Histidine for Hair and Scalp Health: What Are the Benefits?

You may have spotted the word “histidine” while scanning the ingredients list on the back of a hair care bottle, but what is it? And why is histidine a significant ingredient in Divi’s Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner to promote a healthy scalp and treat the symptoms of hair loss?

Histidine is one of the nine essential amino acids our body needs to perform vital functions, including hair growth. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, but our bodies don’t produce all of them naturally. We must gain essential amino acids like histidine through our diet or through topical application to our skin.

At Divi, our research team has developed ideal, enriching and science-backed formulas for our Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner that all include an effective topical blend of amino acids, including histidine, to promote healthy, silky hair. We also include botanical extracts from eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree, and peppermint in combination with other clean ingredients such as caffeine, menthol, peptides, and glycerin.

Our Scalp Serum incorporates clean, effective ingredients for hair and scalp health and hair loss support. Read on as we explore the beneficial properties of histidine based on published scientific studies, discuss how histidine affects hair and scalp concerns, and review some of the causes and treatments for female hair loss.

What Is Histidine, and What Role Does It Play in the Human Body?

Histidine is a key element in our nutritional blend of amino acids, adding valuable properties to our formula, as it is a critical factor in the biosynthesis of proteins. This amino acid is a crucial mediator of the interactions of biomolecules with inorganic constituents, leading to the creation of histidine-rich peptides and proteins. Histidine contributes to a number of key physiological processes including cell growth and differentiation, nutrition, neurotransmission and immune response. 

For decades, medical practitioners have used histidine supplementation for organ preservation and myocardial protection during cardiac surgery. Scientists are researching histidine’s unique chemical properties and physiological functions as a potential treatment for atopic dermatitis, cancers, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, neurological disorders, uremic anemia, ulcers, inflammatory bowel diseases, and muscle performance during strenuous exercise.

How Does Histidine Help Hair and Scalp Conditions?

Not just an insignificant name on an ingredient list, histidine plays vital regulatory functions in the body, including inflammatory processes, immune defense and allergic reactions. This essential amino acid is a popular addition to finer hair care products because of its clinically proven moisturizing (humectant) properties. 

Histidine has antioxidant capabilities that can help improve oxidative stress. Evidence suggests a strong link between oxidative stress and hair loss, indicating that preventing oxidative stress could positively impact hereditary alopecia (hair loss). Other conditions histidine can help include scalp irritation, atopic dermatitis, and dry, brittle hair. 

Multiple recent studies have examined the use of histidine as a treatment for atopic dermatitis, also called eczema. The mechanisms through which histidine functions involve the amino acid’s role in addressing deficiencies in the skin barrier protein called filaggrin. Researchers acknowledge L-histidine as an important natural moisturizing factor (NMF) that significantly reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by increasing both filaggrin formation and skin barrier function. 

Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is an abundant, multimodular plasma protein. A recently discovered antifungal role of HRG is that it reduces inflammation and prevents fungal infections, keeping the scalp healthy so the hair follicles can get to work.

Histidine also works as a chelator in hair cleansing products, helping remove minerals and other impurities that build up in your hair and on your scalp. Chelating agents bind impurities that occur from sources like hard water, hair product residue, and chlorine to help the cleanser remove the build-up. Excess minerals can cause hair to become dry and brittle, increasing the risk of breakage. As an effective chelating agent, histidine can help remove excess copper from your hair. This reduction of copper helps shield your hair from UV damage more effectively and prevents the strands from becoming brittle and breaking. 

Histidine is one of three amino acids – also including arginine and lysine – that scientists consider most important in therapeutic and cosmetic peptides since they have a positive net charge at homeostatic pH level. In a 2021 study of plant-based peptides for healthy hair and dermal anti-aging, the researchers noted that the synergistic effects derived from plant-based specialized metabolites needed more consideration in the development of cosmetic hair and skin products – which coincides with our efforts at Divi to develop our Scalp Serum with a synergistic blend of ingredients with scientifically proven healing agency.

We chose histidine as a vital component of Divi Scalp Serum because it helps hair stay clean and healthy, improves tensile strength, and increases hair's softness and smoothness. Every ingredient in our formula targets hair and scalp concerns to help soothe your scalp and promote fuller and healthier hair.

Topical Histidine Supplementation: Is It Safe?

Research on topical histidine supplementation for hair problems is scarce. Histidine supplements can be oral or topical, but oral histidine has possible risks and side effects. On the other hand, Divi’s Scalp Serum is a topical treatment containing histidine that has undergone rigorous dermatological testing to ensure no adverse effects like irritation or allergic reactions occur for consumers.

How to Choose the Right Hair Product

As you select a new hair product such as Divi’s Scalp Serum, you’ll want to make sure it addresses your specific hair or scalp concerns, contains beneficial ingredients, and has undergone proper lab testing.

Hair or Scalp Concerns

Hair loss and thinning hair affect most men and women at some point during their lifetime, and some people try dozens of treatments to find what works for them. If you want to save money and find the best product, look for those that address your particular problem. Products often use ingredients targeting specific issues, whether you’re losing hair or suffering from a dry, itchy scalp.

