Talking to an expert: celebrity stylist, trichologist and brand founder, Helen Reavey
Over the past few years, I’ve been seeing more and more luxury haircare brands borrowing from skincare’s roadmap - and I’m not mad about it. This scalp-first philosophy isn’t new, but it’s gone from the trichologist’s office to the beauty counters and now we all get to reap the benefits.
The approach focuses on scalp health as the foundation for stronger, healthier hair, moving beyond simple cleansing to serum-led, active-driven care, and one woman that can speak more than most to its importance is celebrity stylist, trichologist and brand founder, Helen Reavey.
An in-demand stylist based in New York for many years, when she’s not working with clients like Harry Styles or creating hair looks for Fendi and Tom Ford campaigns, Helen can be found directing teams backstage at London and Paris fashion weeks, or on set with the likes of V Magazine and L’Officiel. As aforementioned, she also found the time to become a certified trichologist, and founded Act + Acre, a hair wellness line that focuses on the scalp for long-term hair health. For her, it was a natural progression after years of noticing the poor scalp health of models and talent backstage and on set, and I for one, have fallen hopelessly in love with her line.
With all of the above in mind, when it came time to writing a recent feature about the skinification of luxury haircare, Helen came top of mind as the person to tap. As well as supplying some great quotes and sharing some fabulous intel for that piece, we had a wider chat that I’d like to share.
So read on for the Act + Acre founder’s wit and wisdom around all things scalp care…
Hi Helen! You’ve worked internationally as a stylist and now have a scalp-forward haircare line that most definitely fits into the ‘skinification’ of haircare movement. I would love to know what lead you to make that move?
After 15+ years working as a celebrity hairstylist across editorial, runway, and fashion shows, I kept noticing the same thing over and over again: poor scalp health. Everyone was investing in skincare and styling products, but very few people were paying attention to the scalp, which is where healthy hair begins.
I also personally struggled with scalp issues from a young age, including seborrheic dermatitis, so this was always deeply personal for me. Becoming a board-certified trichologist completely changed the way I understood hair health.
I realised that if we care for the skin on our face so intentionally, why were we neglecting the scalp, especially when it directly impacts follicle health? That was really the spark behind Act+Acre. I wanted to create a brand that treated the scalp with the same sophistication and care as skincare.
The oft-neglected scalp having its moment in the spotlight, can you talk me through how your brand is approaching the creation of a new wave of scalp-conscious hair care?
At Act+Acre, we’ve always taken a scalp-first approach. For us, healthy hair is not about masking issues at the ends. It starts by creating the healthiest possible environment at the root.
How does that look?
That means thinking about the scalp the same way we think about facial skin. Barrier health, microbiome balance, hydration, exfoliation, and inflammation management all matter. We formulate with clinically backed ingredients and trichology expertise, creating products that solve real scalp concerns, whether that’s buildup, excess oil, sensitivity, dryness, or early-stage thinning. Education is also a huge part of our philosophy. So many hair concerns begin with scalp imbalance, and once consumers understand that connection, their routines completely shift.
What are the ingredients we usually associate with skincare that you have seen be most beneficial for the scalp and hair?
There’s a lot of crossovers between skincare and scalp care, which is exactly why the skinification movement makes so much sense. A few standout ingredients I personally love are:
Salicylic Acid (BHA): Excellent for gently exfoliating the scalp, removing excess oil, dead skin cells, and product buildup, especially for oily or flaky scalps.
Hyaluronic Acid: Brilliant for hydration. A dehydrated scalp can become irritated, tight, and prone to imbalance, just like facial skin.
Aloe Vera: Fantastic for soothing irritation and supporting scalp hydration.
Plant stem cells: We use Swiss Apple Stem Cells in our Stem Cell Scalp Serum to support the scalp environment and promote fuller, healthier-looking hair.
Vitamin E + antioxidant-rich botanicals: Helpful for protecting the scalp barrier from environmental stress.
And clever, efficacious formulation is of course, essential.
Right. The key is choosing ingredients that support the scalp ecosystem rather than overwhelm it.
Winter is here in the Southern Hemisphere, and I wondered if like skincare, should scalp and haircare change during the cooler months?
