Postbiotics: The Future of Scalp and Hair Care

The terms prebiotics and probiotics are becoming increasingly familiar because of their importance for gut health, and their use on the skin is gaining ground in dermatology and cosmetics. However, new players are emerging strongly in this field: postbiotics. These compounds, defined as preparations of inactivated microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host, are taking centre stage both for the gut and in skin and scalp care, thanks to their ability to modulate the microbiome and strengthen barrier function.

In this article we explain what postbiotics are, why they are essential for your hair health and how you can include them in your hair care ritual.

What are postbiotics?

To understand what postbiotics are, let's first recall the key concepts:

• Prebiotic: compounds that act as food for beneficial bacteria, promoting a healthy balance of the microbiota.
• Probiotic: live microorganisms that help balance the microbiota. Among those most used on the skin are bacteria of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
• Postbiotic: like the previous two, they belong to the "biotics" family. According to the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics, a postbiotic is a "preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their cellular components that confers a health benefit on the host". In other words, they are by-products or metabolites produced during bacterial fermentation processes.

The postbiotics category includes a variety of compounds such as:

• Short-chain fatty acids.
• Cell lysates such as Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, functional proteins, extracellular polysaccharides...
• Fragments of microbial cells.

These ingredients have a unique advantage over prebiotics and probiotics: they do not need to stay alive to deliver their benefits.

Postbiotics in cosmetics

As science-based cosmetics deepens its understanding of the skin microbiota and its impact on skin and hair health, incorporating postbiotics into formulations is a decisive step towards comprehensive scalp care.

Today the microbiota is established as a key therapeutic target for modulating the immune system and reducing inflammation, both fundamental in a range of skin disorders. The latest research supports the use of bacterial bioactives such as probiotics and postbiotics as natural, effective alternatives.

These strategies can be applied both orally, acting through the gut–skin axis, and topically, acting directly on the skin microbiome. It is an innovation fully in line with the philosophy of Modesta Cassinello: modern, personalized, effective cosmetics based on scientific evidence.

On the scalp, postbiotics act at cellular level, promoting skin renewal and strength, improving barrier function and balancing the microbiome.

The scalp: the foundation of healthy hair

The scalp is not just the "root" of the hair but also its functional origin. It contains more hair follicles than any other part of the body and is home to 25% of the skin's total microbiota.

It is probably the skin on the body that is under the most stress and, until recently, the least cared for.

When this microbiota becomes unbalanced, whether through over-cleansing, stress, pollutants or hormonal changes, the following may appear:

• Excess oil.
• Flaking.
  
• Itching.
  
• Irritation.
  
• Hair loss.

Why should you use postbiotics in your hair care ritual?

The scalp microbiota, like the gut microbiota, is unique to each person. This means that the way prebiotics or probiotics act on it can vary, depending on each person's microbial balance.

This is where postbiotics make the difference: by applying them directly to the scalp, you are adding active compounds such as peptides, enzymes and organic acids, which have a beneficial effect regardless of the state or composition of the user's microbiota.

They act directly and effectively on the skin barrier, improving hydration and controlling inflammation and the balance of the microbial ecosystem. This makes postbiotics highly effective and consistent actives in cosmetic formulas, even in rinse-off products such as shampoos and conditioners, placing them at the heart of the future of scalp and hair care.

ProRenew Complex CLR™: the postbiotic that balances and strengthens

A more resilient scalp is a less sensitive scalp, which is why at Modesta Cassinello we have incorporated into our cosmetics a postbiotic ingredient derived from Lactococcus lactis, a probiotic that is not used in its live form but through its active compounds.

What are its benefits for the scalp?

• Strengthens barrier function, reducing moisture loss and sensitivity.
• Improves hydration and reduces flaking.
• Regulates sebum production.
• Promotes a balanced microbiota.

Does hair benefit from postbiotics?

Although postbiotics do not act directly on the hair fibre, their effect on the scalp translates into concrete, visible benefits for the hair.

By balancing the scalp microbiota, they:

• Improve microcirculation, supporting the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles.
• Regulate sebum production, preventing imbalances such as oily roots and dry ends.
• Reduce inflammation, helping to preserve the hair growth cycle.
• Optimize hydration around the follicle, which supports stronger growth.
  

A balanced scalp is the foundation for soft, luminous, manageable, strong hair...

H04 Revitalizing Conditioner: your daily postbiotic ally

To make it easy to add the benefits of postbiotics to your routine, we have reformulated Modesta Cassinello's H04 Revitalizing Conditioner, which can also be applied to the scalp.

Its formula, which contains ProRenew Complex CLR™ as well as amino acids, phytosterols, pea protein, plant oils, ginseng and B vitamins such as niacinamide, panthenol and biotin, helps to:

• Balance and hydrate the scalp, reducing sensitivity.
• Visibly improve problems such as oiliness, flaking or itching.
• Achieve a more even, softer, shinier hair fibre.
• Strengthen the hair from the roots.
  

Conclusion

Postbiotics represent a new era in advanced scalp and hair care.

Their ability to balance the microbiota, strengthen the skin barrier and optimize the scalp environment makes them essential allies for a soft, strong, healthy scalp and hair.

H04 Revitalizing Conditioner is an advanced conditioner: it does not just condition, it transforms from the roots, leaving the hair more even.

Because beautiful hair starts with a balanced scalp.

 

Every article is backed by the expertise of Dr Modesta, pharmacist and founder, committed to excellence in hair care.