Sage is one of those herbs everyone knows about – either to put in food, as a fragrance, or even to rid your space of bad juju. As with most herbs, sage has been used for centuries by many different cultures for their medicinal properties, and even to combat hair loss. (In fact, sage’s scientific name is derived the Latin word “salvere” which translates to “to be saved.”) That’s why it’s no surprise that the extract from this ancient plant is a popular additive in beauty products, and why we’ve chosen it for two of our shampoos.

Sage, a member of the mint family with close relatives such as oregano, rosemary, lavender, basil and thyme, is native to the Mediterranean and South-Eastern Europe. Its earliest uses date back to ancient Roman times, who were the first to use the herb for cosmetic purposes.

So what’s in sage that benefits your hair health? Like many of the other natural extracts used in Paul Joseph Professional products, it’s packed with nutrients vital to a healthy scalp and hair, such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C (both which also act as an antioxidant – more on that later), B-Vitamins, Vitamin E, and minerals (namely potassium, calcium, manganese, zinc, iron and copper.) These nutrients work together to nourish the scalp and follicles, resulting in healthier and stronger hair. It is also thought that the compounds within the sage plant can actually darken grays, reducing the need for color touch-ups.

Hair loss can be caused by a number of different factors, such as hormones, stress, or genetics. One of the causes for alopecia is thought to be the result of an immune disorder which attacks hair follicles and damages them, reducing the blood flow to the scalp. With or without this disorder, the sage extract will actually work to promote blood flow to the scalp, therefore creating the building blocks for healthy follicles. The antioxidant properties also reduce the buildup of oils and environmental toxins that can clog the follicles, clarifying the hair for new growth.

While you may have used sage in the past to cleanse your home of bad energy, now you can use it to cleanse your hair of toxins. We used the extract in both our LOCK IT IN and STACKED shampoos for its ability to create stronger, healthier hair, and to reduce color fade. So take our “sage” advice, use it, and pass it along! :)

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Hair & Photo by Kayce Babinski @beautybybabinski

If you’re from our neck of the woods (pun intended) in the Northeast of the US, you’re likely very familiar with the gigantic white oak tree. What you may not be familiar with is the variety of uses extracted from the gray-ish white, bumpy bark. Native Americans knew all about the magical healing properties derived from these large trees and soon after, the first settlers were using it too – as an antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and even as a diuretic. Now the aforementioned uses are usually associated with an illness or wound, but you don’t have to be injured to reap the benefits for your hair.

There are many nutrients contained within the white oak bark (or quercus alba bark) extract, such as B12, iron and potassium. But the most standout component is its high tannin content (somewhere between 15-20%). Tannins, a class of astringent (drying, constricting agent), are found in a variety of things you may already consume, namely wine and tea. You also may have heard of “Tannin Smoothing”, a hair treatment used as an alternative to other chemical smoothers, which is designed to reduce frizz and increase softness. In our products, the astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of the tannins work to regulate the amount of oil in your hair/on your scalp which in turn reduces dandruff, prevents hair loss, and strengthens the hair follicle. Not only that, but your hair will stay fresher for longer – no more greasy second day hair!

While tannins might be the star of the extract, there are other elements which solve a variety of common hair issues. Flavonoids, a common plant chemical, work to protect the plant itself from harmful free-radicals (pollution, smoke, harmful UV rays, etc.) and they do the same for your hair! Quercetin, one of these flavonoids, works to strengthen the blood vessels and increase blood circulation to the scalp. This in combination with the vitamin B12 promotes healthier, faster growing hair.

So where can you find this wondrous and woody extract? We’ve included white oak bark extract in both our LOCK IT IN and STACKED Shampoos. LOCK IT IN is for color-protection, so the tannins work to smooth damaged hair and the flavonoids block against UV damage – one of the main causes of color fade. STACKED is a volumizing shampoo, so the flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals work to promote new, healthy hair growth and prevent breakage, while the tannins rid you of the oily build-up that’s preventing the lift and bounce you’re going for.  So when you’re searching for a new shampoo, take a step back towards nature and the countless benefits of the historic white oak tree!

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Hair & Photo by @hairbytaypoletti

You may be thinking “how and why would I ever put smelly garlic in my hair?” It may be the best topping for bread and a tasty addition to nearly any recipe, but this pungent plant is not usually associated with hair care. However, it has been used for many years as a home remedy for cold symptoms, fighting off infections, and more recently, for longer, thicker, stronger hair. So what is it about garlic that has attracted the attention of the hair industry?

Garlic, found in our LOCK IT IN & STACKED Shampoos, is loaded with hair-improving vitamins, minerals, and elements such as sulfur, selenium, copper, and calcium. Vitamins C, B2, and B1 work to increase circulation in your scalp which promotes healthy hair growth, therefore helping to prevent hair loss. Sulfur is especially important for stronger hair growth since it acts as a building block for keratin, the nutrient which makes your hair and nails grow. Additionally, selenium loads up your hair with Vitamin E which effectively prevents breakage , keeping more of your hair where it should be – on your head!  Copper is another prominent element found in garlic and it can actually prevent the growth of defective, unhealthy hair, improving the overall health of your strands. And we can’t forget about calcium, which helps to improve the structural component of your hair.

 As if all that isn’t enough, in 2007 scientists performed a double blind study on people suffering from alopecia (a condition that causes hair loss). One group received a betamethasone cream, typically used to treat swelling, itching, and skin irritation, and one group was given a gel containing betamethasone and 5% garlic. The group using the garlic gel saw an average of 1.5cm² reduction in areas that were balding, as opposed to the other group which only saw a 0.4cm² reduction. Although there still needs to be more research done on garlic for treating baldness, it’s been found that the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of the plant have proven to be beneficial.

And that’s not all the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of the extract are good for. They also work to reduce buildup on the scalp, prevent dandruff, and fight off bacteria that can lead to unhealthy hair.

So while you won’t smell that familiar garlic-y odor in our shampoos, that’s the only thing missing from our LOCK IT IN and STACKED Shampoos – which we think everyone is ok with. You won’t walk around smelling like an Italian restaurant, but your hair will show the results of this wondrous extract.

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Hair & Photo by Kayce Babinski @beautybybabinski