We've always treated our skin care as skin care and our hair care as hair care. However, a new beauty movement is trying to blur the lines between skin care and hair care by introducing products whose ingredient list looks in line with skin care products. Dubbed the 'skinification of hair', this movement is all about TLC for the hair, especially the scalp, and involves deeply nourishing, soothing and moisturising it. 

Ahead, we're digging a little deeper into the skinification trend and how it could transform your hair care routine. 

skinification of hair woman long brown hair

The Basics of Skinification  

Skinification of hair is the new trend that means hair care is becoming more and more like skin care: 

  • Hair care borrows the basic steps from skin care, like deep cleansing, exfoliating, soothing, moisturising, nourishing, and protection. 

  • Hair products contain active ingredients that are popular in skin care. 

  • Hair care becomes more sophisticated and based on knowledge about hair anatomy, from the scalp to strands. 

Facts About Skinification of Hair  

Learn more about what skinification of hair really is, how it works, and how to implement it into your daily beauty routine. 

skinification of hair woman long brown hair

What is skinification?  

As mentioned before, skinification of hair and scalp is essentially including ingredients that were once only found in skin care products in your hair care routine. Certain active ingredients have benefits not just for the skin but for the hair too, and thus, can be used to promote hair health and nourish your tresses.

skinification of hair woman long brown hair

How does it work?  

To understand why skinification of hair and scalp works, let's first understand a couple of things about our hair and scalp. First up, the hair receives the nutrients from the body's blood supply right at the end since it's a non-essential tissue. Secondly, the scalp has a lower barrier function and, therefore, isn't adequate for maintaining hydration. 

These two factors combined can make the scalp prone to inflammation, itching, irritation and dandruff, and even lead to thinning and hair fall. Skinification, however, helps with this. If you have dry skin, you will use hyaluronic acid on your face for hydration, right? Well, if you have a dry scalp, you can use a 'skinified' hair care product with hyaluronic acid to treat the same thing. 

skinification of hair woman long brown hair

How can you incorporate it?  

If you want to optimise your hair care routine, skinification of hair is the easier way to do it. Instead of just looking at shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks, seek out products with active ingredients that will help you take care of your scalp and strands. Just like with skin care, the order needs to be: cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, nourish, and protect. It really is that simple! 

skinification of hair woman long brown hair tresemme serum

A scalp tonic, a scalp scrub, or even a serum like the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Hair Serum can help. Like skin serum but for your strands, this product helps to keep your hair smooth and restore shine. The serum with keratin and camellia oil provides hydration and elasticity, reduces frizz, tackles dryness, and controls hair damage. Learn more about serums and moiusturisers

skinification of hair woman long brown hair wash tresemme

One of the golden rules of skin care is to use SPF daily, but who said you don’t need to protect your hair from UV rays? They are harmful not only for your skin but for your scalp and tresses, too. If you want to slow ageing processes (as your hair is prone to ageing, too, as it looses elasticity, thickness, strength and shine over time, absolutely like your skin does) and protect from damage, use products with SPF for your hair. For example, TRESemmé Climate Control Shampoo and Conditioner with keratin, olive oil and UV blockers are perfect especially for hot sunny days. They also help to moisturise your hair, lock in moisture and control frizz. 

skinification of hair woman long brown hair

Hero ingredients in skinification  

With hair and scalp care formulas stealing the limelight with ingredient-heavy formulas, we thought we'd make your life a little easier by suggesting a few hero ingredients that work towards the skinification of hair. If you're seeking moisture, look for ceramides. If you want to kiss frizz and dryness goodbye, hyaluronic acid is a winner. If your scalp is greasy, kaolin clay can help. Turn to popular skin care ingredients, which you've used before, and your hair will benefit from them, too. 

skinification of hair woman long brown hair

Benefits of Skinification of Hair  

Skinification of hair may sound like a fancy trend that just impacts consumers to buy more products. But in fact, this approach is much wiser and provides a substantial profit for your hair. Here’s why it is becoming more and more popular, and why you should stick to the new trend now. 

Benefit #1  

Skin care approach helps to enrich your hair care with trusted active ingredients, which were approved for your skin and can deliver the same benefits to your hair. 

Benefit #2  

Skinification of hair method helps to focus on scalp care which is the key to healthy and beautiful hair because, obviously, your hair grows from your scalp. Like the skin on your face, your scalp can be dry, oily, or sensitive, so it is better to identify your type and understand its needs before choosing hair care products. For example, if your scalp is dry or sensitive, you should avoid over-cleansing and harsh ingredients, and if your scalp is oily, be careful with applying essential oils to your roots.   

Benefit #3  

Bringing skin care habits and steps to hair care helps to understand your hair needs and provides a range of benefits, from deep cleansing and moisturisation to preventing hair loss and damage. 

skinification of hair woman long black hair

FAQs about Skinification of Hair  

We could not leave the most popular questions about skinification without answers.  

What active ingredients are good for hair? 

There are a number of them! Oils, acids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins bring benefits not only to your skin, but also to your hair and scalp. Which popular skin care ingredients definitely worth trying in your hair care? Vitamin B3, B5, B6, B7, C, E, hyaluronic acid, argan, coconut, olive oil, and many other herbal oils and butters, keratin, ceramides, squalane, clay, and, of course, SPF filters. 

Is hyaluronic acid good for hair? 

Hyaluronic acid is a well-known and trusted ingredient which helps to deeply moisturise your skin, lock in moisture and prevent dehydration. Exactly the same way it works for your scalp: provides hydration to the deep skin layers, reduces dryness and flakiness, impacts even your follicles to activate hair growth. Your strands also benefit from hyaluronic acid because it helps to moisturise them, tame frizz, revive damaged areas, provide elasticity and shine. 

Why is it important to take care of scalp?  

Your hair grows from your scalp, so its health and beauty are directly related to the scalp conditions. At the same time, the scalp skin is a very delicate area full of sweat, sebaceous glands and hair follicles that deserves proper care. As was mentioned above, scalp skin has a lower barrier function compared to the skin on the rest of your body. That’s why it is important to develop an effective beauty routine not only for the skin on your face, but also for the scalp. In other words, you should start from the root if you want to grow strong and shiny tresses. 

Follow the skinification of hair trend and also learn more about latest and biggest skin care trends