Heads up: 12 new scalp serums that get to the root of hair problems

Unless they suffer from noticeable hair loss, most people probably never give their scalp a second thought.

As the founder of Nulastin, a Colorado-based beauty brand steeped in technology that aims to replace lost elastin in skin and hair, Leah Garcia is not most people. “My perspective is that the scalp is sacred,” says Garcia, a former professional athlete and television reporter turned cosmetics entrepreneur. “Nourish and pamper it like it’s the only chance your hair has to survive and thrive.”

While that may sound a little dramatic, it’s not hard to find other hair experts who echo Garcia’s sentiments.

“People are starting to realize that the foundation for healthy hair is a nourished scalp,” says Jennifer Yen, founder of JooY, a “fermented superfood” beauty brand that grew out of Yen’s own Covid-related hair loss -in. “When we nourish our scalp, we can prevent a number of issues such as frizz, irritation, product build-up and dryness, while improving the health of the follicles, which promotes hair growth.”

Although the ultimate goal—a healthy, nourished scalp—is woven through a bevy of new scalp serums and elixirs, the vibes and aesthetics range from high-tech and super-scientific to more natural and plant-nourished. .

In the first camp we have Nulastin Vibrant Scalp Treatment, SickScience PowerCycle Scalp Treatment Serum, Living Proof Scalp Care Exfoliator and Spoiled Child A22 Biotin Boost Hair + Scalp Serum. In the second, there’s Bur Bur Botanical Hair Growth Serum, JooY Leave-In Soothing Scalp Serum and Goldie Locks Scalp Serum.

Landing somewhere in the middle are two bee-centric offerings from famed French beauty house Guerlain. As part of her extensive Abeille Royale collection for skin and hair, both the Youth-in-Oil Scalp & Hair Serum and the Double R Radiance & Revitalization Mask tap into nutrient-dense honey produced by black bees from Ouessant Island in Brittany, on the northwest coast of France.

As a hairstylist and trichologist (aka a specialist in the treatment of hair and scalp disorders), Arey co-founder Jay Small is uniquely suited to appreciate the multitude of reasons we might need to add a product like the brand’s new Calm It Down. serum in our regimens. In particular, oxidative stress from UV rays and hair color does a number on our scalp.

Touted as the first clinically effective post-color serum, Calm It Down is applied directly to the scalp after color, shampoo, and conditioner have been thoroughly rinsed. For best results, Small suggests using it for three to five days après color. Two decades on hairstyling channels, followed by his training in trichology, has left Small in no doubt that the routine effort to cover up our silver strands has left our scalps compromised.

“What I’ve found from working and talking to hair dye users is that most people get used to mild irritation and see it as ‘part’ of the process,” says Small. “Our goal is to help relieve stressors on and under the scalp.”