What is Beppu hot spring algae extract? The ONSENSOU story
What is Beppu hot spring algae extract? The ONSENSOU story
Key points
- ONSENSOU began with an encounter with a rare algae living in the sources of the Beppu hot springs.
- Hot spring algae extract works to add moisture to the scalp and bring shine and smoothness to hair.
- Its placing in the @cosme scalp care category reflects support for a result people can feel and a story rooted in where it comes from. Ranked #1 in the Scalp Care category of the @cosme user review ranking (survey period: 1 September – 30 November 2019; iStyle Inc.). The ranking reflects the number of user reviews.
In brief: ONSENSOU was born from a chance encounter with a rare algae found in the sources of the Beppu hot springs. Its extract adds moisture to the scalp and brings shine and smoothness to hair. Ranked #1 in the Scalp Care category of the @cosme user review ranking (survey period: 1 September – 30 November 2019; iStyle Inc.). The ranking reflects the number of user reviews.
Beppu hot spring algae extract is the ingredient at the heart of the ONSENSOU brand. Ranked #1 in the Scalp Care category of the @cosme user review ranking (survey period: 1 September – 30 November 2019; iStyle Inc.). The ranking reflects the number of user reviews. This uncommon ingredient is drawn from hot spring algae discovered in Beppu, one of Japan's foremost hot spring towns. Here we set out the story of how ONSENSOU came about, and what makes Beppu hot spring algae extract what it is.
A fateful encounter with Beppu hot spring algae
ONSENSOU began with an encounter with a beautiful emerald green algae living in the sources of the Beppu hot springs. Over many years of surveying the hot spring environment there, researchers turned their attention to a rare algae found in certain sources alone.
This algae grows vigorously even in the harsh conditions of a hot spring, where the water is hot and carries sulphur. Research showed that an algae able to live where ordinary plants cannot holds particular constituents that let it adapt to its surroundings.
The research team wondered whether those distinctive constituents might be put to use in hair care, and began several years of development. From that came the idea of a new hair care brand drawing on the hot spring resources of Beppu itself.
How the ONSENSOU brand was developed
Establishing a way to extract Beppu hot spring algae took a great deal of trial and error. Drawing out the useful constituents of the algae without spoiling them, and bringing them into a form that could go into a hair care product, took experiment after experiment.
The team was just as particular about how the algae is cultivated. Using source water from Beppu, they recreated conditions close to those the algae grows in naturally. That careful method of cultivation made it possible to raise high quality algae consistently.
In turning it into a product, the aim was a formulation that makes the most of what the extract offers: adding moisture to the scalp, keeping hair clean, and bringing it to a glossy, well-ordered look.
The ONSENSOU that emerged is a one of a kind hair care brand, where the hot spring culture of Beppu meets current research. Developing products from local resources also helps show Beppu in a new light.
What sets Beppu hot spring algae extract apart
What marks out Beppu hot spring algae extract above all is the make-up of an algae grown in the particular environment of a hot spring. Living in hot, sulphur-bearing water, it stores constituents unlike those of ordinary seaweed or freshwater algae.
The extract is rich in moisturising constituents that add moisture to the scalp. Putting the scalp environment in good order lays the groundwork for how hair looks. It keeps a scalp that tends towards dryness supple, and in good condition.
The extract also carries constituents that smooth the hair surface, so with continued use hair takes on shine and smoothness. It tidies the look of hair that has taken damage and leaves it running easily through the fingers.
And because it is a natural ingredient derived from hot spring algae, its gentleness on scalp and hair is part of the appeal. It has found a strong following among people who want hair care drawn from what nature provides.
Why ONSENSOU was ranked #1 in the Scalp Care category of the @cosme user review ranking (survey period: 1 September – 30 November 2019; iStyle Inc.). The ranking reflects the number of user reviews.
Behind that placing lies something people genuinely notice in Beppu hot spring algae extract. Many of those who have used it speak well of how moisturised the scalp feels, and of the change in the way hair feels to the touch.
What draws particular notice is how it feels in use. Products made with hot spring algae extract settle readily into the scalp, with a light texture that leaves no greasy feel. That ease is what keeps them in people's daily routines.
A clear story of origin — the hot spring town of Beppu — is another reason for that support. Where the ingredient grew and what it was drawn from are plain to see, and many tell us this makes it easy to use with confidence.
ONSENSOU is recognised not simply as a hair care product but as a brand with a story, produced where the hot spring culture of Beppu meets research. That distinctiveness strikes a chord with many people, and is reflected in the regard in which it is held.
Frequently asked questions
QHow does Beppu hot spring algae extract differ from other seaweed extracts?
ABeppu hot spring algae extract is drawn from an algae grown in the particular environment of a hot spring, where the water is hot and carries sulphur. Because that growing environment differs so much from that of ordinary seaweed or freshwater algae, the extract has a make-up of its own, and that is the main difference. The constituents it stores in adapting to those conditions add moisture to the scalp and put the look of hair in order.
QWho are ONSENSOU products suited to?
AThey suit anyone who notices dryness on the scalp, who wants shine and manageability in their hair, or who is looking for hair care made with naturally derived ingredients. They also suit anyone curious about ingredients from a hot spring region, or who likes a brand with a story behind it. They can be used by a wide range of people, whatever their age or sex.
QHow is Beppu hot spring algae cultivated?
AIt is cultivated using source water from Beppu, in conditions recreated to be close to those the algae grows in naturally. Holding the temperature, the water quality and the other conditions at their best for the algae makes it possible to raise high quality algae consistently. That careful method of cultivation is what yields an extract of good quality.
QWhat changes can I expect from using products made with hot spring algae extract?
AMoisture is added to the scalp, leaving it supple and in good order. Constituents that smooth the hair surface bring shine and smoothness, so hair runs easily through the fingers. With continued use the scalp environment settles, which lays the groundwork for hair that looks its best.
QWhere does the name ONSENSOU come from?
AONSENSOU is simply the Japanese word for hot spring algae, onsensou, used as the brand name. It states plainly that these are products built around algae grown in the Beppu hot springs. Naming both the place, the hot spring town of Beppu, and the raw material, the algae, makes the brand's own character and story easy to grasp.
