How to Choose the Best Serum

Hair serums have become quite popular in recent years. As leave-in products applied to the scalp, they can help repair damaged hair at its root. Some serums include ingredients which can actually promote hair growth as well. Here are some categories and ingredients to look out for when choosing a hair serum.

Cocoate Jojoba Esters: These are advanced molecules that allow a product to be oil-free while still having lipid soluble components through a process called interesterification. This means the product can go on like an oil, but dry without any oil residue.

High quality natural waxes, oils and extracts to coat and protect hair:
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax
Argon Oil (Argania Spinosa Kernel)
Oak leaf (Quercus Petraea Fruit Extract)

Active ingredients to promote hair growth are also sometimes seen in hair serums. The best serums will include all of the following ingredients to keep the hair growing strong:

Ketoconazole: while having the added benefit of preventing dandruff which can cause harm and thinning of the hair, ketoconazole is well known to increase hair growth by an independent mechanism.

Saw Palmetto: As a natural plant based blocker of DHT (the metabolite that is most well known to cause hair miniaturization and pattern hair loss) it can keep hairs strong and growing.

Hair peptides such as Hentapeptides, Tripeptides, and Copper Peptides have been shown to fight local inflammation and promote hair growth.

Hair Vitamins such as Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin E (Tocopherol) have all been shown to increase hair growth and keep hair healthy and strong.

Caffeine: While we all associate caffeine with our morning coffee, it has some other very interesting effects.
Caffeine is a vasodilator meaning it increases blood flow. For this reason it is seen in many headache medicines as increased blood flow to the brain is well known to reduce headache. Every wonder why that morning coffee can cure a headache? Hair follicles are very metabolically active requiring a lot of blood flow to produce thick and healthy hair, which is why some high end hair growth shampoos are seen to include caffeine and coffee seed extract in their formulations.

Antioxidants: These are key to promote health of the hairs by reducing local inflammation by naturally occurring oxidants which can cause damage. Ingredients such as Apigenin Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants.

Olive leaf (Olea Europaea Leaf Extract) and olive oil (Copolymer Oleanolic Acid) extracts: These natural ingredients are known to activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway which is well established to positively regulate the anagen phase of hair growth cycle.

Sesame Seed (Sesamum Indicum Oil): This natural source of calcium and magnesium have been shown to promote hair growth.

Parsley Extract (Carum Petroselinum): With all the vitamins, electrolytes, and beta-carotene found in this extract, it has been shown to promote hair growth and prevent shedding.

Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera): This ingredient increases hair growth and strength by being a natural antibacterial, increasing blood circulation, and by preventing hair breakage. 

Butylene Glycol: Unlike the other ingredients mentioned in this section, this one is not itself an active ingredient to promote hair growth. Instead it allows for all the other active ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin thereby increasing their effect. Without this ingredient, topically applied actives would have less of an effect.

No harsh preservatives and chemicals such as parabens or sulfates. These sort of ingredients are common in many cheaply made products, however can leave the skin irritated and can hurt the hair.

Made locally: Made in USA products must undergo extensive quality control and and stability testing before coming to market. Also they help promote jobs in the US.

Scent: While this category does not make a serum any more or less effective, it is very important since the scent of the product will remain on your hair after you style your hair. Many serums have high tone scents, others play it safe and keep them unscented, whereas quality products treat their conditioners as luxury colognes and take their time to create magnificent scents with musk, lavender, and other profiles.

BSG Original Edition #1 Hair Serum left nothing off the table. It includes all of the ingredients mentioned above to soft strong and healthy, with the added benefit of preventing dandruff and promoting hair growth, all without using any harsh chemicals or preservatives while being made locally and having a scent you would be proud to wear. The BSG OE #1 Hair Serum has the highest concentration of its hair growth promoting active ingredients than any of its other products, making this a premium product for those who are most interested in keeping their hair in optimal health. This hair serum was formulated by doctors and stylists together to have the best of everything so there is no need to use multiple conditioners which serve independent functions.