In the past few decades, haircare and skincare products have dominated the beauty space. Recently though, people are starting to shift their focus toward scalp care.
The health of your scalp affects the health of your hair significantly. Think about your head like a garden. Your scalp is the soil that your hair needs to grow. With a poorly nourished scalp, your hair is unable to grow to its full potential.
Of course, it’s crucial to clean and brush your hair consistently. However, you also need to feed your scalp the proper nutrients.
As more people realize how important scalp care is, haircare brands are starting to create hybrid products that target both your hair and your scalp. If you haven’t already, you should check the label of the products you’re using to see if they target your scalp.
Whatever products you’re using, you’ll need some kind of additional supplement for your scalp. Depending on your hair type, your regular shampoo and conditioner might not be enough.
A lot of people are now calling scalp care, “the new skincare”! To find out more about how haircare starts at the scalp, keep reading below!
The Importance of Scalp Health
Your scalp health is directly intertwined with your hair health. Ask any hair stylist or dermatologist.
If you’ve been nurturing your hair as usual, and your hair still feels dry, thin, or damaged, the culprit could very well be your scalp. Before trying to rearrange your entire hair routine, make sure your scalp is supported.
The scalp is basically an extension of the skin on your face, except thicker and with way more hair follicles. As a result, it requires the same maintenance that your face needs.
In fact, the scalp ages six times faster than the skin on your face and body; so you may actually need to give it more attention than your hair and skin.
Every day, your scalp produces sebum oil. The amount of sebum oil it produces varies from person to person, but everybody has some degree of sebum oil in their scalp.
This oil clogs your hair follicles, filling it with dead skin cells, product buildup, and sebum, which negatively affects hair growth.
How to Protect Your Scalp
You wash your hair and your skin regularly. Well, it’s time to start washing your scalp as well. The sooner you start taking care of your scalp, the sooner you’ll see your hair flourish.
Keep in mind that it is always easier to prevent damage than to treat it. Don’t wait until it’s too late to get your scalp in check!
When you’re treating your skin, you’re normally addressing issues like fine lines, acne, and hyperpigmentation. Although your scalp is technically a piece of skin, the approach you take in caring for it is completely different.
In order to protect your scalp, you need to address a number of concerns: dryness, flaking, product build up, thinning, and hair loss. Before you build your scalp care routine, identify what issues you’re trying to solve.
If you’re having trouble diagnosing your scalp, it may be worthwhile to visit a dermatologist. They’ll be able to take a deeper look into your scalp and make a personal recommendation about what kind of treatment you need.
Whatever your scalp type is, anybody can benefit from some TLC. To keep your scalp in tip-top health, you need to consistently rid it of debris, dirt, and oil. Brushing and shampooing regularly will get the job done.
Treatment by Scalp Type
Now that you know what your scalp type is, you’re ready to start creating your scalp care routine!
If you have a dry scalp, you might be shampooing too much. Try shampooing only two to three times a week and start using a scalp serum or oil for some added moisture before cleansing.
If you have an oily scalp, you may benefit from washing your hair more frequently. Find a shampoo that isn’t labeled, “moisturizing” and use a weak to mid-strength conditioner.
If you have a sensitive scalp, you should be wary of how much you shampoo. Use cool or lukewarm water and pair it with a gentle shampoo.
If you have an itchy scalp, you’ll have to see a dermatologist for an evaluation. There’s a chance you might have dandruff! If you feel itchiness or discomfort in your scalp, seek help as soon as possible.
For a variety of scalp care products for every scalp type, be sure to visit Jupiter!