Dr. Shiwei Han is a Harvard-trained MD, PhD physician-scientist and hair restoration and cosmetic surgeon. His background spans surgery, cancer biology, regenerative medicine, pharmaceutical science, and clinical hair restoration.
Before Hairthetics™ was a brand, it was part of Dr. Han's clinical practice — developed through years of careful observation, refined through patient experience, and shaped by repeated attention to what a healthy scalp environment actually looks and feels like.
Patients began asking whether they could purchase it. Not because they understood every ingredient, but because they noticed the difference: a scalp that felt balanced, hair that felt softer, more manageable — easier to describe as healthy than to explain why. Hairthetics™ began with that question.
“They asked where they could buy it before they had left the treatment chair. That was the confirmation I was looking for.”
Dr. Han formulates the way he practises: from the biology outward, with the patient's experience as the measure of what is working.
The formula was built that way.
Most formulas are built around one or two featured ingredients — the kind that photograph well and explain easily. Haircare is considerably more complex than that. Inflammation, oxidative stress, follicular aging, hormonal activity, barrier function, scalp microbiome health, and the structural integrity of the hair shaft all influence the environment hair grows from. They also influence each other.
Hairthetics™ was developed around ten clinical actives selected to support multiple aspects of the scalp environment simultaneously. Healthy hair does not depend on one pathway. It depends on the condition of the entire system.
A shampoo that remains on the scalp for less than a minute provides limited opportunity for active ingredients to meaningfully interact with the scalp environment. The ingredient may be present on the label. Whether it has sufficient opportunity to do anything before being rinsed away is a different question. Dr. Han approached this differently. Hairthetics™ was developed as a complete system: a high-concentration formula paired with a protocol designed around how the product is actually used. The five-minute scalp massage and extended conditioning phase are not additions to the ritual. They are part of the design. Most haircare is engineered to feel effective immediately. Hairthetics™ was engineered around what the scalp requires over time.
Many people struggle with oily roots, scalp irritation, dryness, or a scalp that never quite feels balanced. The usual response is to wash more often or use stronger cleansing products. HAIRTHETICS™ 3 Formulated by a clinician. First given to patients. But when harsh surfactants repeatedly strip the scalp's natural oils, the scalp often compensates by producing more. The cycle repeats. More oil. More washing. More stripping. Hairthetics™ was formulated to break that negative cycle By eliminating Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate and replacing them with exceptionally mild cleansing agents — the same grade used in paediatric and sensitive-skin formulas — the formula removes buildup while respecting the scalp's natural balance. A healthy scalp should not need to fight against the products used on it every day.
Most cosmetic companies optimise for scale. Long shelf life. Large production runs. Larger bottles. Maximum manufacturing efficiency. Dr. Han optimised for something different. Hairthetics™ was designed around the reality that it is used directly on the scalp, repeatedly, for years. That philosophy led to choices that are more difficult, more expensive, and less efficient: small-batch production, food-grade packaging, a probiotic-supported preservation system, and a bottle size selected to minimise the preservative burden required to keep the formula safe. Built around safety. Not shelf life.
Each ingredient reflects a considered decision. What follows is the formula — what each ingredient is, and why Dr. Han included it.
THE THREE PATENTED ACTIVES
OR2AT4 olfactory receptor agonist A patented synthetic molecule that activates a receptor discovered inside the hair follicle itself. When this receptor is engaged, it signals the follicle to sustain its natural growth phase. The extraordinary scent of Hairthetics™ — warm, singular, unlike anything in conventional haircare — is part of what Sandalore® does. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT When building this formula, Dr. Han was drawn to Sandalore® because it represented something genuinely distinct: a mechanism that communicates directly with the follicle through a receptor pathway — not surface chemistry, not coating, not general stimulation. A specific biological conversation. That precision mattered.
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1 · Apigenin · Oleanolic Acid A patented three-molecule complex licensed from Sederma, developed to support follicular vitality from multiple directions at once. Each molecule addresses a different aspect of how follicles age and decline. One of the most rigorously formulated complexes available in clinical haircare. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT Medicine rarely addresses complex biological conditions through single-molecule interventions. When Dr. Han encountered Procapil™, what distinguished it was its construction: three actives, each contributing differently to follicle health, designed to work together. That kind of multi-axis thinking mirrors how Dr. Han approaches clinical problems.
Bee-derived bioactive complex A patented bioactive complex derived from bee biology, developed by Codif to support the scalp's microbial environment — the ecosystem in which the follicle lives. Where that environment is disrupted, follicular vitality is rarely at its best. Apiscalp™ works at the level beneath the follicle, preparing the environment for everything else. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT In clinical practice, Dr. Han observed that scalp inflammation and microbiome imbalance were consistently present alongside hair concerns — often as contributing conditions rather than separate diagnoses. Asking the follicle to perform optimally in an inflamed, imbalanced environment is, in Dr. Han's view, asking too much. Apiscalp™ was included to address the foundation first.
