The human body uses amino acids to perform countless functions. These molecules bond together to form important peptides, proteins and enzymes enabling the body to grow, heal, and perform many other vital functions. Serine may not be the first amino acid that comes to mind, but it plays an indispensable role in hair and scalp health.
The cosmetics industry has been using serine for hair and skin health for years, and Divi’s Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner formulas leverage the many proven benefits of this amino acid to help reduce hair loss.
Amino Acids for Hair and Scalp Health
Amino acids are molecules bonding to other amino acids in peptide or protein chains. The body needs a balance of 20 amino acids to create the necessary components for essential chemical reactions and bodily functions. It's no wonder scientists refer to them as life's building blocks.
Amino acids play a crucial role in collagen production and the production of the primary hair protein: keratin. They also improve skin health by boosting elasticity and moisture levels. Unlike essential amino acids, like isoleucine and lysine, serine can be produced by the body. Divi’s chemists have optimized the serine levels in our Scalp Serum formula to ensure that an adequate amount reaches the hair and scalp.
Divi’s Scalp Serum contains serine as part of an amino acid blend that includes many beneficial amino acids, including serine, as well as pyrrolidone carboxylic acids (PCAs), which help dyed hair retain its color. Formulated for hair care, this blend:
- Boosts hair strength
- Improves hair shine
- Encourages smooth, silky hair
- Improves the feel of wet hair
Serine for a Hydrated Scalp
Hair follicles live in the connective tissue beneath the top skin layer, so hair health starts with a hydrated and healthy scalp. Unfortunately, many people suffer from scalp conditions causing scalp dryness and irritation, including dandruff, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and non-bacterial folliculitis.
Hair and scalp care products with serine in their formulas can help with scalp hydration, elasticity and collagen production to combat the effects of a dry or unhealthy scalp. The body also converts serine into the amino acid glycine, which plays a key role in forming collagen.
Many consumers understand the relationship between collagen and healthy skin, but collagen proteins also encourage hair growth by aiding in follicle regeneration. The scalp needs collagen to maintain healthy follicle-containing dermis tissue and build stronger, thicker hair.
Serine is also an important ingredient of Divi’s Scalp Serum because it acts as an antistatic agent helping to soothe the scalp and prevent irritation from static electricity.
Serine for Improved Hair Thickness
Conditioning the scalp is not the only benefit of serine. This amino acid also serves as a humectant, aiding in hair hydration by encouraging it to retain moisture. Hydrated hair tends to break and shed less often, resulting in thicker, healthier hair.
Studies show serine levels in hair directly correlate to hair quality. This makes sense because hair contains 95% keratin, a protein formed by more than a dozen amino acids, including proline, threonine and serine.
Keratin is a fibrous protein chain with strong hydrogen bonds. Many common enzymes cannot break down keratin, making it a stable protein. The higher the water content of a keratin protein, the longer the chain, so it stands to reason that hair needs proper hydration to grow.
By including serine, Divi’s Scalp Serum formula helps hair retain moisture to encourage fuller, silkier hair.
Frequently Asked Questions About Serine
Is Serine Safe to Use in Scalp Products?
At Divi, we take pride in using clean, healthy ingredients to offer science-backed hair and scalp care products. The FDA recognizes serine as a safe ingredient. No adverse side effects have been reported regarding the use of serine in hair care products.
Does "Nonessential Amino Acid" Mean I Don't Need It?
Although the scientific community refers to amino acids as essential and nonessential, the human body actually needs all amino acids to function adequately. In this case, "nonessential" means the body can produce it. This contrasts with essential amino acids, which the body cannot produce and therefore must be consumed through dietary means.
Does Serine Have Other Benefits Besides Hair and Scalp Health?
In addition to its benefits for hair and scalp health, serine may improve skin elasticity and hydration, slowing the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. It also plays a crucial role in:
- DNA production
- Muscle formation
- Fat metabolism
- Fatty acid metabolism
- Production of primary antibodies
- Immune system health
- Brain tissue generation
- Neurological functioning
- Amino acid formation (glycine, cysteine, tryptophan and methionine)
Frequently Asked Questions About Divi
Is Serine the Only Amino Acid in Divi’s Scalp Care Products?
Not by a long shot! Our Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner formulas contain many amino acids to encourage stronger, healthier hair and scalp proteins. In addition to serine for hair growth and scalp health, Divi’s Scalp Serum contains arginine, aspartic acid, glycine, valine, threonine, isoleucine, histidine and phenylalanine. It also contains helpful peptides, like acetyl tetrapeptide-3 and copper tripeptide-1, shown to stimulate new hair growth and improve hair thickness, among other benefits.
What Other Ingredients Go Into Divi’s Scalp Serum?
Divi’s Scalp Serum formula includes a list of clean ingredients that promote hair growth. These ingredients include, among others:
- Peppermint oil – This ingredient provides a pleasant cooling sensation and soothes skin irritation. It also encourages hair follicle growth and helps follicles anchor deeper into the scalp’s connective tissue.
- Green tea leaf extract – Some hair loss stems from increased levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone interfering with the hair growth cycle. Green tea leaf extract contains a compound called epigallocatechin (EGCG), which reduces the hair loss effects of DHT.
