Getting a-head

From the ground up

When you’re starting out developing a beauty brand, why would you go for a potentially controversial ingredient, shrouded in misunderstanding, misrepresentation and caution?

Because it works.

It’s really that simple. The beauty world is noisy, crowded and competitive. It is filled with brands that promise and don’t deliver, rife with promises of miracles and false claims, brands with little heart and soul. Then there’s us, the niche, founder led brands who emerge among the big players, rich with passion, enthusiasm, belief and commitment… and guess what, it’s this group of brands that is making everyone sit up and take notice.

Why?

Because personal journeys are the most powerful change-makers and that is how we started. Fuelled by a personal vision, spurred into creation through frustrations with existing solutions, a passionate response to a real life suffering, started a quest to develop and then articulate a solution.
The core of our brand centres on one plant. Cannabis Sativa. From this one plant, two ingredients are harvested offering their own unique benefits.

Wild Harvest

CBD and Hemp Seed Oil — same plant, but different

Hemp is cold pressed oil from the seeds of the plant, rich in omega 3 and 6 oils, essential fatty acids that help nourish, repair, strengthen skin barrier and build resilience; plus antioxidants A, C, E that help protect the skin from environmental aggressors that accelerate the ageing process.
CBD extract is taken from the flowers and buds, the most delicate element of the plant. It has become renowned for helping calm stressed skin, soothe inflammation and return balance to the complexion.

They are complementary — not the same

While CBD remains to some, shrouded in some sense of taboo there is a growing influence from research to support the use of CBD in medical, therapeutic and topical application for its extraordinary balancing, anti-inflammatory action.

To banish misunderstanding and celebrate the benefits of this ingredient, we need to understand more fully the botanical origin. The hemp plant (Cannabis Sativa) from which most CBD is harvested produces around 100 different cannabinoids—the active compound found within the cannabis plant.

Stem science

CBD (cannabidiol) is one of these, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being the other most well known. THC is the mind-altering, psychoactive cannabinoid that is illegal in most parts of the world. CBD is extracted without THC, it has no comparable psychoactive properties.

CBD is a phytocannabinoid, a plant origin cannabinoid that mimics the behaviours of endocannabinoids which are produced naturally within the human form. Our human Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a network of receptors found throughout our bodies in our connective tissues, internal organs, glands, immune cells and skin, known to help regulate and maintain internal balances; from mood to appetite, to immune response and skin health.

Our skin has natural receptors (TRPV1 receptors) for cannabidiols like CBD as they are adaptogens, meaning they are recognised by the body, absorbed quickly to help resolve pain and inflammation.

CBD has been digested orally for some time because of its renowned calmative properties, helping many with anxiety to maintain equilibrium, focus and ease chronic pain.

A root awakening

So how does CBD help with our hair?

Healthy hair starts from a healthy scalp. We know that inflammation is the source of many of our bodies’ miseries. Inflammation causes reactivity within the body and skin, this may manifest in a number of ways from top to toe, from breakout, pigmentation, sensitivity, redness, skin condition flare-ups like psoriasis and eczema. Inflammation can result from environmental exposure, lifestyle and diet choices, UV damage, health issues or stress.

Stress can wreak havoc with skin and hair health, redness and discomfort, dermatological conditions manifest in itchy, stressed skin and scalp.
Our hair is made up of 88% keratin, a protein made from 18 amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins giving our bodies structure, strength and resilience. CBD is rich in amino acids, as well as linoleic and gamma linoleic acid. These essential fatty acids helps nourish and strengthen normal hair growth, improving blood supply to the scalp. CBD is also a good source of essential minerals such as phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and potassium which all help

CBD is sebostatic which means it is efficient at balancing sebum production within the skin, helping minimising congestion in the hair follicles, it helps reinforce scalp strength and resilience through improved hydration and barrier function and it helps lessen the impact of trauma and irritation.

Crowning glory

When your scalp is nourished, soothed and conditions are optimised for natural reparative functions, hair can start to thrive.

We have made it easy with our collection of restorative, strengthening treatment that encourage massage of a complex of nourishing ingredients directly to the scalp to stimulate blood flow and encourage that rejuvenation of hair.

All CBD products are not created equal, it is essential that you check the INCI, it should read cannabidiol to be truly CBD in the formulation and the higher up the INCI (ingredient list) it comes, the higher the potency.