Natural botanical active A well-studied botanical extract from the Serenoa repens palm. Extensively researched for its interaction with the hormonal pathways associated with hair thinning — particularly in the context of androgenetic change over time. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT DHT — the hormonal factor most associated with follicle miniaturisation over time — was a pathway Dr. Han wanted the formula to address through multiple approaches. Saw Palmetto provided a botanically-derived contribution to that objective, with a meaningful body of published literature supporting its inclusion.
1,3,7-trimethylxanthine · Topical application Topical caffeine has a well-established history in hair and scalp research. Applied to the scalp with appropriate contact time, it is studied for its role in supporting follicular vitality at the cellular level. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT Caffeine is one of the most rigorously studied topical actives in hair biology. What drew Dr. Han to include it was not novelty — it was the evidence and a known requirement: contact time. The protocol was designed to honour that requirement. Most shampoos do not give caffeine the conditions it needs to work as studied. This one does.
Epigallocatechin gallate Rich in epigallocatechin gallate — among the most extensively studied plant-derived antioxidants in biomedical science. Supports scalp antioxidant defence, sebum regulation, and contributes to a healthy scalp environment through several documented pathways. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT EGCG's profile was attractive to Dr. Han because of its documented range — antioxidant protection, observed interaction with scalp sebum regulation, and a body of literature examining its relevance to follicular biology. An ingredient contributing meaningfully across several dimensions, without requiring independent justification for each, reflects the system-level design of the formula.
Low molecular weight collagen peptides Low molecular weight collagen peptides selected for their ability to reach the structural interior of the hair shaft —the cortex — rather than coating the surface. The reason Hairthetics™ requires no silicone: structural support comes from within, not from a synthetic coating applied over the top. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT The decision to exclude silicone was deliberate, not trend-driven. Silicone creates the appearance of healthy hair without improving the structure underneath. Dr. Han chose Hydrolyzed Collagen as the meaningful alternative —something that works at the cortex level, addressing the actual architecture of the hair rather than masking its condition.
Essential cofactor for keratin synthesis An essential cofactor for the enzymatic pathways through which keratin is produced — the protein from which hair is primarily constructed. Delivered topically, directly to the follicle environment, rather than through systemic supplementation. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT Biotin is commonly associated with oral supplementation. Dr. Han's interest was in direct topical delivery —bringing this nutrient to the follicle environment precisely, rather than depending on what survives systemic absorption. The inclusion is a question of delivery precision, not ingredient novelty.
Pyridoxine hydrochloride · Amino acid metabolism Supports sebaceous gland regulation and the metabolic conversion of dietary protein into the building blocks from which hair is constructed. Present alongside Biotin because each supports what the other requires. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT Formulating as a pharmaceutical scientist means understanding how ingredients interact — not just what each does in isolation. B6 and Biotin work within the same metabolic pathways. Including both reflects a systems-level design decision: not simply selecting actives, but considering the nutritional environment in which they operate.
Tocopherol (shampoo) · Tocopheryl Acetate (conditioner) A fat-soluble antioxidant present in both formulas. Recent stem-cell research has highlighted the importance of antioxidant protection in maintaining follicular vitality — particularly for the hair follicle stem cells that initiate and sustain the hair cycle. Present in each formula in the form suited to its delivery phase. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT Most brands include Vitamin E as a standard antioxidant. Dr. Han included it following emerging research into hair follicle stem cell biology — specifically, work highlighting that these cells carry lower antioxidant capacity than other skin stem cells, making them disproportionately vulnerable to oxidative stress and environmental injury. A 2025 study published in Cell documented topical antioxidant support's role in supporting follicular stem cell survival.
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia · Cold-pressed essential oil Cold-pressed from the peel of the bergamot orange. In this formula, bergamot is not a fragrance addition. It carries arole that goes beyond what any label describes. The extraordinary scent patients experience — warm, singular, impossible to fully place — is part of what this ingredient does. Certain aspects of the formulation remain intentionally proprietary. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT There are aspects of this formula that remain intentionally proprietary. Bergamot is one of them. Dr. Han spent considerable time arriving at how this ingredient contributes — and reached somewhere that is genuinely difficult to translate into a label or a conversation without diminishing what it is. Some formulation decisions exist in a dimension that language cannot fully enter.
Raphanus sativus · Natural antimicrobial Produced by probiotic fermentation of radish root — the same bacterial culture responsible for kimchi and sauerkraut. A natural antimicrobial that contributes to formula preservation without disrupting the scalp's microbial balance. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT The preservation system in Hairthetics™ was designed with the same care as the active ingredients. Dr. Han was unwilling to meet standard cosmetic preservation requirements using maximum-permitted chemistry. The radish root ferment allows the synthetic preservative load to remain minimal while the formula stays safe.
