NatureLab Tokyo’s New Treatment Can Prevent—and Reverse—Gray Hairs

An anti-aging hair serum that claims to not only prevent, but reverse gray hairs sounds like a product that dreams are made of, but NatureLab Tokyo’s newest hair essence makes this a reality. Thanks to a bevy of retinols, firming creams, and fine-line serums, skincare has anti-aging covered—haircare, on the other hand, often gets left out of the conversation. But, just like your skin ages, your hair feels the effects of time, too: grays, loss of density, and a change in texture.

That’s where NatureLab Tokyo’s new Saisei Biomimetic Peptide Treatment comes in. The lightweight, anti-aging hair serum works to not only restore fullness, but prevents and reverses gray hairs. After 12 years of research and multiple formulations and trials later, we have all the exclusive details on the game-changing launch.

The Inspiration

Sansei means “rebirth” in Japanese, which is essentially what the essence aims to do—bring hair back to its original color, thickness, and softness by working to eliminate gray hairs. Admittedly, reversing grays sounds too good to be true, but with any impressive formula, there’s an equally as impressive science behind it. Atsushi Takeoka, R&D Formulator for NatureLab in Japan, explains “the natural color of our hair comes from melanin in the hair bulb, where new hair cells are formed. As we encounter age or stress, the melanin in our hair gets depleted, and the pigment in our hair starts to fade.”

The solution? Slowing down this process by stimulating the production of melanin while counteracting the progress of oxidative stress that affects melanin accumulation. “The key ingredients leading this are our biomimetic peptides, which mimic naturally occurring peptides that diminish over time or with stress,” says Takeoka. 

“In Japan’s diverse landscapes, we can see many cycles of reversal and rebirth in nature, particularly in spring when new life sprouts again after a harsh winter,” adds Takeoka. The spirit of rebirth served as an all-around inspiring motif for the serum, down to the scent. “The collection fragrance is centered around violet, with accents of celery, petitgrain, and davana, blended with a floral bouquet of mimosa, lily of the valley, and jasmine from France,” notes the brand.

Any product that claims to do something as bold as reverse gray hair would be challenging to get exactly right, and Takeoka confirms that. “Graying can be a complicated process, so it took years to comprehensively study its genetic links,” he says. “Then, it took additional time and persistent collaborative efforts with global partners to perfect the optimal combination of ingredients and their synergistic effects. Sourcing and honing a cocktail of ingredients that work effectively together in a lightweight formula took years of refinement, but the results paid off.”

The Formula

Peptides are known to be a powerful go-to for anti-aging, so it only makes sense that they are one of the most important ingredients in the Saisei Biomimetic Peptide Treatment. “The specific sequences in our curated peptides promote the migration and accumulation of melanin in the bulb, which helps restore pigment at the root as hair grows,” says Takeoka. Along with the peptides there’s a handful of fruit and plant extracts such as red clover and rosebay that have a “synergistic effect” Takeoka says, that helps “enhance melanin production, accumulation, and protection while promoting overall scalp health and fuller-feeling, revitalized strands.” Also included in the formula is apple extract, which contains potent antioxidants which help maintain hair’s natural pigmentation and thickness. 

“We pinpointed peptides that don’t just treat the symptoms of stress and aging on hair, but actively work to reverse those effects,” Takeoka adds. “The 5% Capixyl encourages healthier hair growth that looks and feels thicker, and a blend of Greyverse and other botanicals helps reduce the appearance of grays with improved melanin production and decreasing oxidative stress.”

The Saisei Biomimetic Peptide Treatment has a lightweight texture that won’t weigh strands down or leave them feeling greasy. The brand recommends applying the serum by massaging it onto the scalp (it’ll leave a slight cooling sensation) after towel-drying hair. It recommends to also re-apply the treatment on no-wash days. 

According to the press release, in a clinical study done in Japan consisting of 445 men and women aged 40-60, they found that of those who used the Saise collection for three months, 71% of users felt they had less gray hair. After three months of continued use, 25% saw a reduction in gray hair, and 42% saw less gray at the roots. With six months of continued use, the study revealed that they noticed a 58% reduction in gray hair overall, and 67% noticed less gray hairs at the root.

You can shop the Saisei Biomimetic Peptide Treatment Essence for $46 on naturelab.com starting June 27.