When it comes to hair wellness, it all starts with the scalp. Your hair health may express itself through the strands, which are, to be fair, the most visible expression of hair wellness. But the experts agree: Hair health starts with scalp health.
A dry, flaky or itchy scalp can’t support the growth of healthy, lively hair; the two always go hand in hand. You should tend to your hair and scalp the same way you would care for the rest of your skin (seriously, ask any dermatologist!). If you don't incorporate both your scalp and hair into your hair care routine, you may face problems with dandruff, dead skin buildup at the hair follicles and other conditions that can affect how your hair looks and feels. Here's what you need to know to give your scalp the extra TLC it deserves.
Your Scalp Is Skin Too
Caring for your scalp involves just as much effort as you put into your everyday skincare routine. Yes, you read that right! If you think about it, your scalp is skin too. So why wouldn’t you treat it the same way?
"Providing scalp care is just as important as providing skincare," says dermatologist Dr. Robert Goldman. "A scalp is an extension of the face. Compared to other parts of the body, the scalp is oilier, has sweat glands, and contains hair follicles, but it has a weaker barrier. Additionally, the scalp ages six times faster than the rest of the body."
Although you don't have to do a 10-step nighttime skincare routine on your head, a healthy scalp routine takes more than just washing your hair. Dr. Goldman recommends that taking good care of your scalp starts with cleansing, balancing and moisturizing it. To prevent dry, itchy scalps, one must cleanse the scalp regularly (at least thrice a week) and moisturize it with a scalp-compatible moisturizer.
To that end, using a shampoo and conditioner that are formulated without parabens, phthalates and sulfates found in many harsh drugstore shampoos is important. VEGAMOUR's GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner specifically support your scalp's natural functions with gentle, all-vegan formulas that condition, hydrate, and combat free radicals without leaving behind pore-blocking residue.
If you're experiencing specific hair concerns, such as a buildup of dead skin cells, elevated oil production, scalp psoriasis or itchiness, which can be caused by sebum buildup at the roots, Dr. Goldman says exfoliation is key.
To help, apply a pre-shampoo treatment, such as a detoxifying scalp serum. GRO Scalp Detoxifying Serum is formulated with a proprietary vegan silk protein.
Approximately 5 to 10 minutes after applying the detoxifying serum, rinse your hair and scalp, then follow up with shampoo and conditioner to complete a complete scalp-care wash day routine.
Related: How to Exfoliate Your Scalp
How A Healthy Scalp Creates Healthy-Looking Hair
As Dr. Goldman puts it, "Beautiful hair depends on a healthy scalp." But the steps we take to style our hair daily can sometimes work against our scalp health over the long term, leading to unwanted scalp problems or conditions.
Hair grows from follicles, with each strand originating at an individual follicle on your scalp. These follicles also produce an oil-like substance known as sebum, which helps maintain a healthy hair texture. When the scalp isn't cared for, the follicles can become surrounded by a buildup of product, oil or dead skin.
For example, many people finish their hair care routine with sprays or styling gels, which can build up over time. And if you're using shampoos or other daily hair care products with harsh chemical formulas, that buildup can combine with dead skin and oil to unbalance the scalp's pH and surround the hair follicles, which is part of why regular, gentle cleansing matters so much.
The bottom line is that the healthier your scalp is, the healthier your hair looks and feels, regardless of texture. Whether you have super fine hair or tightly coiled strands, keeping your scalp clean, hydrated and nourished with every wash supports the best possible foundation for your hair.
If you notice that your hair is dull, flat, limp (or just not in its best shape), take time to analyze your scalp a little extra that day. Chances are that you’ll notice your scalp is lacking some hydration, and you might also be experiencing some flakiness, which is an early warning sign of flagging scalp health.
Shop: GRO Balance & Boost Kit
Caring for Your Scalp Means Investing In Better Products
As you begin to pay closer attention to your scalp health, you'll learn to recognize the early warning signs that a product might not be the right fit for you. You'll learn which ingredients tend to trigger dryness and flakes, and which ones support a comfortable, balanced-feeling scalp, all of which are part of what makes hair look and feel its best.
The best part? All of our products can be used in tandem. When it comes to scalp care, choosing gentle, plant-based formulas over harsh chemical ones is one of the best things you can do for your routine.
Scalp Care Is Self-Care
Caring for it the way you'd care for the skin on your face pays off for your hair and for your skin. Here's one more tip: alongside your targeted hair care products, a daily scalp massage is a nice moment of self-care that many of our customers look forward to.
Give yourself some self-care with a daily scalp massage (which can actually help with hair growth) using the pads of your fingers. Or better yet, use a scalp massager designed exactly for this purpose, which will not only help stimulate blood flow but also help work in any shampoos, conditioners, serums or foams you use.
A healthy scalp equals beautiful hair, so it's important you don't spend all your time on one only to ignore the other!
More From VEGAMOUR
- Shop: Ashley Petrone's Top VEGAMOUR Picks
- How to Moisturize Your Scalp
- Dry Scalp But Oily Hair? Try This
- How to Detox Your Scalp
Photo credit: Ceejay Talam/Pexels
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