When your hair starts looking thinner, flatter or you’re noticing more strands in the shower drain than usual, it’s easy to blame the season or your styling routine. But according to Christchurch trichologist Dr Padmaja Redekar, your scalp could be trying to tell you something more.
“Cortisol, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies and lifestyle factors can all affect the hair growth cycle,” explains Padmaja. “The scalp is often a reflection of what’s happening inside the body, but we don’t take the time to listen to the message.”
Like the rest of the body, each hair follicle follows a natural cycle of growth, rest and shedding. While it’s perfectly normal to lose hair each day, ongoing thinning or excessive shedding can be a sign that your follicles are under stress. One of the key players is DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a natural hormone that binds to receptors in hair follicles.
In people who are genetically sensitive to DHT, follicles gradually shrink over time, producing finer, shorter hairs before eventually stopping visible hair growth altogether.
In her clinic, Padmaja sees many women battling scalp issues, often tied to today’s busy lifestyle – work, relationships, parenting and trying to keep every area of their lives thriving.
She explains, “During that time, cortisol spikes and you know our brain is right there. The stress response is sent straight to our follicles, a DHT-receptive area.”
Start at the root
Supporting scalp health starts with your hair-care routine.
Padmaja recommends choosing products formulated with ingredients that help create a healthy environment for hair growth, such as the new OGX ProGrowth + Peptide range. Formulated with peptides and targeted ingredients, the line is designed to strengthen strands while supporting a healthy scalp.
“The ProGrowth + Peptide Shampoo contains 1.5% mandelic acid, a gentle exfoliating ingredient that helps remove build-up from the scalp,” says Padmaja. “Both the ProGrowth + Peptide Shampoo and Conditioner contain peptides, which help support the cells surrounding the follicle and strengthen the hair fibre. During stress or hormonal changes, cells start to collapse or go through an ageing process. It’s important that we use ingredients that encourage cell renewal, keeping them active.”
After cleansing, Padmaja recommends always following with conditioner. “Conditioner helps smooth and seal the hair cuticle, reducing friction and breakage. If your hair is especially dry, you can even apply conditioner before shampooing to help protect the lengths while still cleansing the scalp.”
Don’t skip the serum
Once you’ve stepped out of the shower, Padmaja recommends extending your routine with a scalp serum.
The OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Scalp Serum is formulated with peptides, rice protein and a specialised Longevity Complex to hydrate and reinforce the roots, supporting natural hair growth while helping locks look visibly thicker and fuller.
“I recommend applying the serum in five sections from the front of the scalp to the back, then gently massaging it in with your fingertips,” Padmaja says. “That massage isn’t just relaxing – it also helps distribute the product evenly across the scalp.”
To minimise unnecessary stress on freshly washed hair, Padmaja also recommends wrapping it in a microfibre towel, rather than rubbing vigorously, and keeping your hair dryer on a low heat, at least 12cm away from the scalp. Protect your strands with a heat protectant, like the OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Serum Mist.
Routine & ritual
Padmaja’s number-one tip? Don’t rush your haircare routine. Taking your time both calms the nervous system and gives the active ingredients time to work.
“I recommend applying shampoo to the scalp, gently massaging with the fingertips, leaving it on for a minute or two and really letting the active ingredients get to work. Then shampoo again.”
“We take our time when we wash our faces. So, think of your scalp as an extension of that – take the time to gently massage it. I tell my clients to sing a full song while they’re doing it! Give that scalp 10 minutes of proper care.”
Scalp massage helps improve local blood flow, encourages even product distribution and reduces tension in the scalp.
“We have tiny muscles in our follicles called arrector pili,” explains Padmaja. “This follicle is often swollen and inflamed, but when we massage it, the muscle can relax.”
Above all, it can become a calming act of self-care.
Meet the OGX ProGrowth range
OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Shampoo
$15.99 from Chemist Warehouse
This thickening shampoo combines peptides with 1.5% mandelic acid to gently exfoliate the scalp, remove build-up and reinforce the hair fibre from within for visibly thicker, fullerlooking hair.
OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Conditioner
$15.99 from Chemist Warehouse
Infused with peptides and Lipi Pro Shield Technology, this conditioner helps strengthen strands, reduce breakage and maintain healthylooking lengths.
OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Scalp Serum
$20.99 from Chemist Warehouse
A lightweight, fast-absorbing serum formulated with a 9% Long7vity Complex™, peptides and rice protein, this hydrates the scalp, reinforces the roots and supports natural hair growth for visibly thicker, fuller hair.
OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Serum Mist
$21.99 from Chemist Warehouse
This lightweight finishing mist helps protect hair from heat styling up to 230°C, while reducing breakage, instantly leaving strands looking fuller from root to tip.
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