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Hair and scalp oiling, a traditional Ayurvedic practice with ancient roots, is revered for its holistic health benefits. Today, this ritual is gaining popularity in modern, westernised cosmetic routines, particularly with coconut oil (CO), and emerging research is exploring its potential to influence the scalp microbiome.
What We Know:
Traditional hair oiling involves applying specific oils, often warmed, to the scalp and hair roots, followed by massage and leaving the oil to penetrate for several hours or days before washing. While CO, derived from Cocos nucifera, is especially popular, other oils like almond, castor, argan, olive, fenugreek, sesame, flaxseed and mustard have also been historically used (Mysore & Arghya, 2022).
The chemical composition of CO includes saturated fatty acids, making it a rich source of medium-chain fatty acids, with major components like myristic acid, capric acid, lauric acid and monolaurin. It also contains phenolic acids and antioxidants, such as tocopherol (Mysore & Arghya, 2022).
CO is prized for its cleansing, protective and restorative properties in haircare. It functions as a saponification agent in shampoos and has antibacterial and antifungal benefits against Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus due to its monolaurin content. Acting as an emollient, CO seals the hair cuticle and locks in moisture. Additionally, its low molecular weight and linear chain structure enable it to penetrate the hair shaft, aiding in the prevention of protein loss (Mysore & Arghya, 2022).
Industry Impact and Potential:
A longitudinal study of the scalp microbiome showed that CO may positively influence the scalp microbiome. CO application to the scalp increased beneficial bacteria like C. acnes and fungi like Malassezia globosa, both of which are linked to healthier scalp conditions and reduced dandruff symptoms. The study also found that CO enriches bacterial pathways related to scalp health, such as biotin metabolism, while decreasing fungal pathogenesis pathway (Saxena et al., 2021).
Various hair care brands have developed scalp oiling products that incorporate CO. However, further research into how products like these may be optimised to benefit the scalp microbiome is largely unexplored and may offer a promising avenue of untapped research and commercial development in the cosmetics industry.
Our Solution:
With an extensive database comprising over 20,000 microbiome samples and 4,000 ingredients, alongside a global network of more than 10,000 testing participants, Sequential delivers thorough services for assessing product impacts and formulations. Our dedication to creating products that maintain microbiome integrity make us the ideal partner for your scalp and hair care product development needs, including the exploration of oil-based products.
References:
Mysore, V. & Arghya, A. (2022) Hair Oils: Indigenous Knowledge Revisited. International Journal of Trichology. 14 (3), 84–90. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_189_20.
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