Beautiful hair is a status symbol. They are considered attractive and are associated with health. Brittle, damaged hair, on the other hand, is often attributed to a lack of care. The fact is that some are blessed with thick, healthy hair, while others run from Pontius to Pilate, spend horrendous sums of money on products and still only have straw on their heads.
The beauty industry is therefore constantly bringing new, innovative products onto the market that are touted as a miracle weapon and are said to be able to save even the most damaged hair. But do the hair care trends actually keep what the providers promise or is it ultimately just a way to make money? The doctors Alicia Martin and Lucia Schmidt have compiled the most important facts about growth, health and care for their book “All Clear with Hair” and also examined the trends.
Individualized hair care
Genes, hormones, lifestyle, diet – there are many factors that have an influence on hair structure. Accordingly, a shampoo that helps one person is not necessarily good for another. It’s actually logical that a standard hair care product from the drugstore shelf isn’t the best, right? More and more providers are now advertising products that are tailored to the individual hair structure, for which a hair sample must first be sent in and analyzed. The doctors Martin and Schmidt consider this to be “money-making” and advise against it. There are no studies that confirm an effect. “Everyone’s scalp structure can change from day to day, and then the result from the day before may no longer be effective,” they write.
Hair dryer and straightener with ionic technology
Blow-drying, straightening or curling puts strain on your hair. Some providers now claim to have found a solution to such hair damage: ionic technology. When using the corresponding device, ions are released that are said to make a positive contribution to hair health. Negative ions help straighten and can help prevent dryness, making hair look healthier and shinier. In contrast, positive ions can draw out moisture so hair dries faster and curls better. However, this hair care trend also sounds better than it is. The experts explain: “The effect is only marginal – frizzy and curly hair still doesn’t become smoother in the long term.”
Botox for hair
Botox is versatile and can be used not only to smooth wrinkles, but also to treat pain, for example. But for the hair? Even if we talk about hair botox, the ingredients used have nothing in common with botulinum toxin. Instead, a protein mixture is applied to treat the hair, which consists, among other things, of keratin and collagen. Hair Botox provides more moisture and volume to the hair, making it look smoother and shinier. However, in order for the effect to be maintained, regular use is required, according to the doctors. And it’s expensive.
Keratin smoothing
Our hair consists largely of the protein building block keratin. Treatment with a keratin care product is intended to help improve the hair structure from the outside by filling in damage such as cracks. Keratin straightening, also known as Brazilian blowout, goes one step further. The first step behind this is an invasive chemical treatment of the hair. To activate the ingredients, the hair is straightened after the treatment. Afterwards, the hair should be softer and smoother. But is it really good for your hair? Exactly not. “Contrary to what you might think, keratin treatment is not healthy for hair because the chemicals and heat of straightening can stress and damage hair,” write Martin and Schmidt. Regardless, the effect is manageable and only lasts a few months.
