Chatting with the founder of a scalp care brand serious about natural ingredients, recyclable packaging, and combating dandruff.
| All products featured on The Wellness Feed are independently selected by our editors for their environmental and ethical impact. However, we may earn an affiliate commission when you buy something through our retail links. |
Most hair care products only focus on cleansing and nourishing hair follicles while leaving the scalp to fend for itself. This can result in the scalp drying out, oil build-up, and fungal overgrowth. When Jupiter co-founder, Robbie Salter, was combing through his own scalp woes, he decided that he needed answers about scalp health. So, he spent two years speaking with dermatologists, formulators, and everyday men and women to learn all he could about our scalps.
Some of the facts surprised him. “Do you know there’s a 50% chance you’ll experience dandruff in your lifetime?” Robbie says. Some experts claim that 1 in 5 people suffer from an itchy, flaky scalp. For some, it can be a lifelong ordeal. For others, it can sprout up as sudden white flakes on a black turtleneck. For all of us, it’s an embarrassing headache. But, while there are sulfate-free and eco-friendly solutions for other hair care concerns, there aren’t many sulfate-free dandruff shampoos to choose from. After being disappointed with drugstore options loaded with sulfates and feeling too embarrassed to discuss scalp health at retailers like Sephora, Robbie decided to team up with Co-Founder Ross Goodhart to create his own eco-friendly, natural, sulfate-free dandruff shampoo to give everyone the healthy scalp of their dreams.
The Science Of An Unhealthy Scalp
“Dandruff at its core is an overgrowth of a fungus,” Robbie says. It begins with an overgrowth of microbes, sebum, and oleic acid [ a type of fatty acid that controls water loss]. “This creates irritation, itching and produces the fungus that sheds itself and makes your skin go through the cycle of shedding off faster than what physiologically it should be doing,” he explains. The result is flakes that fall from your head to your shoulders. Add in environmental factors like stress triggers, hard water, overuse of heat tools, and even bad co-washing habits, and you have a recipe for an unhealthy scalp.
Much like other skin conditions, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help to alleviate symptoms. Robbie was told by a dermatologist to drink more water and cut back on inflammatory foods- sugar and dairy.
What’s Wrong With The Current Hair Care Market?
Sulfates and parabens are two hair care ingredients that have recently come under fire by natural beauty activists. Sulfates are good at removing grime and dead skin cells. But they can also strip the hair and scalp of the natural oils needed to avoid dryness and irritation. Parabens are a group of chemicals that help to preserve the shelf life of products. But, they are known to increase estrogen levels and have been linked to reproductive issues. Neither are very appealing ingredients when it comes to women’s health, yet both are common ingredients in hair care products. Some specific dandruff products rely on ingredients like salicylic acid to treat fungus, and can also cause excessive dryness when used daily.
Ingredients like these are part of the reason why anti-dandruff products have a bad rep. They contain harsh ingredients loaded with fragrances to mask the smell. But, in Robbie’s words, “We should treat our scalps the way that you do the skin on your face.” Scalp care should be natural, gentle, and holistic in its approach to creating healthy skin and hair.
The Jupiter Difference
“We’re creating great hair and scalp care products that balance the microbiome of your scalp,” Robbie says. Active ingredients like zinc pyrithione, a complex of zinc that has antifungal properties, help to restore your scalp, and others like algae extracts and coconut oil nourish and hydrate. He also stays away from fillers and scents, instead relying on natural ingredients that benefit the hair and scalp. “All of our products are scented naturally by ingredients like coconut, safflower, lavender, and bergamot oils,” Robbie explained. “These are luxury products.” And they’re formulated and made to smell like it.
Part of Jupiter’s luxury range includes the restoring serum. “It gets to the root of the fungus. I use it weekly,” Robbie explains. For those in need of a deeper cleanse, either from excessive styling or hitting the gym, Robbie recommends the purifying mask. Curly-haired girls prone to dryness and gritty products tangled in their hair strands, will be happy to know that this luxury range has been formulated for your delicate curls too. The mask slipped on and off while offering a cooling sensation that left my scalp feeling clean and curls well-defined.
Guess What? You Can Recycle The Bottles Too
One big regret that Robbie has since launching his brand has to do with being more eco-friendly. “The bottles are recyclable. But, they are not made out of recyclable materials,” he said. “One regret is not starting off with recycled materials. But, for the next round, they are already starting to talk about alternative bottles and packaging made from recycled materials.” While funds were limited in bottle materials, each item is shipped in recycled and recyclable materials. In the future, Robbie is researching ways to ensure that each Jupiter bottle will become a part of a carbon offset project to ensure that their healthy scalp products are also contributing to a healthier planet.
1 Comment
Comments are closed.