Tips for a Healthier Scalp
07 / 05 / 17

Tips for a Healthier Scalp

You cannot have healthy hair without also having a healthy scalp. The scalp is where hair growth starts—and it is imperative that your scalp present a healthy environment for that growth to take place. So if you want to do everything in your power to maintain healthy hair growth, taking care of your scalp is key.

What does proper scalp maintenance entail, though? In this post, we’ll provide some practical information.

How to Take Care of Your Scalp

Treatment Before Showering

One simple step toward better scalp care is gently brushing your hair every day—and right before you get into the shower. This not only loosens dead skin cells (which can otherwise clog pores and impede healthy hair growth), but hair is most susceptible to damage (like breaking) when wet. Brushing when hair is dry can help prevent tangles from forming in wet hair.

Likewise, using a preshampoo before you shower also helps exfoliate and prepare your scalp. Think about your scalp like the skin on your face; oil is naturally producing (giving hair sheen and luster). However, like skin, you can produce too much oil resulting in greasy scalp - or too little oil. Some people have very dehydrated scalps and as a result, very dry hair. (Particularly in the Western world, dry scalp and hair are pretty common with women because we tend to use a lot of color and chemical on our hair. This processing can compromise the health of scalp and hair, drying it out.)

Many patients have benefitted from using preshampoo's to help balance oil levels on the scalp. At HT&RC, we have specially formulated preshampoos and shampoos to exfoliate, treat, and improve a scalp that is too dry or one that produces too much oil.

Use the Best Shampoo for You As Needed

Shampoos are liquid cleansing agents designed to get rid of oil, dirt, dandruff, and product buildup on hair and scalp while ensuring manageable hair. Two things to keep in mind with scalp and shampoo is cleanse as often as is necessary for you, personally, and also choose the right shampoo based on your needs.

Excessive removal of oil, or over shampooing, saps your hair of the natural oils that moisturize and preserve your scalp leaving hair dull, sensitive to static electricity and difficult to comb. We recommend shampooing regularly, but only as often as is necessary for you personally. Some shampoo once every three to five days, and some can get away with shampooing just once a week. If you tend to sweat a lot and find that more regular shampooing is needed. Whatever feels right for you while being mindful that over shampooing is always possible.

All shampoo's consist of a cocktail of different ingredients: detergents remove dirt and sebum, a foaming agent is added to provide lather (usually equated with cleansing; however, the lather is unrelated to cleaning capability). Then shampoos differ from each other by their specific ingredients and formulations for oily hair, dry hair, dandruff, colored hair, etc. Thickeners, opacifiers, softeners, and fragrance are added for a look, feel, and smell. For example, creamy, moisturizing shampoos with ingredients like nut oils, shea butter, and wheat germ oil are good at bonding to parched strands of dry hair. Likewise, clear based shampoos with tea tree oil, citrus oil, rosemary, sage, stinging nettle, and chamomile help degrease the scalp in oily hair.

Choose the best shampoo for your needs that keeps both the cleansing and cosmetic properties necessary to maintain your healthy hair. At HT&RC we carry a very basic, mild shampoo from CRLAB that is safe for ALL scalp types, as well as a clarifying, dry scalp, oily hair, and conditioning shampoo. We can also help you find one that fits your necessities.

Apply Correct Conditioner Every Time You Wash

Conditioners leave hair manageable after shampoo by reducing friction by 50% (fewer tangles), increased shine, and temporarily revitalizes damaged hair. All hair is diverse and susceptible to damage from various sources. Minimally damaged hair? Dry and chemically damaged? Prone to damage from blow-drying and heat? Dry and easily tangled? Color-treated? Susceptible to thermal damage and frizz? Interestingly enough, there are those who don't use any conditioner (sebum is the perfect hair conditioner) which just goes to show the diverse needs person to person.

Different conditioners treat these hair types by including moisturizers, lubricants, hydrolyzed proteins, thermal protectants, and glossers, etc. in the formula. If you do use conditioner or are in search of one, it's important to talk to a hair specialist and use the right conditioner for your scalp and hair needs. Instant conditioner? Deep conditioner? Leave-in conditioners? Rinse conditioners? Argon oil? Moroccan oil? Avocado oil? Conditioner for color treated hair? At HT&RC, we carry a hydrolyzed protein conditioning cream providing strength, shine, and volume while also helping detangle, stops frizz, and reduce split ends. Also? Safe for all skin and hair types including color treated hair.

Protect Your Scalp from All Elements

Remember that exposure to sunlight can lead to sunburns, to dryness, and to other damage—not just on your back and your shoulders, but on your scalp, too. We recommend investing in a leave-in conditioner that has SPF sunscreen added, or else simply wearing a hat on your head when you’re outside for long periods of time. In the chillier months, make sure your hair is totally dry before you head outside into the cold—and wear a scarf if possible.

Blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons are certainly convenient, but can also compromise follicle strength by drying out both hair and scalp leading to hair breakage. Extreme heat can also cause local burns on the scalp. That’s not to say that you should never use heat styling tools, but we do recommend using them sparingly or set at a lower temperature. Also, try to find alternative ways to style your hair—without direct heat—if at all possible. (Youtube can be a great resource for instructional videos.)

At HT&RC, we offer a CRLAB milk finishing spray that helps protect your hair from harmful UV rays as well as damage from heat sources.

Pay Attention to Warning Signs and Do Research

Do you ever notice dandruff flaking off your head? Do you see blemishes, breakouts, or red spots on your scalp, below your hair? Since the contact period of shampoo on your scalp is very short, these aren’t things to just ignore, but rather they are signs that there is a problem with your scalp.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to research all products coming in contact with your scalp. For example, essential oils like peppermint and cinnamon oil are often massaged into the scalp with the intent to soften and promote hair growth. However, contact dermatitis is a potential side effect, which causes the scalp to become itchy and irritated, and very frustrating to manage. Come meet with us at HT&RC to have a full scalp evaluation. Otherwise, these warning signs could turn into much bigger issues that, when left untreated, could ultimately lead to hair loss.

Get Your Scalp Examined by an HT&RC Professional

If you’ve noticed your hair thinning, remember that the problem could be something with your scalp. The only way to know for sure—and to get the right kind of treatment—is to visit us for an evaluation. We will speak to you about the duration of your problem, nutritional history, lifestyle, family history, if your hair is artificially straightened or curled, hair coloring, bleaching, routine hair care products, and use of styling devices.

Learn more about scalp health, and seek the best solutions for your needs, by contacting HT&RC for a consultation today. We’d love to have a conversation with you about all the things we can help you do to ensure a healthy scalp and healthy hair.