Nature's original salicylate source The bark of the white willow tree — the botanical origin from which salicylic acid was first derived, and from which aspirin was developed. Supports scalp clarity and a balanced scalp environment at a pace suited to daily use. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT When considering how to support scalp clarity botanically, Dr. Han chose willow bark over synthetic alternatives because the botanical release rate matters. A formula designed for consistent daily use benefits from ingredients that work in proportion to how often they are applied.
Rosmarinus officinalis · Steam-distilled hydrosol Steam-distilled from rosemary leaves, capturing the water-soluble bioactives including rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid. Supported by published clinical research examining its role in scalp circulation and follicular support over time. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT Evidence-based formulation means reading the research and taking it seriously. Published clinical trials examining rosemary in the context of scalp health produced results that warranted inclusion. Dr. Han does not include ingredients because they are popular. Rosemary is here because the clinical literature supported it.
Symphytum officinale · Cell renewal support Originally isolated from comfrey root. Supports the scalp's natural renewal processes and soothes sensitised or reactive skin. Particularly relevant for scalps that have been subjected to years of harsh surfactant exposure. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT Many people who arrive at a formula like this have been using products that were, in some sense, working against them. Allantoin was included not just for its immediate soothing effect, but for the longer process it supports — allowing the scalp to gradually recover its natural capacity for renewal rather than simply being cleaned more gently.
Cocos nucifera · Cortex-penetrating natural oil Among the very few oils whose molecular structure allows it to penetrate the hair shaft cortex — the structural interior of the hair, not merely the surface. Present in the conditioner to allow the contact time this depth of penetration requires. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT The conditioner exists, in part, around coconut oil. Meaningful cortex penetration requires time — something a shampoo phase does not provide. Placing coconut oil in the conditioner, and designing the ten-minute phase around it, reflects the same thinking applied throughout the formula: the ingredient was understood, and then the delivery was built around what it actually needs.
Butyrospermum parkii · Anti-inflammatory lipid complex Extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. Rich in bioactive triterpenes, fatty acids, and natural Vitamin E. On the scalp, it supports the lipid barrier and calms inflammatory response. On the hair shaft, it delivers softness without synthetic coating. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT The conditioner needed to deliver two things equally: scalp nourishment and hair conditioning, without silicone. Shea butter addressed both. Its anti-inflammatory profile supported the scalp — and its texture, applied in the ten-minute phase, produces a softness that does not feel synthetic, because it is not.
Persea gratissima · Oleic acid · Vitamins A, D, E Rich in oleic acid, vitamins A, D, and E, and phytosterols with documented affinity for skin. Nourishes the scalp barrier and contributes to the conditioning richness of the formula. WHY DR. HAN INCLUDED IT Avocado oil was selected as part of a conditioning complex designed to work as a system — each oil serving a distinct function. Coconut oil for cortex penetration. Shea butter for cuticle sealing and scalp barrier. Avocado for deep nourishment and lipid compatibility with the scalp's own barrier chemistry.
Hairthetics™ is designed as a scalp treatment system. The active ingredients were formulated with meaningful contact time as a design requirement. The ritual is part of the system.
1. APPLY SHAMPOO TO WET SCALP. MASSAGE GENTLY FOR 5 MINUTES.
The active ingredients are designed for this contact time. The mild surfactants cleanse without disturbing the scalp's natural balance. The scent — warm, singular — arrives here.
2. RINSE THOROUGHLY.
The cleansing phase is complete. The scalp is prepared for the treatment phase.
3. APPLY CONDITIONER TO SCALP AND HAIR. LEAVE FOR 10 MINUTES.
The conditioning actives — including Procapil™, Apiscalp™, Coconut Oil, and Shea Butter — are designed for this phase. Ten minutes allows the formula to work at a depth a shampoo cannot reach.
4. RINSE THOROUGHLY.
Treatment complete. Total time: 15 minutes. The full protocol, 2–3 times per week.
The care applied to active ingredient selection was applied equally to every carrier, every preservative, and the packaging material.
EWG 0–1 Every carrier ingredient rated 0 or 1. Surfactants, emollients, humectants, preservatives. Verifiable independently.
No SLS No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. No Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Mild surfactants only, derived from coconut and natural sugars.
<Food Synthetic preservatives held below the level permitted by the food industry in consumable products.
SGS Formula and packaging independently tested by SGS for heavy metals and all required safety parameters.
Food-grade Bottles manufactured from food-grade material. The container is held to the same standard as what it holds.
No silicone Structural support from Hydrolyzed Collagen and natural oils. No synthetic surface coating.
Hairthetics™ is available exclusively through a personal waitlist. No product page. No cart. One set per person. A personal email arrives when your window opens, with a link that expires in 24 hours.
Hairthetics™ is a product of Biomedical Research Advisors LLC, Hallandale Beach, FL. Patent pending. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Results vary. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for advice regarding hair loss or scalp conditions.
Formulated by a clinician. First given to patients.
