The Extracts Behind Your Formula
Calendula — For Dry & Dull Hair. Hydration Range
Drawn from the golden petals of the calendula flower — nature's own sunburst — this extract is our answer to hair that has lost its life. Whether your hair feels perpetually parched, looks dull no matter what you do, or simply drinks up moisture and still wants more, calendula works at the deepest level to restore what daily life, heat styling, and environmental exposure quietly takes away. Rich in antioxidants and deeply nourishing fatty acids, it doesn't just sit on the surface of the hair — it works from the inside out, rebuilding softness, reviving luminosity, and restoring the kind of healthy, natural shine that no synthetic coating can truly replicate.
Where It Comes From Calendula has been used for centuries in natural medicine and botanical skincare, drawn from the bright golden petals of the marigold flower. It is one of nature's most generous botanicals — packed with vitamins A, C, and E, powerful antioxidants, and fatty acids that deeply nourish both the hair shaft and the scalp beneath it. In haircare science, it is celebrated for the remarkable breadth of what it can do, making it one of the most versatile and hardworking natural extracts available.
What It Actually Does Calendula's benefits reach every part of your hair experience — from the scalp to the very tip of each strand.
At the hair shaft level, calendula works as a deeply effective natural conditioner. Its hydrating properties lock moisture into the hair structure, preventing the dryness and brittleness that leads to breakage and split ends. The fatty acids and vitamins it contains actively fortify and strengthen the hair shaft, making strands more resilient against everyday damage from brushing, heat, and environmental exposure. The result is hair that feels genuinely softer, looks visibly smoother, and behaves in a way that makes styling easier and more enjoyable.
At the scalp level, calendula is deeply soothing and balancing. Its well-documented anti-inflammatory properties calm irritation and reduce the dryness and flakiness associated with a compromised scalp — making it a gentle but effective ally against dandruff and sensitivity. Its natural antimicrobial qualities work to maintain a clean, healthy scalp environment, helping to combat fungal conditions that can quietly undermine hair health over time. Improved scalp circulation, supported by regular use of calendula, also encourages healthier, stronger hair growth from the follicle up.
Beyond Hydration One of calendula's most beloved qualities in haircare is its ability to preserve and enhance colour. It is particularly renowned for maintaining the vibrancy of blonde and lighter hair shades, helping prevent colour fade and keeping treated hair looking fresh and luminous for longer. For anyone whose hair has been through the demands of colour, bleach, or chemical processing, calendula offers a layer of nourishment and protection that supports the hair's recovery and longevity.
Its antioxidant richness also means it actively works to protect hair from the oxidative stress caused by UV exposure and environmental pollutants — the kind of invisible, cumulative damage that is often the reason hair gradually loses its shine and vitality over time.
Who It's For Calendula is the ideal extract if your hair feels dry, rough, or brittle — if it looks dull even when clean, breaks easily, or has simply lost the softness and shine it once had. It is also a wonderful choice for colour-treated hair, fine hair prone to breakage, or anyone dealing with a dry or sensitive scalp that needs gentle, consistent care.
Some ingredients simply give your hair back what life has taken. Calendula is one of them.
Green Tea — For Chemically Processed, Heat Damaged, Weak or thinning (hair loss) Hair. Repair Range
One of the most studied and celebrated ingredients in modern haircare, green tea extract is a powerhouse of antioxidants — particularly EGCG, which has been shown to strengthen the hair structure, protect against environmental damage, and support healthy growth at the follicle level. For hair that has been through the rigours of colour, bleach, chemical treatments, or daily heat styling, green tea works to rebuild resilience, reduce breakage, and restore integrity to hair that has lost its strength. Think of it as repair from within.
Where It Comes From Green tea has been revered for thousands of years across Asia for its extraordinary health properties, and modern haircare science has confirmed what ancient wisdom long understood — that the compounds within this remarkable plant have a profound ability to protect, strengthen, and restore. Rich in catechins, polyphenols, B vitamins, and minerals, green tea extract brings one of nature's most comprehensively studied ingredient profiles directly to your hair and scalp.
What It Actually Does Green tea works across every layer of hair health, making it one of the most complete repair ingredients available in natural haircare.
At the hair shaft level, green tea's most celebrated compound — EGCG, a potent catechin antioxidant — works to actively strengthen the internal structure of each strand. It improves the elasticity of the hair, meaning it can withstand the tension of brushing, styling, and everyday movement without snapping. For hair that has been compromised by colour, bleach, chemical straightening, or frequent heat styling, this structural repair is transformative — gradually rebuilding resilience from within rather than simply masking damage with surface-level coating. B vitamins present in the extract further nourish and fortify the hair shaft, reducing breakage and restoring the kind of strength that damaged hair desperately needs.
