There are a lot of buzzy beauty-related words being tossed around the hair world lately (hello, skinification!) and if you’re not an expert they can seem overly complex. Take “biomimetic” - a term we’ve used to describe some ingredients in products from our Don’t Despair, Repair collection. What does it mean? Why is it important? And what makes a biomimetic ingredient different from other ingredients? Let’s dive in!

 So what does “biomimetic” mean?

Biomimetic describes ingredients that mimic the chemical structure and function of naturally occurring compounds in the body. Because the body can recognize and understand these ingredients more easily, they tend to be more effective at the jobs they’re designed to do. A great example is hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body that helps keep our cells hydrated. Hyaluronic acid in skincare often mimics the characteristics of our own in order to be absorbed more readily.

What does it have to do with haircare?

Hair and skin share a lot of similarities and can benefit from many of the same ingredients and processes. Similar to how ingredients like ceramides help to replenish and nourish the skin with moisture, they can also help to replenish and nourish the hair shaft at a molecular level that is more recognizable to your body. 

Where can I find these amazing ingredients?

Both our Don’t Despair, Repair! Strengthening Treatment Oil and our new Moisture + Damage Defense Leave-In Treatment feature biomimetic ceramides to increase elasticity and moisture. The Leave-In Treatment also features our naturally derived repair copolymer which helps to lock down the cuticle to visibly seal up to 100% of split ends in just two uses!