Hair Science
Surfactants · Scalp Biology · Coconut · Rice Water · Bồ Kết
Every Hair Science article in the Bạch Library, in one place — the evidence behind what actually happens on the scalp, and why formulation choices that sound identical are not.
Hair Science
There Is No Perfect Shampoo
Gentle or thorough, soft or light, light or rich, now or over time: the four trade-offs behind every shampoo and conditioner, and why we set them for the long term.
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Are Sulfates Actually Toxic?
What SLS and SLES actually are, what the evidence on irritation says, and why sulfate-free isn’t a toxicity claim — it’s a formulation choice.
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Why your shampoo’s surfactant system matters more than you think
The difference between SLES and SCI + CAPB — and why that single formulation choice determines scalp health over months and years.
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How to read an INCI list
Spot fairy dusting, identify SLES, and hold brands to their claims.
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Do natural saponin shampoos actually clean?
Peer-reviewed studies confirm plant saponins — like those in the Vietnamese Bồ Kết pod — genuinely cleanse, foam and emulsify. And what they don’t do.
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Does coconut oil actually protect hair?
The one common oil with real evidence it penetrates the hair and reduces protein loss.
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Rice water or coconut conditioner?
The real difference is mechanism, not strength — inositol for fine hair, lauric acid for thick or curly hair.
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Does fermented rice water actually strengthen hair?
One compound — inositol — has genuine evidence. An honest reading of the rest.
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The scalp cycle: hormones, oil & hair health
How hormones and the sebum cycle affect oiliness, irritation, and hair — and why balance matters more than stripping.
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