Nutrafol has made a name for itself addressing hair growth through nutraceutical supplements. Now, the New York-based hair care company is addressing hair health from the outside with Scalp Microbiome Support, a new suite of topical products designed to balance the scalp microbiome and complement its ingestible products for hair growth.

Nutrafol’s Scalp Microbiome range includes a Build-Up Blocker exfoliating scalp mask, Root Purifier shampoo and a scalp microbiome rebalancing product called Stress Reliever.

With this launch, Nutrafol is introducing what it says is “year’s-worth of clinical research on how the scalp microbiome provides an optimal ecosystem for healthy hair.”

The brand says its goal is to bring scalp health and education to the forefront of the hair health industry.

“At Nutrafol, every product development discussion begins with the question, ‘How can we better help our customers on their hair health journeys?’ We listen to what our customers ask of us, discuss what their hair concerns are and try to understand what kinds of products they want and need. After taking in all of this information, we utilized our scientific understanding of hair biology to create our new Scalp Microbiome line,” Sam Archer, VP of product marketing and innovation at Nutrafol, told Happi in an interview ahead of the launch.

Product Formulations for Scalp Health

The Build-Up Blocker exfoliating mask removes excess oil buildup using natural key ingredients, gentle acids, sebum balancing amino acids and plant detoxifiers. It is formulated with AHA fruit acids and jojoba esters, chia seeds and Australian wild berries.

According to Archer, styling practices, product buildup, pollution and hormone imbalances can cause excess sebum and an overgrowth of bad bacteria that gets trapped and clogs the pores on the scalp, which then can lead to damaged hair. Removing excess sebum and product buildup on the scalp, without stripping the scalp of healthy flora, helps balance the scalp microbiome and creates an optimal environment for healthy hair to thrive. 

“Using our Build-up Blocker exfoliating mask 1-3 times per week is recommended, depending on how much sebum and buildup is on the scalp,” Archer said.

Root Purifier—a daily, nourishing and cleansing shampoo—contains a natural alternative to sulfates, a biosurfactant, prebiotics and vegan protein. It balances PH levels and creating the ideal environment for a healthy scalp and thriving hair, according to Nutrafol.

The Stress Reliever, which rebalances the scalp microbiome, is designed to be used daily. It is formulated with botanicals, collagen boosters and pre- and postbiotics to calm the scalp to visibly reduce redness.

“In our Stress Reliever, pre- and postbiotics feed the microbiome and promote healthy diversity of microbes on the scalp to strengthen the scalp barrier, while peach gum and prickly pear reduce redness and scalp sensitivities,” said Archer.

According to Archer, Nutrafol takes a whole-body, biological approach to hair health.

“Similarly to our approach with our hair growth nutraceuticals, we used our deep scientific understanding of the causes of hair issues from biology, as well as lifestyle differences, to help us develop our formulations of the Scalp Microbiome line to provide an individualized approach to hair health for each customer’s personalized needs,” Archer told Happi.

The new collection joins Nutrafol’s lone existing topical product, Growth Activator—a lightweight hair serum formulated with Ashwagandha exosomes.
 

Microbiome Friendly Seal

In addition, the new range has the Microbiome Friendly Seal. 

“The Microbiome Friendly Seal was something that was a must for Nutrafol from the beginning of the product development process of this line,” Archer told Happi. “Our scientific and clinical approach to our formulations are put through extreme rigor and testing for each individual product for the microbiome through a standardized approach to ensure efficacy and safety.”

According to Archer, Nutrafol’s expansion with topicals that complement its ingestible range is part of its overarching goal to help customers with their specific hair health journeys.

“We continue to lean on science and research, along with our Nutrafol customer feedback, to help guide us in the best direction for future products that will address the root causes of hair issues—biological or from different lifestyles—for everyone.  The foundation of hair health begins from balance within, and our line of Hair Growth Nutraceuticals remain at the forefront, but we will continue to look to topical scalp products to provide direct support for hair concerns that show up externally,” Archer concluded.