At the scalp level, green tea is equally impressive. Its powerful anti-inflammatory properties soothe irritation and calm the scalp conditions — including dandruff and sensitivity — that are often exacerbated by chemical treatments and heat exposure. Its antimicrobial qualities help maintain a clean, balanced scalp environment, combating the fungal and bacterial imbalances that can quietly inhibit healthy hair growth. Improved scalp circulation, encouraged by the polyphenols in green tea, ensures that hair follicles receive a richer supply of nutrients — creating the ideal conditions for stronger, healthier regrowth over time.
Beyond Repair Green tea's benefits extend well beyond structural repair into active protection and prevention. Its rich antioxidant profile forms a defensive shield around the hair shaft, protecting against UV damage from sun exposure and the oxidative stress caused by pollution and environmental aggressors — the kind of ongoing, cumulative damage that weakens hair long before the effects become visible.
Particularly exciting for those concerned about hair thinning or loss, research suggests that green tea may help inhibit the production of DHT — a hormone linked to hair follicle miniaturisation and hair loss — making it a quietly powerful ally for anyone noticing increased shedding or reduced density alongside their damage concerns.
Green tea also works to balance sebum production on the scalp, regulating oil levels in a way that benefits both oily and dry scalp types. The result is a scalp environment that is clean, balanced, and genuinely supportive of healthy hair growth — which is ultimately the foundation that all great hair is built on.
Who It's For Green tea is the ideal extract if your hair has been through any form of chemical or heat processing — colour, bleach, perms, relaxers, or daily hot tool use. It is also the right choice if your hair feels weak, breaks easily, lacks elasticity, or has gradually lost the strength and vitality it once had. If you are noticing increased shedding or thinning alongside damage, green tea's dual action of repair and follicle support makes it a particularly compelling choice.
Hair that has been through a lot deserves an ingredient that works just as hard. Green tea has been doing exactly that for thousands of years.
Ocean DerMX — For Fine or Flat Hair. Volume Range
Inspired by the mineral-rich depths of the ocean, Ocean DerMX is our secret weapon for fine hair that needs serious lift without weight. This powerful marine-derived complex works by gently plumping the hair shaft, creating natural volume and body from root to tip. Unlike traditional volumising agents that can leave hair feeling dry or brittle, Ocean DerMX delivers fullness that feels light, touchable, and completely natural. For hair that collapses by midday or simply lacks presence, this extract changes the conversation.
Where It Comes From Ocean DerMX draws on the remarkable power of marine ingredients — seaweed, algae, and deep-sea extracts that have been celebrated in skincare and haircare science for their extraordinary richness. The ocean is one of nature's most abundant sources of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, and Ocean DerMX harnesses that bounty to deliver results that go far beyond simple volumising.
What It Actually Does The benefits of Ocean DerMX work on multiple levels simultaneously, making it one of the most hardworking extracts in our range.
At the hair shaft level, it gently plumps and expands each strand from within, creating the appearance and feel of thicker, fuller hair without any coating or buildup. The result is volume that moves naturally and holds throughout the day rather than the stiff, crunchy lift that traditional volumising products can leave behind.
At the scalp level, Ocean DerMX is deeply nourishing and balancing. Rich in natural humectants, it draws moisture into both the scalp and hair, softening strands and reducing frizz — which means your fine hair gets volume and manageability at the same time, rather than having to choose between the two. Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties also work to soothe any scalp irritation and support a healthier, cleaner scalp environment, helping to regulate oil production so roots stay fresher for longer.
Beyond Volume What sets Ocean DerMX apart from conventional volumising ingredients is the depth of care it delivers alongside the lift. It is packed with the kind of nutrients that actively strengthen the hair structure — reducing breakage, improving texture, and enhancing the natural shine of each strand so that fuller hair is also healthier hair. It offers a degree of protection against UV rays and environmental pollutants, forming a subtle shield around the hair shaft that defends against the everyday damage that can make fine hair look even more flat and lacklustre over time.
There is also a detoxifying quality to ocean-derived ingredients that is particularly beneficial for fine hair types — they help draw out product buildup and impurities that can weigh strands down, leaving hair feeling genuinely clean and light rather than stripped.
Who It's For Ocean DerMX is the ideal extract if your hair is fine, flat, or lacking body — if it loses volume within hours of styling, feels weighed down easily, or simply never seems to have much presence no matter what you try. It is also a wonderful choice if you have an oily scalp paired with fine strands, as it helps balance sebum production while simultaneously lifting the hair away from the roots.
Your hair doesn't need more product. It needs the right ingredient — and Ocean DerMX was made for exactly this.
Manuka Leaf — For Dandruff, Dry, Itchy, Flaky or Thinning Hair. Scalp care Range
Manuka is one of New Zealand's most treasured botanical gifts, and its leaf extract carries the same remarkable properties that have made it renowned the world over. Potently antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and deeply soothing, manuka leaf extract works to calm and rebalance an irritated or compromised scalp — addressing the root cause of dryness, itchiness, flaking, and the conditions that can contribute to thinning hair. A healthy scalp is the foundation of healthy hair, and manuka leaf is here to protect it.
