Most people know that protein is essential for strong hair. Fewer people know about the role of minerals — particularly magnesium — in maintaining the structural integrity of the hair shaft.
Magnesium plays a critical role in the formation and maintenance of the keratin protein bonds that give hair its strength and elasticity. Specifically, it supports the crosslinking process that holds adjacent keratin chains in correct alignment within the cortex — the central layer of the hair shaft where the bulk of structural activity takes place.
When magnesium is deficient, these bonds become weaker and more prone to breakage. Hair becomes brittle, loses its natural elasticity, and is more susceptible to split ends. Studies in trichological literature have consistently found that hair with lower mineral content shows higher rates of breakage under standard mechanical stress tests.
"Hair treated with the Botanical Plus Magnesium shampoo showed a 31% reduction in breakage under standard load versus untreated controls."
The challenge with magnesium in hair care is one of concentration and bioavailability. Magnesium is water-soluble, which means a formula needs to contain it above the therapeutic minimum — typically 0.5% or higher — and in a form the hair structure can absorb during the short contact time of a shampoo.
Many mainstream shampoos contain trace mineral compounds for marketing purposes, at concentrations far below what is needed to produce any measurable effect. The Botanical Plus range was formulated specifically to address this — with magnesium sulfate at a clinically effective concentration, combined with pH modifiers that enhance uptake.
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