Scalp care matters. How you care for your scalp matters. A proper scalp routine can prevent certain types of hair loss and certain types of scalp issues. Compared to the skin on our faces or our bodies, the skin on our head doesn't receive much love. As a result, our scalp ends up being very unhealthy causing many problems for the health of our hair.

What does it do

The skin on our scalp is not that much different from the skin on our hair. Our scalp skin has more density, grows out thicker, longer hair, has more oil glands and has a lot more hair follicles. The oil glands produce a substance called sebum. Sebum is an oily waxy substance that coats our hair and skin. It helps to keep hair moisturized and protected. Our scalp aisles acts as a barrier and physically protects our head from the external environments.

Scalp care for hair growth

The first step to a healthy scalp is to properly cleanse and exfoliate your scalp. Removing any dirt, oil, and debris from your scalp is the firsts step in ensuring your hair can grow obstacle free.

Best way to clean your scalp

1. Use a gentle scalp exfoliator. Just how you’d exfoliate your face and body in order to get rid of dead skin cells and reveal clearer brighter skin, our scalp needs to be exfoliated in the same way. Exfoliating our scalp helps to remove buildup and allows for hair to grow better and products to work better.

2. Use a gentle yet effective shampoo. Avoid using products that have harsh chemicals such as alcohols and sulfates which can strip your hair and scalp of moisture. Make sure to shampoo gently using the pads of your fingers rather than aggressively scrubbing with your nails.

how to treat a dry scalp

1. Shampoo your hair less often. It’s natural to think that in order to have a clean scalp you need to wash it often. The opposite is in fact true. Washing your hair too much can strip away the natural oils.

2. Focus on using products with moisturizing ingredients such as aloe vera or baobab oil. This will help to clean your scalp without stripping it too much.

3. Using a scalp oil such as jojoba oil can be a great and effective moisturizer to combat dry scalp.

oily scalp treatment

1. Shampoo less often. Just like with dry scalp shampooing less often can be a great way to balance your scalp. In some cases over shampooing is causing too much oil production because too much moisture is being stripped.

2. Using a leave-in scalp oil can be a great way to combat dry scalp and shampoo less often.

3. Clean your brushes/combs. Our hair brushes can accumulate a lot of bacteria and dirt. This can introduce and grow bacteria on your scalp which will increase oil production.

4. Brush your hair regularly. Brushing hair can be a great way to spread the natural oils from your scalp through the lengths of your hair which can help decrease breakage. This tip can be a bit more difficult for curly hair so for my curly girls out there simply brushing your hair on wash day may be enough. If not add another day mid week and brush your hair while wet.

how to exfoliate your scalp

There are two main ways to exfoliate your scalp. The first one being through the use of a physical exfoliant such as a scrub or through the use of a chemical exfoliant which dissolve dead skin cells using AHAs.

Just as we exfoliate the skin on our face and bodies the skin on our scalp needs some tlc in the form of exfoliation. This can help to remove product buildup and cure certain scalp conditions such as dandruff.

But too much of a good thing can be bad. Over exfoliation of the scalp can cause tenderness, irritation, and flareups with certain scalp conditions. So always be careful of how much exfoliation you do.

1. There are a couple of ways that you can exfoliate your scalp. The first one being by simply using an exfoliating shampoo. This is a great option for those on a budget or those who simply do not want to have an extra product in their routine.

2. Using an exfoliating brush or comb can also be a great budget friendly option for many people. Some of these tools are meant to be used in the shower while others are meant to be used on dry hair.

3. Using a pre shampoo treatment such as the Act and Acre Scalp Detox Oil Treatment can be a great option for those who want to splurge a bit more. Using a pre shampoo treatment is a great way to also take the time to add a moisturizing treatment prior to shampoo. Doing this ensures that the moisture in your hair is not stripped too much.

Treat and Massage your scalp

There are so many kinds of treatments for our face and bodies, but not so much for our scalp. A healthy scalp is the foundation for long healthy hair and will make a huge difference in your haircare routine. One of the best thing you can do is a scalp massage.

What Is A Scalp Massage?

First, let's define what a massage is. A massage is the manipulation of body tissues and muscles usually done to relieve pain or stress. Therefore a scalp massage is done to the head to relieve stress and encourage circulation to the scalp.

Benefits of A Scalp Massage

Enhances circulation and blood flow to your scalp. Your hair is one of the last places your body will give nutrients to because of the many organs that come before it. Therefore massaging your scalp brings blood flow which brings nutrients to your hair follicles (roots).

A Japanese study done in 2014 revealed that regular scalp massaging results in increased hair thickness.The manual movement of your fingers helps to reduce hair buildup and soften your skin.

How To Do It

1. Fingertip Massage. Using light to medium pressure, massage your scalp in circular motions with the ball of your fingertips and not your fingernails.

2. Tool/Brush Massage. Using light to medium pressure, use a scalp massager to replace your fingers.

3. Oil Massage. This can be done with either your fingers or a tool. Grab your favorite oil, add a few drops onto your fingers or tool using light to medium pressure massage your scalp.

Conclusion

Our scalp is important. It is easy to overlook because for many people it is out of sight out of mind. Overlooking proper scalp care can hinder your growth, and cause conditions that will definitely demand your attention. Let me know how properly taking care of your scalp changes your hair. Until next time xoxo.