Absolutely! Cooler weather, indoor heating, and lower humidity can all compromise the scalp barrier, leading to dryness, itchiness, flaking, and increased sensitivity. Hair itself can also become more brittle and dehydrated. In winter, I recommend focusing on hydration and barrier support. That might mean incorporating a nourishing pre-wash scalp treatment, reducing overly harsh cleansing if your scalp tends to run dry, and adding more moisture back into the lengths with conditioning treatments.
If you’re prone to flakes, it’s also important not to assume every flake is dryness. Sometimes it’s buildup or excess oil imbalance, which needs exfoliation rather than heavier oils. Seasonal shifts absolutely affect the scalp, and your routine should evolve with that.
And lastly, when it comes to Act + Acre, what is the product that every person should have in their bathroom?
If I had to choose just one, it would be the Stem Cell Scalp Serum! It’s the product that really represents our scalp-first philosophy because it works as a daily treatment to support scalp health proactively, not just when something goes wrong. It hydrates, helps create the ideal environment for healthy follicles, and is especially brilliant for anyone noticing shedding, sensitivity, or wanting fuller-looking hair. I always say scalp care should be as habitual as skincare, and this is the easiest place to start.
Act + Acre is available locally via MECCA and comes highly recommended.
That means thinking about the scalp the same way we think about facial skin. Barrier health, microbiome balance, hydration, exfoliation, and inflammation management all matter. We formulate with clinically backed ingredients and trichology expertise, creating products that solve real scalp concerns, whether that’s buildup, excess oil, sensitivity, dryness, or early-stage thinning. Education is also a huge part of our philosophy. So many hair concerns begin with scalp imbalance, and once consumers understand that connection, their routines completely shift.
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| The Act + Acre Scalp Relief System, which I'm currently trialling and loving! |
What are the ingredients we usually associate with skincare that you have seen be most beneficial for the scalp and hair?
There’s a lot of crossovers between skincare and scalp care, which is exactly why the skinification movement makes so much sense. A few standout ingredients I personally love are:
Salicylic Acid (BHA): Excellent for gently exfoliating the scalp, removing excess oil, dead skin cells, and product buildup, especially for oily or flaky scalps.
Hyaluronic Acid: Brilliant for hydration. A dehydrated scalp can become irritated, tight, and prone to imbalance, just like facial skin.
Aloe Vera: Fantastic for soothing irritation and supporting scalp hydration.
Plant stem cells: We use Swiss Apple Stem Cells in our Stem Cell Scalp Serum to support the scalp environment and promote fuller, healthier-looking hair.
Vitamin E + antioxidant-rich botanicals: Helpful for protecting the scalp barrier from environmental stress.
And clever, efficacious formulation is of course, essential.
Right. The key is choosing ingredients that support the scalp ecosystem rather than overwhelm it.
Winter is here in the Southern Hemisphere, and I wondered if like skincare, should scalp and haircare change during the cooler months?
Absolutely! Cooler weather, indoor heating, and lower humidity can all compromise the scalp barrier, leading to dryness, itchiness, flaking, and increased sensitivity. Hair itself can also become more brittle and dehydrated. In winter, I recommend focusing on hydration and barrier support. That might mean incorporating a nourishing pre-wash scalp treatment, reducing overly harsh cleansing if your scalp tends to run dry, and adding more moisture back into the lengths with conditioning treatments.
If you’re prone to flakes, it’s also important not to assume every flake is dryness. Sometimes it’s buildup or excess oil imbalance, which needs exfoliation rather than heavier oils. Seasonal shifts absolutely affect the scalp, and your routine should evolve with that.
And lastly, when it comes to Act + Acre, what is the product that every person should have in their bathroom?
If I had to choose just one, it would be the Stem Cell Scalp Serum! It’s the product that really represents our scalp-first philosophy because it works as a daily treatment to support scalp health proactively, not just when something goes wrong. It hydrates, helps create the ideal environment for healthy follicles, and is especially brilliant for anyone noticing shedding, sensitivity, or wanting fuller-looking hair. I always say scalp care should be as habitual as skincare, and this is the easiest place to start.
Act + Acre is available locally via MECCA and comes highly recommended.
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