Ingredients

You’ll get the best result if you look for hair products with safe, effective, clearly labeled ingredients. To revitalize your hair and combat hair loss, you’ll need the help of ingredients that stimulate hair follicle growth and nourish your hair and skin. Besides histidine, beneficial ingredients might include caffeine, vitamin C, tea tree oil and other essential amino acids.

Testing

Product testing is vital for any manufacturer to ensure the hair and scalp care formula is safe to use and works for the intended purpose. Check to see if a product has undergone clinical testing before you buy to prevent wasting money on products backed by unsubstantiated claims of improving hair loss or scalp issues. You can be sure that Divi’s Scalp Serum has undergone independent third-party clinical testing.

Does Divi’s Scalp Serum Help With Hair Loss?

Divi’s Scalp Serum is the result of a long research journey to discover the many causes of hair loss and the best ingredients to target those causes. We chose powerful, nourishing ingredients that treat the problems and imbalances leading to hair loss. Our ingredients include: 

• Amino acids
• Glycerin
• Caffeine
• Botanical extracts from green tea, rosemary leaf, eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint oil
• Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu)
• Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Vitamin C
• Menthol
• And more

Clinical studies found positive effects of these ingredients on the hair and scalp, such as fighting against thinning hair, eliminating buildup, improving blood circulation, and nourishing hair follicles. 

Divi’s Scalp Serum is easy to use and add to your daily routine. Once a day, massage ¾ dropper of our Scalp Serum into your scalp. As the stimulating ingredients soak in, you might experience a slight skin tingling from the botanicals like peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil. As you go about your day, the serum will soak into your scalp’s cells and nourish your hair follicles. 

Common Causes of Hair Loss 

Even though many discussions and treatments about hair loss focus primarily on men and male-pattern hair loss or baldness, which affects about 50% of the male population in Europe and the United States, about 25% of women experience hair thinning from androgenic alopecia, too. Some of the most common causes of hair loss include childbirth, stress and menopause.

Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA)

Androgenetic alopecia is the cause of more than 95% of all cases of pattern hair loss. While signs of male-pattern baldness are receding hairline and thinning crown, female-pattern baldness appears as an overall thinning of the hair and a widening part. The androgens testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are primarily responsible for this condition, which is usually hereditary. AGA causes hair follicles to shrink until they can no longer grow viable hair. The shrinkage can happen as early as your teens or 20s, but it’s more common later in life, usually starting before age 50. 

Childbirth and Postnatal Hair Loss

New moms often experience excessive hair shedding. The condition typically peaks four months after childbirth and goes away after a year. During pregnancy, changing hormones can cause your hair to stay in the growth phase for an unusually long time. When the hormones start to normalize, more hairs than usual enter the resting phase and start shedding. You can help your hair regrow after postnatal hair loss by avoiding tight hairstyles, being gentle when washing or brushing, and eating a vitamin-rich diet. 

Stress

Particularly stressful life events can cause hair loss, the most common type being telogen effluvium (TE). This temporary condition disrupts your hair’s growth cycle in response to extreme stress due to events like the death of a loved one, a breakup, or a traumatic experience. 

Your hair has three stages of growth: anagen, catagen, and telogen. Anagen, the active growth stage, is when your hair follicles start to grow hair. After a few years, the catagen phase begins, and the hair detaches from the follicles. About two weeks later, your hair enters the telogen phase, a resting period when the hair follicles grow new hair and shed the old hair. When your body perceives it's under severe stress, it might respond by sending more hairs into the telogen phase, causing excessive shedding. 

Hormonal Changes and Menopause

All women go through menopause, experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings and hair loss. During menopause, the hormones estrogen and progesterone diminish, and androgens (male hormones) increase in production. Androgens cause hair follicles on the scalp to shrink and eventually stop growing, making women's hair look thinner. Other factors contributing to hair loss during menopause include stress, lack of specific nutrients, and illness. 

Soothe and Revitalize Your Scalp With Divi’s Scalp Serum

At Divi, we strive to get to the bottom of hair and scalp health and incorporate the best solutions in our formulas. We choose ingredients like histidine and other essential amino acids for scalp health and hair care because they’re clinically proven. Our Scalp Serum has helped thousands of people fight against thinning locks or an irritated, itchy scalp, and grow fuller, healthier heads of hair. 

We developed Divi’s Scalp Serum formula to help you fight against the symptoms of hair loss and thinning. Our product is clinically proven to be safe and effective at treating your worst hair problems, including excessive hair fall, thinning strands, and poor scalp health. When you use Divi’s Scalp Serum, you can expect to see noticeable results, including:

• Increased hair count and weight
• Fuller, thicker hair
• Healthy scalp and skin
• Less hair fall and shedding
• Soft, hydrated hair
• Strong, smooth strands
• Optimal follicular health
• Shiny, vibrant hair
• Better color retention

However, we have one quick note: While Divi’s Scalp Serum can help combat the symptoms of hair loss and thinning from aging, genetics, overprocessing, and skin conditions, it's not a cure for baldness.

If you use our Scalp Serum, you'll likely see a reduction in those symptoms. However, if you discontinue use, the symptoms will return. Fortunately, we've made it easy to add Divi’s Scalp Serum to your daily health and beauty routine so you can enjoy all the benefits our formula provides for men and women suffering from hair loss. Try it today!