Amaranth, also known as velvet flower seed, has long been recognized as a superfood, but it is also becoming a popular natural ingredient in beauty products.
If you’re wondering, ‘what is amaranth?,’ then keep reading to find out more, including where amaranth extract comes from and how amaranth can benefit your hair.
All About Amaranth Extract and Seed
Amaranth is related to quinoa and the seeds have a similar nutritional profile that is high in iron and protein.
Like quinoa, the amaranth plant is one of the oldest cultivated grains and originated in Central and South America.
It is now widely cultivated in many countries with warm climates, including several countries in South Asia.
All parts of the plant are used for dietary and medicinal purposes, including the grain, leaves and flowers.
Amaranth extract is obtained through a process which presses oil from amaranth seeds.
This extract is rich in peptides (small strands of protein), which are behind many of the benefits of amaranth seed.
Amaranth Benefits for the Hair
Velvet flower or amaranth plant benefits include an extremely nutritious grain and leaves which are a great addition to the diet.
But what can it do for hair?
Amaranth Extract Naturally Strengthens Hair
The rich protein content of amaranth seed helps reinforce the structure of hair strands, which are mostly composed of protein.
Amaranth extract is high in lysine, an amino acid that helps protect hair from damage caused by heat, colouring treatments, environmental pollution and brushing.
Amaranth Extract Helps Hydrate Hair
Compared to other plants, amaranth has high levels of squalene, a fat that’s produced by the oil glands in the skin.
This emollient helps lock moisture into your hair, protecting it from splitting and breaking and improving its sheen for overall glossier, healthier-looking hair.
Amaranth Extract Helps Add Volume to Hair
The presence of small peptides in amaranth extract means the proteins can more easily penetrate hair fibres to increase the thickness of hair strands and make the hair look fuller and healthier.
Due to the small size of these peptides, amaranth extract doesn’t weigh the hair down, which is another one of the benefits of amaranth seed.
Amaranth Extract Helps Reduce Hair Friction
Another benefit of amaranth seed extract is that it has a smoothing effect that reduces the amount of friction in the hair, preventing tangles and helping it bounce and move more easily.
This also helps prevent damage to fine, brittle hair.
That’s Why CleanO2 Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner Have Amaranth
Now that you know the answer to ‘what is amaranth?’, as well as some of the many amaranth benefits, you’re probably wondering how to get your hands on a shampoo bar or conditioner bar that contains amaranth extract.
CleanO2’s Elevate Shampoo Bar and Elevate Conditioner Bar are a dynamic, volumizing duo that’s perfect for adding body and bounce to thin, lifeless hair.
The velvet flower seed extract and hydrolyzed rice protein add plenty of volume to your hair, leaving it looking fuller yet feeling clean and light.
If you enjoy scented bar soap, then you’ll love the natural lavender and clary sage scent of our Elevate shampoo bar and conditioner bar.
The lovely green colour comes from Canadian glacial clay, which adds to the soothing nature of these bars.
Plus, like all our products, this shampoo bar and conditioner bar contain a special ingredient that’s contributing to environmental sustainability: captured carbon.
We capture this greenhouse gas and convert it into a non-toxic ingredient in our products.
This means you can enjoy the benefits of amaranth for the hair and feel good about supporting a product that helps reduce carbon emissions!
