Is it THAT important to have a healthy scalp? Why has it been such a hot topic suddenly? We have finally figured out the secret to having healthy-looking hair and it all starts with a healthy scalp! Think of it this way; your scalp is the rich soil that your hair needs to grow in to become strong and healthy! Just like a tree or flowers, for them to become the best version they need a great foundation. It’s starting to make sense now, isn’t it!
If you are like me, I kind of rolled my eyes and thought here we go! Something else that needs more time and attention! Lol! Have you been to the hair salon and had a hairstylist give you an amazing shampoo? Massaged your scalp, not just slopped the shampoo on and off quickly? It makes a difference, doesn’t it?!
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What is a healthy scalp? A healthy scalp is well hydrated, smooth, free of flakes and any redness. It shouldn’t “hurt” to brush or comb your hair. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp!
Signs of an unhealthy scalp
- Dry & flaky scalp
- Hair doesn’t seem to grow
- Itchy scalp
- Hair and scalp always seem “oily”
- Hair loss
- Red bumps on scalp
- Excessive breakage
Do any of these seem like your scalp or anyone that you know? If it is, the first step is ALWAYS to talk with your physician first to make sure that there isn’t a medical reason for it. We will talk later in the post about how to solve some of these problems.
What can cause an unhealthy scalp
Age
Have you noticed that your hair changes with your age? If not, you will! Lol. Maybe you could go longer between shampoos, or it could be the opposite.
The older that we get our hair and skin produce less oil. We have hormone changes; our body produces fewer and that can set everything out of whack! Our hair loses elasticity and can become more brittle and grey hair, well that texture is just coarser. Don’t stress friends about getting older… we get wiser too!
Build up
Build-up on the scalp can cause it to be unhealthy. Build-up can be from products or environmental. I would recommend you avoid products that coat the hair & scalp and make it difficult to remove. These are typically products that have silicones and sulfates. They can “suffocate” the scalp and make it extremely difficult for new hair to grow. I did a post on how to remove product buildup, check that out here.
Trichologist
If you feel as though you are having more than normal scalp problems you may want to consider making an appointment to go and see a Trichologist. This is a physician that specializes in trichology which is the study of diseases or problems related to the scalp and hair. They can also advise if a patient is having issues with hair loss, hair breakage, oily scalp, and scalp psoriasis. A Trichologist can also treat problems related to alopecia, trichotillomania which is a hair-pulling disorder.
How to achieve a healthy scalp
Regular scalp treatments
Scalp treatments can help to support a balanced scalp and remove unwanted build-up. Typically, it is recommended to do a scalp treatment 1-2 times per week but that depends on each individual person’s needs and situation. I recommend that you experiment with what works best for you.
I have two products that I prefer to help balance my scalp for good scalp health. If you would like help with a personalized routine click here. The first product is Rejuveniqe Oil, it is a blend of 13+ Natural Plant and Essential Oils rich in omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and nutrients. This oil is great to use as an overnight oil treatment prior to your wash day. It is a dry oil so it will not feel oily in your bed. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this oil. Click here to see more about it.
The second product I recommend is Monat’s Scalp Purifying Scrub. This scrub will help dissolve dead skin cells, stubborn product buildup, and environmental pollutants that leave your hair looking dull and lifeless. It’s basically an exfoliant for your scalp, an amazing product! Click here to see more about this product.
Protect your scalp from the sun!
I am a big proponent of sun safety, especially after my recent encounters with skin cancer. Our scalp can easily be overlooked and often gets sunburnt. It has happened to me in the past, has it happened to you before? It hurts!!
A few things that can help with this is to wear a hat out in the sun. Another tip is to wear sunscreen on your scalp and especially hair parts. I typically will spray aerosol sunscreen on my hair parts to protect them if I am not able to wear a hat.
Don’t over-wash or under wash your hair
That’s right, you need to find that sweet spot that works best for you! It can also change over time. Remember me earlier telling you about your hair changing with age? Sometimes our hair can seem like it is “oily” when we are shampooing it too often. It’s a vicious cycle, our scalp gets confused into thinking it needs to produce more oil because we are drying our scalp out from over washing our hair. You can break this cycle by doing some scalp treatments, I typically recommend our Rejuveniqe Oil. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it works! If you want to hear more, shoot me a message!
Use clean products
Try not to use products that will cause build on the scalp and hair. Not only does it smother the scalp, but it can stress your hair out when trying to remove the buildup.
I touched on this earlier in the post about trying not to use products with silicone in them. Silicone will coat your hair and scalp and when you add heat to it, it will seal it. You may get some temporary shine from it, but it will not last long.
Sulfates in shampoo are also something that I try to avoid. Sulfates are detergents that help give that shampoo its foam. They can also be harsh, stripping your scalp of oil and drying out your hair. Sulfates also can strip hair of color; you didn’t pay all that money at the salon to have it wash down the drain! We can gently clean our hair without stripping it of its natural oils.
*Tip: staying hydrated will also help to improve scalp health. Typically, it is recommended for women to drink 2.7 liters a day and men 3.7 liters daily. Always talk to your physician to get their recommendation!
Do you feel like you have good scalp health, or does it need some help? The healthier we keep our scalp the better results we will see from the condition of our hair overall. You will be amazed by the improvements that you see in growth, shine, and texture.
Please share in the comments below if you have any tips to share. Also, if you would like help getting a healthier scalp and hair click here and I will be in touch with you!
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