Where It Comes From Derived from the leaves of Leptospermum scoparium — the native New Zealand mānuka plant — this extract carries a heritage that runs deep in both science and culture. Long before modern cosmetic science confirmed its extraordinary properties, mānuka leaves were used in traditional Māori wellness practices to soothe skin conditions and inflammation. Today, cutting-edge research has validated what generations of New Zealanders already understood — that this remarkable plant is one of nature's most powerful and versatile botanical actives. For Self Centred Hair Care, an ingredient this deeply rooted in Aotearoa felt like a natural and meaningful choice.
What It Actually Does Manuka leaf extract is packed with bioactive compounds including antioxidants, antibacterial actives, and anti-inflammatory agents that work together to comprehensively restore and protect scalp health.
At the scalp level, its most significant contribution is its powerful antibacterial action. Manuka leaf contains naturally occurring compounds called β-triketones, which have been shown to fight harmful bacteria on the scalp with remarkable effectiveness — so much so that recent research has found manuka leaf extract to be a viable natural alternative to manuka essential oil in professional cosmetic formulations. This antibacterial activity directly targets the root causes of many of the most common and frustrating scalp complaints: bacterial imbalance, excess oil buildup, congested follicles, and disruption of the scalp microbiome. For anyone dealing with an itchy, flaky, oily, or persistently uncomfortable scalp, this rebalancing effect can be genuinely life-changing.
Alongside its antibacterial strength, manuka leaf's anti-inflammatory properties work to calm redness, sensitivity, and irritation at the scalp surface. This makes it particularly beneficial after the stress of colour treatments, bleaching, heat styling, or product buildup — all of which can leave the scalp barrier compromised, reactive, and in need of serious care. In clinical hair care testing, products containing manuka leaf extract demonstrated measurable improvements in scalp hydration, a visible reduction in flaking, and significantly improved scalp comfort within just a few weeks of use.
Beyond Scalp Care One of the most exciting aspects of manuka leaf extract — and one that sets it apart from many other scalp-focused ingredients — is its exceptionally high antioxidant activity. This makes it a powerful ally not just for the scalp, but for the hair itself. Its antioxidants work to protect both scalp and hair from UV damage, environmental pollution, and oxidative stress — the invisible, cumulative forces that cause colour to fade, hair to dull, and strands to weaken over time.
In hair care testing, manuka leaf extract was found to help preserve hair colour through repeated washing — making it a particularly valuable ingredient for colour-treated, bleached, or blonde hair that is prone to fading and brassiness. For anyone investing in their hair colour, the protective antioxidant shield that manuka leaf provides is a quietly significant benefit.
While manuka leaf is not a direct hair growth ingredient, its comprehensive scalp repair benefits create the ideal conditions for healthy hair to thrive. When the scalp is less inflamed, better hydrated, microbiome-balanced, and free from the buildup and bacterial disruption that congests follicles, hair growth has the environment it needs to function at its best. Healthy roots grow healthier hair — and that is ultimately what manuka leaf is working toward with every wash.
Who It's For Manuka leaf is the ideal extract if you experience a dry, itchy, flaky, or sensitive scalp — or if you are dealing with dandruff, excess oiliness, or the kind of persistent scalp discomfort that other products have failed to resolve. It is also an excellent choice for colour-treated hair that needs antioxidant protection and colour preservation, and for anyone who has noticed increased hair thinning or shedding alongside scalp concerns.
Rooted in the landscape of Aotearoa, manuka leaf brings the healing power of New Zealand's most celebrated botanical directly to the place your hair needs it most — the scalp.
What else is in the formulas?
A love note to our curly girls
I'm a curly girl myself, and after nearly two decades behind the chair working with every kind of curl imaginable — as well as managing my own — I know better than most that one curl range does not fit all.
Fine and fluffy, thick and tight, loose and wavy, springy and coiled — curls are as individual as the people who wear them.
So while we don't have a dedicated curl range just yet, I want you to know that our products work beautifully for curls. You just need to shop for your hair type, not your curl pattern.
How to shop for your curls:
- Dry or thirsty curls? You need moisture — shop the Hydration range.
- Fine or flat curls? You need lift — shop the Volume range.
- Coloured curls? You need strength — shop the Repair range.
- Scalp concerns? Shop the Scalp Care range, and consider swapping your conditioner to Hydration or Repair if your lengths are also dry or damaged.
And always remember — shampoo treats the scalp, conditioner treats the mid-lengths and ends. Keep them working where they're meant to work and your curls will thank you.
I promise, our formulas love your curls right back.
With love, Kate Award Winning Hairdresser · Founder, Self Centred Hair Care