Many of today’s shampoos and conditioners contain harsh chemicals which can lead to various hair problems and degrade your hair quality. That’s why it’s not surprising that, increasingly, consumers are being drawn to natural ingredients when shopping for personal care products; the ‘clean’ or ‘natural’ beauty trend is on the rise, so buyers are actively looking for chemical-free formulas to maintain their hair and skin.
As a result, you might have heard of willow bark extract. It’s a robust organic ingredient known for its exfoliating properties that deliver a smooth complexion and a healthy, dandruff-free scalp. Read on to learn more about willow bark extract and why you should add it to your haircare formulas.
What You Need To Know About Willow Bark Extract
Willow bark extract comes from purple, black and white willow bark trees. White willow bark is the most common species, and it has disinfectant and antiseptic properties. Virtually all willow species contain a significant amount of salicin in their bark. Salicin is a compound associated with aspirin, which explains why willow bark extract is sometimes used for pain relief. Its salicin content means that willow bark extract has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that soothe the scalp and prevent irritation. Moreover, willow bark contains flavonoids and polyphenols which can help regenerate hair follicles and support healthy hair growth.
Who Should Use Willow Bark Extract?
Anyone who needs a scalp refresher should add willow bark extract to their routine. It helps boost your scalp condition by eliminating dandruff, dirt and grime, all of which could clog your hair follicles. It also cleans the scalp effectively, preventing both dryness and the oiliness that results from product build-up and excessive sebum production.
Willow bark extract also serves as a gentle exfoliant that removes debris and dead skin cells from your scalp, boosting cell turnover and clearing the way for hair follicles to grow healthy new hair.
Three Benefits Of Willow Bark Extract
For centuries, willow bark has been a constant presence in household medicine cabinets. Its many skin and haircare benefits also make it an important player in the beauty industry.
Controls Sebum Production
The scalp produces a natural oil called sebum. It disperses over the skin surface, lubricating hair follicles and preventing moisture loss. Having too little or too much sebum can cause various skin issues. For instance, the lack of sebum can lead to an itchy, dry and flaky scalp, whereas its overproduction can make your hair and scalp too greasy.
Several factors can affect the amount of natural oil produced in your scalp, including your diet, medications, and even haircare products and ingredients. Let’s take sulphate, for example. This ingredient, found in many shampoos, can strip your hair of sebum, causing your scalp to overproduce natural oils.
Willow bark extract acts as a gentle cleanser to clear out excess oil and other impurities from your scalp and pores without eliminating the essential sebum. It helps balance oil production to protect and condition your strands.
Stimulates Hair Growth
Although many factors can trigger hair loss, experts often identify poor circulation in the blood vessels at the scalp’s surface as a prime culprit. Willow bark’s flavonoids and polyphenols, which are excellent antioxidants, combat hair loss and promote new growth. They support the scalp’s capillaries and maintain the collagen in your body, thus preventing hair fall while allowing new strands to grow healthy and strong.
Reduces Inflammation
Scalp inflammation can lead to redness, dandruff, flakiness and other issues that may result in hair thinning. If you notice your scalp becoming inflamed, it could be due to yeast, bacteria, fungal infection or a skin disorder. Unless it’s a severe condition that requires medical intervention, you can use willow bark extract to reduce inflammation.
This natural extract contains anti-inflammatory properties to alleviate irritation and redness and prevent fungal and bacterial infections. It is also rich in tannins, a class of astringent that cleanses your scalp.
Conclusion
Maintaining a shiny, silky mane requires time, patience, proper haircare ingredients and a consistent routine. But instead of investing in expensive and seemingly sophisticated products, why don’t you try natural ingredients, like willow bark extract? It helps improves your scalp condition, ensuring that your new hair has a healthy environment in which to grow strong and beautiful.
Vinci Hair Clinic can help with persistent scalp problems and hair loss. We offer an unrivalled range of cutting-edge treatments and procedures, while our hair specialists are always on hand to offer advice and guidance. Get in touch and book a complimentary consultation today!
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