- Rosemary leaf extract – This antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ingredient helps promote hair growth by encouraging improved blood circulation to the scalp and the generation of new cells.
- Tea tree oil – As an antioxidant, tea tree oil helps neutralize free radicals and reduce the effects of oxidative stress. This ingredient also reduces inflammation in hair follicles and helps reduce dandruff by preventing the buildup of dead skin cells.
- Caffeine – Another ingredient inhibiting DHT, caffeine helps reverse hair loss by promoting deeper follicle anchoring, stimulating hair growth, and encouraging the elongation of hair shafts.
- Menthol – Hair follicles rely on tiny blood vessels to get the oxygen they need, but age, inflammation and other factors constrict them, causing hair loss symptoms. Menthol increases blood circulation to hair follicles by dilating the blood vessels.
- Eucalyptus oil – This ingredient promotes hair growth, stimulates follicles, and reduces inflammation. It also serves as an effective antimicrobial and antifungal agent.
To view a complete list of ingredients in Divi’s Scalp Serum, visit the product page.
What Other Ingredients Go Into Divi’s Shampoo & Conditioner?
Our Shampoo & Conditioner also feature other ingredients besides amino acids like serine. These additional ingredients include:
- Peppermint oil to soothe the scalp and promote hair growth.
- Biotin to improve follicle strength and nourish hair.
- Black pepper seed extract to increase blood circulation and decrease scalp stress.
You can find the full ingredient list for Divi’s Shampoo & Conditioner on the product page by clicking the link beneath the list of key ingredients.
Has Divi’s Scalp Serum Gone Through Dermatologist Testing?
If you have sensitive skin, you may wonder if Divi’s Scalp Serum is dermatologist-approved. The team at Divi and a consulting dermatologist oversaw a study in 2021 to evaluate the formula and whether it causes skin irritation or allergic reactions. The results did not indicate any potential for skin irritation or sensitization with using Divi’s Scalp Serum.
At Divi, we take pride in only using clean, vegan-free and paraben-free ingredients to provide beneficial products that don't cause skin irritation.
Does Divi's Scalp Serum Soothe the Scalp?
We designed Divi’s Scalp Serum formula to help treat hair loss symptoms, including dry, itchy scalp. According to research we conducted at the start of 2022, Divi’s Scalp Serum provides a soothing effect on the scalp, helping it feel moisturized and hydrated. The product creates a tingly cooling sensation during use and leaves the scalp nourished and refreshed.
Does Divi’s Scalp Serum Help With Scalp Itchiness?
Our research shows Divi’s Scalp Serum helps soothe an itchy scalp. After eight weeks of using Divi’s Scalp Serum, 33 out of 36 research participants agreed or strongly agreed the product soothed their scalp itch.
Do Divi’s Products Cure Hair Loss?
Divi’s products are formulated to address hair loss symptoms and help counter the effects of an underlying condition, but cannot cure the conditions themselves. Divi’s lineup helps soothe the scalp and nourish this essential part of the body. Divi offers many benefits for scalp health and new hair growth, but if the underlying condition still exists, symptoms may reappear if product use is discontinued.
Conditions that contribute to hair loss include (but are not limited to):
- Abnormal hormone levels – Hormones help regulate body functioning, so unbalanced levels can result in symptoms like hair loss. For example, increased levels of the hormone DHT can result in hair thinning and hair loss.
- Stress – Significant amounts of stress may cause hair follicles to go into the last life-cycle stage prematurely, which can cause hair to fall out suddenly.
- Childbirth – Stress and changing hormones may cause a woman to experience hair loss after giving birth. Postpartum hair loss is usually temporary.
- Illness – Thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases and conditions that cause anemia may cause hair loss. Other medical conditions that may induce hair loss include lupus and diabetes.
- Medications and drug treatments – Some drugs may cause hair loss, including chemotherapy, blood pressure medications, blood thinners and hormonal contraceptives.
- Diet and weight loss – Temporary hair loss may result if the body doesn't get the nutrients it needs through diet. This may result from a protein-deficient diet or extremely calorie-restricted diets.
- Cosmetic treatments and overwashing – Washing, bleaching, perming, or dyeing hair too often can lead to hair thinning and breakage. In these cases, hair usually grows back normally.
Many of these conditions cause temporary hair loss, and treating the underlying disease may improve hair growth and thickness. Products like Divi’s Scalp Serum can help provide relief from symptoms associated with hair thinning or shedding.
Encourage Scalp Hydration and Hair Growth with Divi
Divi understands the benefits of serine for hair and scalp health. Serine can help treat the symptoms of dry scalp and hair thinning, packing a double punch of amino acid power. Whether you struggle with constant dandruff or are experiencing hair loss, Divi’s Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner can help you alleviate your scalp’s health.
Do you wish you had fuller, stronger or healthier hair? Focus on your scalp then. From age-related hair thinning to stress-induced shedding, Divi’s products have helped people in a wide range of situations overcome their hair loss woes. We're confident Divi’s products can help you, too.
