Let’s cut to the chase – if you’re using a product, you want to know that it works. If you’re spending your hard-earned money on skincare or haircare, you should have access to the data behind the formulations. 

We know that the natural personal care and beauty industries are crowded, and that several factors are important when you’re deciding which products to choose: the ethics and values that the brand lives by, the packaging and manufacturing process they use, and the lab test results. Importantly, can they prove what they claim on their packaging and on social media? 

Proven protection: the lab results

When we say our Hair Serum protects and strengthens your locks, we’ve got the science to back it up. Independent lab testing put the product through its paces, and the results speak for themselves.

 

 

1. Proven heat protection

In the lab, hair locks were straightened – three full passes per section – using irons heated to a toasty 230 °C. Hair treated with our serum stayed between 12-19 °C cooler than untreated hair.

But what does that mean? When using our hair serum as part of your haircare routine, less heat can penetrate the hair fibre. This means that when using the product, you’ll experience less long-term damage from your favourite heat styling tools.

So when we say our serum offers heat protection up to 230 °C, we mean it.

Why heat protection is so important

Whether you’re a daily straightener or an occasional curler, heat styling can take a real toll on your strands if you aren’t protecting them. When exposed to high temperatures, the hair’s natural moisture evaporates and its smooth, protective outer cuticle starts to lift or crack. 

 

 

Over time, that can lead to:

• Dryness and dullness as moisture is lost faster than it’s replaced.
• Weakened strands that snap more easily when brushing or styling.
• Split ends and frizz as the cuticle struggles to stay sealed.

That’s where a heat protectant comes in. It forms a lightweight barrier between your hair and your styling tools, helping to slow down heat transfer, lock in moisture, and reduce breakage.

Top tip: Think of heat protection as the SPF for your hair; you might not see the damage not using it causes straight away, but your future self (and your ends) will thank you for using it.

2. Serious anti-breakage power

Breakage might sound like a small and insignificant thing, but for your hair, it’s a big deal. When strands weaken and snap, it’s often a sign that the hair’s structure has been compromised, usually from heat styling, brushing, or a lack of moisture. This leads to frizz, thinning ends, and that frustrating feeling when your hair just won’t seem to grow.

 

 

That’s why our serum was put through a tough anti-breakage test. In the lab, hair locks were first straightened, then brushed continuously for 45 minutes to mimic repeated styling and wear. The results were eye-opening:

• Shampoo only: around 21 broken hairs
• With our Hair Serum: just 8 broken hairs

That’s a 63% reduction in breakage, or roughly 2.7x fewer broken hairs.

How does it work? 

The serum helps reinforce and smooth the cuticle, reducing friction as you brush or style. That means less snagging, less snapping, and more strength. Over time, that means hair that looks and feels healthier from root to tip, with noticeably fewer flyaways and split ends.

 

 

In short, stronger, happier hair today means longer, shinier, and more resilient hair tomorrow.

 

 

Our product, your results

The lab results are important, but so are the real-life experiences behind a product.

We’re thrilled to present the results from our consumer study. After using our Hair Serum product for four weeks, consumers consistently reported improved shine, softness, manageability, and frizz/humidity protection. As well as this, a significant proportion of consumers experienced no scalp irritation, and hair that wasn’t weighed down.

 

 

All about our Hair Serum

We’ve broken down the independently tested lab results, but now we’re going to focus on what’s in the formulation to bring about these incredible results. 

Fermented rice water for shiny strands

Italian upcycled and fermented rice water in our Hair Serum promotes shinier, stronger and more hydrated hair. This is largely due to the amino acids in the ingredient, which are the building blocks of protein. They help to strengthen the hair strands from the inside out, as hair is largely made up of the protein keratin. 

 

 

Multifunctional baobab oil

Our Hair Serum is powered by upcycled baobab extract, the protein-rich ingredient from the legendary “tree of life.” This nutrient-rich extract helps strengthen, nourish, and protect your hair, boosting elasticity while also shielding it from UV damage. Sustainably sourced and ECOCERT-approved, it keeps your strands hydrated, resilient, and ready for whatever life (or the weather) throws at them.

 

 

Mushroom-derived heat protection

Our Hair Serum also features a mushroom-derived complex made with hyaluronic acid and fructose, which is a natural alternative to silicones. This clever, saccharide-rich blend helps shield against heat and humidity, enhances styling memory, and delivers clinically proven protection without the heaviness or residue, just smooth, healthy hair that lasts.

Performance can be natural

These fantastic clinical trial results show what we’ve always believed: natural, upcycled ingredients can deliver real results. Our Hair Serum doesn’t just make your hair feel soft and silky; it helps protect it from everyday stress and heat damage, too.

 

 

See our full range of natural haircare products at UpCircle.