Questions worth investigating. Evidence worth understanding.
Root Lab Research is where Phase Theory Beauty Co.™ takes a closer look at the questions behind hair and scalp formulation.
We examine published research, cosmetic ingredient science, hair-fiber biology and formulation principles to understand what the evidence supports, where questions remain, and how scientific knowledge can inform better cosmetic hair care.
This is evidence translation — not a claim that every topic has been clinically tested by Phase Theory.
Question
Start with a meaningful hair, scalp, ingredient or formulation question.
Evidence
Examine what relevant scientific literature and established cosmetic science actually support.
Translation
Turn complex information into useful formulation and consumer understanding.
Ingredient evidence ≠ finished formula performance
Phase Theory Beauty · Research Publications
Original long-form publications translating research across hair science, scalp health, behavior, culture, and family wellness into practical education.
Baby Hair® Research & Education Series
White Paper No. 1 · June 2026
Understanding Pediatric Scalp Health Across Texture Types, Multicultural Families, and Texture-Diverse Households
Dr. Bre Hayward, EdD — Founder, Baby Hair® | Founder, Phase Theory Beauty Company
An evidence-informed exploration of pediatric scalp health designed for multicultural, blended, interracial, adoptive, foster, and texture-diverse households. The publication examines scalp biology, hair porosity, common pediatric scalp concerns, identity and cultural connection, detangling, ingredient evidence, age-specific care, and the C.H.O.P.R.™ Scalp-First Framework.
View the Research & Education Series →Coconut Oil · Hair-Fiber Care
Coconut oil is one of the most widely discussed botanical oils in hair care — and one of the few whose interaction with the hair fiber has been examined directly in published research.
Scalp Care · Formulation Philosophy
Scalp-first is the phrase behind our brand — but phrases only mean something if they're defined. Here's ours.
Hair Fiber · Breakage & Retention
Many people mistake breakage for shedding. The distinction matters because the two call for completely different responses.
pH · A Formulation Consideration
pH is often oversimplified into marketing claims. As a formulation consideration, it's more interesting — and more nuanced.
Rosemary · Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary is one of the most searched — and most over-claimed — botanicals in hair care. We looked at what the literature does and doesn't support.
Carrier Oils · Fiber Interaction
Not all oils behave the same way on hair. The differences come down to fatty-acid chemistry.
Humectants · Moisture Support
Humectants are one of the most used — and least explained — ingredient functions in hair care.
Conditioning Agents · Slip & Friction
Detangling is where conditioning becomes tangible — fewer snags, less snapping, less frustration.
Hair Biology · Cosmetic Care
This distinction sits at the center of the Phase Theory philosophy — and it's the one most marketing blurs.
Surfactants · Cleansing Balance
Cleansing is the foundation of every routine — and the hardest balance to get right.
Questions We're Exploring
Educational and research questions we're following — not completed studies.
What is the difference between ingredient evidence and finished-formula evidence?
How do protein treatments interact with different hair types and textures?
What does seasonal shedding tell us — and what doesn't it?
How does water hardness affect how hair feels after cleansing?
Can a botanical's traditional use inform modern cosmetic formulation?
How do film-forming ingredients change the way hair behaves in humidity?
From Research to Formulation
This page asks what the evidence says. Root Lab shows how we think about that evidence when formulating.
Research Transparency
Root Lab Research translates scientific and cosmetic literature for educational and formulation-context purposes.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, research discussed here should not be interpreted as clinical testing conducted by Phase Theory Beauty Co.™, nor does evidence about an individual ingredient establish the performance of a finished Phase Theory or Baby Hair® formula.
Scientific understanding evolves, and our research summaries may be updated as better evidence becomes available.