs the question: can hair even look and feel younger to begin with, or are haircare companies merely playing to our desire to turn back the clock?
Leonica Kei, director and senior trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Centre in Singapore, says most anti-ageing haircare products work externally, ensuring that the scalp is healthy and that the hair is strong, supple and shiny.
Many over-the-counter products are limited in this way, because they do not nourish the scalp or hair from within, but have a cosmetic effect
"Many over-the-counter products are limited in this way, because they do not nourish the scalp or hair from within, but have a cosmetic effect. But some scalp tonics do help improve blood circulation and there are products that can help protect the hair from sun damage, which ages hair," says Kei.
Hair might just be dead keratin but, like skin, it does age. After the age of 30, hair tends to become finer and thinner as a result of a natural shrinkage of the hair follicles.
Several pharmacy and salon brands have launched anti-ageing haircare lines for men and women, among them Shiseido, Redken, Matrix and L'Oréal Paris.
These products incorporate some of the ingredients found in anti-ageing skincare products, and are designed to enhance the look and texture of hair. Matrix Biolage Rejuvathérapie Age Rejuvenating Shampoo and Conditioner, for example, helps deliver anti-ageing nutrients to the scalp and hair, from root to tip, protect against environmental damage, and soften and moisturise dry locks.
Redken Time Reset Youth Revitalizer, a rinse-out mask, is loaded with strengthening peptides and ceramides to repair damaged hair, and camellia oil to replenish moisture and leave hair silky and glossy.
