Today, we are going to take a deep dive into Monat’s trademarked formula. Monat and their MLM Partners claim this formula makes their product line successful and effective for treating hair thinning, hair loss, and reducing scalp dryness and irritation. Many people have had great success with their products. However, some have developed severe issues from allegedly using Monat.

We have talked about the multi-level marketing (MLM) company Monat a few times before in previous articles. We continue to get questions about Monat and its products from many of our members and readers. As a result, our goal is to provide as much information as possible to answer those questions.

One of the most commonly asked questions is about the ingredients in Monat products. Monat’s “secret sauce” is encapsulated into a formula called CapixlTM. Although not approved by the FDA, Monat products promise to aid in hair regrowth, thickening, conditioning, and to maintain a well-hydrated scalp. The following ingredients have been combined with water to create this formula:

Butylene glycol – a type of alcohol made from distilled corn. When blended with water, it acts as a solvent to prevent other ingredients from clumping together. It conditions the skin and scalp by adding moisture. People with dry skin/scalp may benefit from this ingredient. It is found in many other cosmetic and hair products. At this time, it is not considered safe for pregnant women due to the lack of proof that it is safe for an unborn child.

Dextran – is an exopolysaccharide produced by lactic acid bacteria. It also acts as a plasma volume expander made from natural sources of sugar (glucose). Dextran treats hypovolemia (decreased volume of circulating blood plasma), which may result from surgery, trauma or injury, severe burns, or other causes of bleeding. It is a commercially produced ingredient from a sucrose type of medium, such as molasses, to determine the desired yield and molecular weight. Dextran acts as a binding agent in cosmetics and other beauty products. It improves the dispersion of ingredients. Also, it functions as a thickening agent and provides control of the viscosity and consistency of products. Due to its water-binding capacity, Dextran also acts as a bulking agent. Many people believe that the addition of Dextran in cosmetics and beauty products and promotes anti-aging activity. It may even reduce the allergic reaction of other active ingredients such as carboxylic acids.

Acetyl tetrapeptide-3 – This ingredient has not been assessed for safety in cosmetics by an industry panel. Furthermore, there have not been any studies in the PubMed science library. The unofficial benefits may be that acetyl tetrapeptide-3 has effects on cells and anchoring proteins in the connective tissue. Some people believe that the unique combination of the acetyl tetrapeptide-3, with red clover extract, has been shown to improve the look of hair and eyelashes loss. It may also improve irritated and sensitive scalp.

Trifolium pratense (red clover flower extract) – the red clover, is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwest Africa, but now planted in many other regions. In testing on rats, the isoflavones from Trifolium pratense had an effect on skin changes induced by ovariectomy. Plant extracts, such as red clover, which contain high levels of isoflavones, have also been used to lessen menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes; for breast pain or tenderness (mastalgia); and for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). They have also shown to reduce bone loss in healthy women. Red clover is a homeopathic remedy for whooping cough, cough, asthma, bronchitis, cancer prevention, indigestion, high cholesterol, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

It is interesting to look at each of these ingredients individually. They appear to have some benefits health-wise, but only give the appearance of creating healthier hair on the surface. Maybe the secret is in combining all of these ingredients to develop CapixlTM. Many high-quality professional salon products rival Monat products, and are potentially less expensive, depending on where and how much you purchase. Many of the other salon-quality products contain similar ingredients as Monat products. The most significant difference is in how the companies market and sell their products. You must purchase Monat from an MLM Partner directly, as opposed to buying it from a salon (unless a Monat MLM Partner also works at a salon).

One of the common ailments that people have when starting on Monat, or other hair loss remedy products, is excessive sebum (an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands). The pituitary gland is in charge of the entire endocrine (hormonal) system in your body. When your body produces more sebum, it means your androgens are more active.

In the worst cases of excessive sebum on the scalp, the sebum glands clog the hair roots and may cause excessive hair loss and dandruff. The leading causes of excess sebum secretion are genes, hormonal imbalances (during pregnancy, menopause or puberty), humidity, diet, etc. All of these hormonal imbalances can trigger an oily scalp.

In many cases, it is possible to get rid of excess sebum on your scalp without purchasing expensive products. Follow these steps to maintain a healthy scalp naturally:

Perform regular and thorough washing

Rinse your hair thoroughly before adding shampoo

Mix your shampoo with water first

Use lukewarm water for your first rinse

Focus on your scalp

Be gentle

Put conditioner on your ends only

Often, thinning hair results from an underlying general inflammatory condition. It is essential to seek professional medical attention to deal with inflammatory issues. Hair products will not solve systemic health problems. We recommend seeking answers for the root cause of your health problems from licensed professionals versus salespeople.

We recommend that you always seek the advice of a dermatologist, trichologist, or other licensed professional. If you experience thinning hair, hair loss, or scalp irritation, a professional will help determine the cause and find an effective treatment. As always, The Hair Society does not support or speak against the products mentioned in this article. Our goal is to provide unbiased information to help you make informed decisions.

Contributing Editor, Lisa Marie Stewart, has 40 plus years of writing, marketing, creative development, Editor-in-Chief, and Creative Director experience. Initially studying journalism and English, and ultimately received a Business Administration and Management B.S. degree with honors.

Ms. Stewart has authored, managed and directed teams at Fortune 500 companies to create corporate policies and procedures, human resource guides, emergency preparedness manuals, technical instructions, articles, newsletters, internal company magazines, retail store transition instruction guides, change orders, year-end financial brochures, website content, social media blogs, and posts.