Mushrooms are the wellness trend du jour, popping up in coffee, supplements and even beer. Now, we’re being told to slather them on our heads after Dyson revealed they could be a secret weapon in the age-old battle against frizzy hair.
Dyson researchers have discovered that fungal chitosan, which is found in the cell walls of oyster mushrooms and is commonly used in skincare products, can be used to tame unruly hair.
Chitosan, named after the “heroic” ingredient, goes on sale in the company’s stores and on its website on Tuesday. Customers will have to shop around: the styling cream and serum, which Dyson claims “reduce frizz by up to 50%”, both cost £50 for 100ml.
Chitosan is “delicate yet strong, it is what gives mushrooms their shape and provides the basis for Dyson’s flexible attachment,” the company said.
Its engineers have conducted “rigorous testing to find the optimal percentage of chitosan for all-day flexible hold, whilst maintaining natural movement.” Dyson added: “Each bottle harnesses the power of up to eight oyster mushrooms.”
James Dyson, who remains the company’s chief engineer, said: “While other hair styling products use simple polymers that bind strands of hair together like glue, Dyson’s formulas work differently.
“The complex macromolecule helps create flexible bonds that hold the hair strand by strand, for double the hold, movement and shine.”
The company, which since its founding by British inventor James Dyson in 1991 has made billions from innovations including bagless vacuum cleaners and bladeless fans, has in recent years been trying to corner the lucrative beauty market with products such as a “supersonic” hair dryer.
Dyson isn’t the only company trying to cash in on mushrooms – the ingredient appears in so many products that consumer advocacy group Which? was forced to investigate the evidence base for the “mushroom craze” sweeping the high street.
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Describing some mushroom-based products sold in health food stores, the group said: “While they have potential benefits, there is not yet enough evidence to suggest they work, and the vast majority do not have authorised health claims in the UK.”
