The Science Behind Our Hero Ingredients
Rosemary, Black Seed Oil, and Olive Oil are chosen for centuries of traditional use and modern clinical research supporting scalp health and hair care.
Introduction
At Luxe Roots, we believe that what you put on your hair should be as carefully considered as what you put in your body. Our Rosemary, Black Seed and Olive Oil Shampoo is built on a foundation of three ingredients used by humanity for thousands of years, now supported by modern clinical science.
1. Rosemary
INCI Name: Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower Water
Rosemary is an aromatic evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean region. Luxe Roots uses Rosemary Essential Oil at 1.5% and Rosemary Hydrosol as 30% of the water base.
Active Compounds
- Carnosic acid and carnosol, antioxidant compounds linked with 5 alpha reductase inhibition.
- Rosmarinic acid, an anti inflammatory compound found in the hydrosol.
- 1,8 Cineole, camphor, and alpha pinene, compounds associated with circulation and antimicrobial support.
Clinical Evidence
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% | Both rosemary oil and minoxidil 2% produced significant hair count increases after 6 months. Rosemary showed less scalp itching. |
| 5 alpha reductase inhibition | Rosemary extract inhibited 5 alpha reductase by 82.4% at 200 µg/mL and 94.6% at 500 µg/mL. |
| Scalp circulation | Topical rosemary essential oil increased dermal thickness, follicle number, and sebaceous gland number in research models. |
For a rinse off shampoo formula, 1.5% rosemary essential oil represents a meaningful level designed to interact with the scalp during washing.
2. Black Seed Oil
INCI Name: Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Black seed oil has been used in Islamic, Ayurvedic, and Middle Eastern medicine for centuries. It is known for its dark golden colour, earthy aroma, and high concentration of bioactive compounds.
Active Compounds
- Thymoquinone, the primary antioxidant, anti inflammatory, and antimicrobial compound.
- Thymohydroquinone and thymol, linked with DHT blocking, antifungal, and antimicrobial benefits.
- Essential fatty acids including linoleic acid and oleic acid, which nourish follicles and support strand strength.
Clinical Evidence
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Hair fallout reduction | An herbal oil formulation containing Nigella sativa showed a 76% reduction in hair fallout after 3 months. |
| Anti inflammatory scalp benefits | Thymoquinone reduced scalp inflammation markers in participants with seborrheic dermatitis. |
| Antimicrobial properties | Nigella sativa oil showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activity against Candida albicans. |
| Hair strength | Essential fatty acids in Nigella sativa oil were associated with improved hair strength and reduced breakage. |
Luxe Roots includes black seed oil at 1.0%, double the minimum effective concentration referenced for cosmetic formulations.
3. Olive Oil, Zaitoon
INCI Name: Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Olive oil, known as Zaitoon in Arabic, has been central to Mediterranean culture, medicine, and beauty for thousands of years. Luxe Roots uses extra virgin cold pressed olive oil.
Active Compounds
- Oleuropein, a primary polyphenol linked with antioxidant activity and hair follicle support.
- Oleic acid, which helps condition the hair shaft and reduce moisture loss.
- Squalene, vitamin E, hydroxytyrosol, and polyphenols for scalp conditioning and antioxidant support.
Clinical Evidence
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Hair growth induction | Oleuropein induced hair growth response in animal models and supported active growth phase signalling. |
| UV hair protection | Olive oil helped reduce photo oxidative damage to hair proteins before UV exposure. |
| Scalp condition support | Olive oil compounds may help relieve scalp inflammation, itching, and flaking. |
| Protein preservation | Olive oil demonstrated protein preservation benefits when applied before washing. |
At 2.0%, olive oil is the most concentrated hero ingredient by volume in the oil phase, chosen for conditioning and UV protective support.
4. The Synergistic Power of All Three
Each ingredient works through a different but complementary mechanism. Together, they support scalp health, hair strength, antioxidant protection, and a balanced scalp environment.
| Mechanism | Rosemary | Black Seed Oil | Olive Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHT Inhibition | Strong | Moderate | Not primary |
| Scalp Circulation | Strong | Moderate | Mild |
| Anti inflammatory | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
| Antioxidant Protection | Moderate | Strong | Strong |
| Hair Shaft Penetration | Moderate | Strong | Moderate |
| Scalp Microbiome | Antimicrobial | Strong | Mild |
5. Important Notes on Claims
Luxe Roots is a cosmetic product. The clinical studies referenced relate to the individual ingredients used in the formula and were conducted by independent researchers. These studies are not specific to the Luxe Roots product itself.
Luxe Roots Shampoo is formulated to cleanse, nourish, and support healthy looking hair and scalp. It is not a therapeutic product and does not claim to treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition.
Contains no sulfates, parabens, silicones, PEG or PPG compounds, DEA or TEA, mineral oil, petrolatum, or synthetic fragrances.
References
Research references include published studies on rosemary oil, Nigella sativa, olive oil, hair growth support, scalp inflammation, antimicrobial benefits, UV protection, and hair protein preservation.