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This article first appeared in our Love issue of My Green Pod Magazine, distributed with The Guardian on 09 April 2021. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
Big players in the hair industry, which is globally worth $85.5 billion, might suggest a synthetic shampoo to improve the health of your hair – but could diet be the real answer?
‘There are two types of ingredient that can affect hair’, reveals Rob Hughes, co-founder of healthtech company Pivotal Products and lifestyle brand RE-NU-ME®. ‘Food-based ingredients that affect the absorption of other vitamins and minerals, and toxic chemicals in personal care products. Sadly, the number of toxic ingredients in personal care products is endless.’
Most mainstream haircare products contain chemicals that are either damaging for your hair or scalp, or simply mask poor condition to create an illusion of healthy, shiny hair. For truly healthy hair, Rob believes we need to look at diet.
‘The health of your hair starts from within and therefore nutrition is essential when it comes to hair growth’, he explains. ‘Your hair relies on vitamins, minerals, amino acids and nutrients – what you put in is what you get out.’
Hair loss is completely natural – we can lose up to 100 hairs per day naturally in our normal shedding phase – but greater damage can be caused if something interferes with one of the stages of our hair’s usual growth cycle.
This is where lifestyle comes in. ‘Someone going through their natural hair loss cycle can be affected by a hair loss condition if they have a poor diet and aren’t getting enough nutrients or water’, Rob explains. ‘They can also be affected as a result of haircare regimes such as heated styling, dyeing or bleaching hair because of the harmful chemicals, or if they have high levels of stress. Other factors to consider include hormones, medication, drugs and illnesses.’
While nothing in the world can fully stop hair loss, Rob believes it is possible to improve hair health, reduce the volume of hair loss and improve the rate of hair regrowth. ‘I am pleased to say that in most cases the extent of damage to the hair is cosmetic; if dealt with at the right time and in the correct manner, results can be improved.’
Before launching Pivotal Products, Rob was a senior hair specialist for one of the world’s largest hair restoration companies. His role involved diagnosing hair-related concerns and recommending appropriate treatment options for men, women and, in some cases, children.
Rob’s experience consulting thousands of individuals inspired him to launch a business that could help improve people’s understanding of hair loss while providing sustainable solutions supported by science.
‘What mattered most to us when we started developing our products was to use natural, high-quality, science-backed ingredients that work’, Rob explains. ‘Our years of research allowed us to formulate a range of complexes for each product, focusing on one core concern. Each contains the right balance and volume of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to target the area of focus in the most effective possible way.’
The first products to launch from RE-NU-ME® target skin and hair health. TrichoSMART® has been formulated to decrease hair loss, strengthen thinning hair, support production of thicker, fuller hair and restore vitality.
DermaSMART®, which contains nutrients including zinc, copper, selenium and vitamins A, B2, B3 and E, has been developed to improve the skin’s base condition and structure, increase
collagen production and improve skin health.
All RE-NU-ME® supplements have been created to help men and women look and feel great in an environmentally friendly way.
Made from sustainable plant-based ingredients that are organic where possible, the supplements are vegan, kosher and halal, with no preservatives, palm oil, artificial colours or flavours. The packaging is plastic free and printed using eco-friendly ink.
As a member of 1% For the Planet, Pivotal Products donates 1% of all sales to environmentally active non-profit partners such as Oceanic Global, Plastic Bank and Less Plastic.
After a launch delayed by the pandemic, the goal is now to release RE-NU-ME®’s debut products in May through a crowdfunding campaign with IndieGoGo. Perks include up to 45% off bundles and a discount for life for early supporters.
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