Scalp Care Is the New Skin Care: 5 Tips for a Healthy Scalp

Most of us are aware of skincare practices for keeping the skin on our face and other parts of our body moisturized and in good health. We recognize the importance of having a skincare routine; we even invest in products like serums, toners, moisturizers, etc. But oftentimes we don’t pay attention to the skin on our head, the scalp, either through negligence or ignorance of the fact that the scalp also needs care; a healthy head of hair starts at the roots.

It’s like farming and cultivation, the quality of the produce you’ll get is mostly directly proportional to the quality of the soil. The scalp plays a very vital role in hair growth, it deserves as much attention as the skin on other parts of our body. In this article, the discussion is about the why and how of scalp care. Keep reading and we’ll share some vital information on why you should pay attention to your scalp and some simple ways through which you can take adequate care of your scalp.

What is Scalp Care?

Scalp care is simple, it’s exactly what it sounds like, it’s the care given to your scalp so healthy and strong hair can grow from it. You might be thinking, I shampoo and condition my hair regularly, isn’t that taking care of my scalp? Well, the answer is, not quite. Shampoo and conditioner are designed to cleanse and moisturize your hair, you need a scalp care routine, or at least a conscious effort at taking care of your scalp. The scalp is pretty much skin, the skin from which your hair grows. Scalp care is a combination of good habits and effective products geared towards the health of the skin on your head. This means when you’re looking for hair care tips and practices to adopt and new products to use, you shouldn’t only consider your hair, you should consider your scalp too.

Healthy Scalp Vs Unhealthy Scalp

The hair follicles from which hair grows are housed on the scalp, we have between 80,000 to 120,000 hair follicles. Having a healthy scalp means you’ll also have healthy follicles, which will in turn mean you’ll have a head full of healthy and strong hair. A healthy scalp is free of tightness, irritation, redness, itchiness, pain, acne, or any form of discomfort. A healthy scalp supports the growth of healthy hair. When you have a healthy scalp you won’t experience hair problems like breakage or excessive hair loss, except there is another factor in play.

Benefits of Scalp Care

The scalp plays a key role in promoting consistent hair growth. The best way to put it is this; the health of your scalp plays a huge role in how healthy your hair will be. When you take care of your scalp and keep it healthy, it will in turn be a fertile ground for the growth of strong and healthy hair. The scalp houses the hair follicles from which our hair grows. Having great scalp care habits and making conscious efforts to keep your scalp healthy will translate to a scalp free of disruptive scalp problems like dandruff, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Leaving your scalp uncared for will eventually lead to rough hair, reduced hair shine, and hair breakage. The importance of taking adequate care of your scalp can’t be overstated, it is very important to the health of your hair.

Taking Care of Your Scalp

Scalp care isn’t rocket science, it is easy to do, all you need is the right combination of habits and scalp-friendly products. Listed below are some tips and practices that can help you take better care of your scalp.

Watch out for contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis occurs when your skin comes in contact with something that irritates it. Pay attention to how your scalp reacts to any hair care procedure and product and discontinue anything that irritates your scalp.

Talk to your healthcare provider when you notice a problem

With the right treatment, most scalp problems can be resolved. As soon as you notice any symptoms like itching, burning or flaky scalp, it’s best to visit a professional so you can know what the problem is and start working on fixing it.

Avoid harsh hair care products

As we’ve mentioned previously in this article, the scalp is also skin, it can react to harsh products and chemicals negatively. Make sure to avoid products that contain sulfates, alcohol, and fragrances. Sulfates are known to dry out the scalp and lead to irritation as they strip your hair of natural oils and remove dead skin cells. The dehydration caused by these harsh chemicals and products can lead to inflammation, leaving you with a dry, itchy, and irritated scalp. Chemicals and hair treatments like dye and bleach can also damage your hair shaft and scalp skin.

Cleanse deliberately and with care

There is a tendency to go into autopilot and scrub your scalp violently when washing your hair, this isn’t a good habit to keep for a healthy scalp. Wash your hair gently, you can massage your scalp instead of scrubbing it. It’s a gentler way to cleanse and it also increases circulation and reduces the chances of causing abrasions on your scalp. Wash your hair when it starts to feel oily, but don’t wash it too often as washing too often can strip your hair of its natural oils, leading to dryness and the problems that come with it. Also, make sure to wash the shampoo and conditioner completely out of your hair to avoid build-up on your scalp.

Don’t forget the vital role of nutrition

The food you eat plays a vital role in the health of your scalp and the look of your hair. You don’t need to drastically change your diet, all you need to do is pay attention to what you eat and make sure to eat a balanced diet. You can also take nutritional supplements like Omega-3s and fish oils.