The Ordinary Has Expanded Its Range to Haircare
The Ordinary Has Expanded Its Range to Haircare
The Ordinary, which made a name for itself with affordable yet targeted skincare solutions, has broadened its range to include haircare. Expect no-fuss formulas that deliver results, such as this concentrated hair serum that promises a thicker and denser mane.
The brand highlights sulphates (an ingredient often demonised by the clean beauty movement) as key to its shampoo, opting for low levels of SLES-2 that won’t irritate skin or disrupt the skin barrier.
1. Shampoo
Shampooing is a key part of your scalp care routine because it helps get rid of oil, sweat, product buildup and environmental pollutants that tend to accumulate on your hair follicles. It also helps get rid of the dead skin cells on your scalp that can cause flakes and itching.
A shampoo is a cleansing agent that typically contains synthetic detergents, a class of surfactants with lipophilic and hydrophilic ends that bind to the oils on your hair and the oily dirt that gets collected on it. The hydrophilic ends of the detergents bind to water to wash away the oily dirt and the lipophilic ends bind with the proteins on your hair so they don’t break down. Other ingredients in a shampoo can include thickeners, viscosity enhancers, dyes, opacifiers, sequestering agents, fragrances and preservatives.
There’s been a big drive in the industry to highlight that you need to treat your scalp like any other part of your body with effective cleaning and hydration. Deciem’s The Ordinary recently launched a full line of hair products including a shampoo, conditioner, scalp moisturizer and peptide for hair density serum that help address all aspects of your hair health. They’re also all priced under $10 a bottle which makes them accessible to anyone.
2. Conditioner
While shampoo cleans and strips away oil, conditioner adds it back in – so your hair has a healthy balance of moisture. It ordinary hair care essentially acts like a moisturizer for your hair, and there are many different kinds of conditioners formulated for every type of scalp and hair. Some are lightweight and perfect for balancing oil levels, while others deliver intense nourishment and repair for your strands.
You might be surprised to learn that one of the most important things you can do for your hair is condition it – especially if you have fine or oily hair. If you don’t condition your strands regularly, they will become weighed down and prone to breakage. Using a hair conditioner can also help your strands retain their color and prevent split ends from happening.
The Ordinary has taken its ingredients-first approach to skin care and is now launching an entire hair line that includes a shampoo (that doubles as a body wash), a conditioner, and a hydration scalp serum. The new launches come on the heels of the brand’s hyaluronic acid serum, which went viral on TikTok as a way to hydrate your locks.
The Ordinary’s first-ever hair products are formulated with sulfates, but they use sodium laureth sulfate and behentrimonium chloride, which is gentler than the sodium lauryl sulfate found in most clean beauty formulas. Nevertheless, the Ordinary warns that people with sensitive skin should patch test before applying this product to their scalp.
3. Scalp Serum
While masks and deep conditioners may be your go-to hair treatments for luscious locks, a scalp serum should also be a part of your routine. Scalp serums are targeted treatments that directly address concerns like hair dryness, thinning hair or itchy scalp. The formulas contain ingredients that help increase blood circulation to the scalp and promote healthy hair growth, while also hydrating strands for a more resilient appearance.
Mandy says she recommends using scalp serums at least a few times per week to avoid any buildup or flaking. She suggests adding a scalp serum with exfoliating properties to your regimen, just as you would an exfoliating face wash. “Exfoliating your scalp is just as important as exfoliating the rest of your skin,” she says. “Skipping this step can lead to clogged pores, leading to itchy or flaky scalp.”
The Ordinary’s Multi-Peptide Serum, for instance, targets thinning hair and hair loss by improving blood circulation to the scalp and boosting follicle health with a blend of peptides. It also helps reduce excess shedding with the help of Red Clover Extract and Tetrapeptide-3, and provides intense hydration for more resilient hair.
Another great option is Pattern Beauty’s Scalp Serum. It was designed with curly, coily and tight-textured hair in mind to soothe itchy scalp while promoting healthier strands and rebalancing oil production. The formula has an anti-itching, cooling and tingly effect and contains a combination of shea butter, aloe, licorice root and chamomile.
4. Hair Oil
Hair oil can be used in a number of ways throughout your daily hair care routine and is hair care instruments the perfect addition to a mask, rinse-out or as a pre-shampoo intensive treatment. For instance, you can run it through wet hair after a mask to help with detangling and as a heat protectant, or you can apply it to dry hair as an instant shine enhancer and frizz tamer.
Natural oils extracted from a variety of seeds, nuts and herbs can be found in hair oils and have been used for centuries to promote healthy-looking strands. They can also help with dandruff and can aid in hair growth. Using a hair oil that contains essential oils like tea tree, peppermint and ginger can alleviate scalp itching and sensitivity while helping to balance the skin’s natural oil production.
A multi-use hair oil can be a great addition to your beauty cabinet since it typically comes in a small, travel friendly bottle and is super versatile. The Ordinary’s Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil combines high-quality ingredients thoughtfully blended for the ultimate hair treatment or quick fix for any style.
It can be applied to wet or towel-dried hair after your routine, but it’s important not to use too much so that you don’t get greasy or heavy-feeling locks. You can apply it to your lengths and ends — though some formulas may be specifically formulated for your scalp — or, as recommended by beauty vlogger and trichologist Kate Holden, you can slather it over your entire head to provide an intensive scalp and hair treatment that will leave your hair soft and shiny.