7 Trichologist tips for a healthy scalp
It seems everyone has suddenly awoken to the need for a healthy scalp, but no one really knows where to start, how to do it properly, or even what proper scalp care is. Between advice from friends, age-old practices passed down from our grandmothers and the internet, there also seems to be quite a bit of conflicting advice out there. So, to clear up the smokescreen, we’re here to give you the best simple, proven, and most widely applicable tips to help you achieve and maintain a healthier scalp.
The secret to a healthy scalp
When it comes to scalp care, for the most part, less is more. What that means is that, outside of trying to correct a specific issue, your scalp already does a pretty great job at regulating itself. After all, that’s what it was designed for. However, we know that certain factors - whether they be internal or environmental - can interfere with the scalp’s ability to thrive. As such, it’s always best to view proper scalp care as a set of practices and products that support and protect the scalp’s ability to perform optimally. It is not just an approach that overrides and sidelines the scalp entirely. Approaches that fall into the latter category are far more likely to give rise to the very scalp issues we desperately try to avoid.
How do I know if my scalp is healthy?
As a blueprint for how best to support, protect, and maintain a healthy scalp, it’s important to first establish an understanding of the things that the scalp microbiome already does to regulate itself. As an extension of the body's largest organ (your skin), the scalp runs a very delicate ship. Through the blood flowing through its highly connected vascular system, the hair gets all the nutrients from your body that it needs in order to grow. The sebaceous glands in the scalp secrete an oily substance (sebum) that conditions the hair and skin and helps it retain moisture for longer. This substance also helps to maintain an acidic pH of about 5, which is ideal to support the good bacteria on the scalp and reduce the proliferation of harmful ones. As the gateway into your body, the skin cells on the outer layer of your scalp are constantly shedding and being replaced by new fresh ones to ensure it’s putting its best foot (or better yet, cells) forward to do the job. The scalp does a lot - much of which goes unnoticed… until something happens to interfere with the delicate balance it needs.
7 tips to maintain a healthy scalp
Now that we know what it does, here are 7 ways to help support (or at the very least not disrupt) its functions and help achieve a healthier scalp.
Cleanse your scalp regularly.
The combination of product, dirt, and sebum can cause scalp build-up, leading to many unwanted scalp issues. When left uncleaned for too long, sebum can mix with all this excess debris, which at best will clog the follicles and obstruct hair growth, and at worst cause itching, flaky scalp, and sometimes even give way to pimples and infections on the scalp. Cleansing your hair and scalp at least weekly is ideal for maintaining a healthy scalp. If you’re someone who has particularly oily hair, or uses heavy styling products, the frequency of how often to wash your hair may be different.
Given that sebum does play an important role in maintaining the health of the scalp microbiome, the aim of cleansing is to remove excess sebum and not all of it. As such, it is important that in cleansing regularly, you use a sulfate-free shampoo instead of a strong sulfated cleanser, which may strip the hair entirely and leave your scalp lacking enough natural oils. Depending on your hair type, you may want to choose a co-wash instead of a traditional shampoo. An effective but conditioning co-wash like the Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash is a great option for keeping the hair and scalp clean and conditioned regularly. For a complete routine, you should interchange with a regular cleanser such as Essential Moisture Cleanser and also use more intensive clarifying shampoos, like the Wash & Scrub Detox Pro-Biotic. That can take place less frequently - every 4-5 washes.
Avoid keeping your hair wet for longer periods of time.
We all love our curls freshly washed and moisturized, but sitting around with wet hair (and a wet scalp by proxy) is the perfect breeding ground for unwanted bacteria on the scalp (and it may also make your hair go into a moisture overload). If you’ve ever thrown your soaking wet hair into a bun, or sat with conditioner in your hair for several hours, you will likely have experienced an itchy scalp. This is an example of the irritation the scalp experiences as a result of bacterial growth, and it goes to show just how quickly the effects of bacteria will occur. Most bacteria thrive in a neutral pH, which also happens to be that of water. Allowing your hair and scalp to dry properly after cleansing will let it return to its acidic pH, which is ideal for scalp health and unsuitable for unwanted bacteria.
Avoid oiling your scalp.
This one is tough for many of us who grew up doing the opposite. The Malassezia fungus has a strong causal link to the onset of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis and depends on oils to survive and thrive. They already have an affinity for sebum, which is why it’s always advised to shampoo to remove excess, so adding more oil to their breeding ground can make it worse. Whilst pre-shampoo oil treatments can be helpful since they are washed away, leaving oils on the scalp after washing can easily supercharge existing inflammation or give rise to new ones, together with itching and/or flaking.
Use oil-free scalp products if your scalp is dehydrated.
After being told not to apply and leave oils on the scalp, the next logical question is, “So what do I use on it if I have a dry scalp?”. Firstly, it’s important to note that contrary to what many of us grew up accustomed to, your scalp doesn’t need to glisten for us to know it is sufficiently lubricated! An easy test to see whether your scalp has enough lubrication is pressing a clean/dry finger into your scalp. You should see a slightly oily sheen on your finger that you can also feel when you rub your fingers together. Should your scalp actually be dehydrated, opt for scalp serums and treatments that contain oil-free humectants like glycerin, allantoin, and/or hyaluronic acid that have been proven to improve the scalp’s barrier function and boost its moisture retention abilities. The Scalp Stimulating Booster & Full Lengths Density Elixir contains a high glycerin content and is a great step to add to your daily scalp care.
Boost blood flow.
Consider this one a bonus. The cherry on top of the cake. One of your scalp’s jobs is to get the nutrients from the blood and use them to aid hair growth. Where there is insufficient blood circulation, this means the hair follicles are not getting enough of the nutrients they need to produce good quality hairs. Massaging the scalp regularly is a great way to easily increase scalp circulation. The use of a topical scalp serum that includes ingredients known to boost blood circulation to the scalp can also go some ways to maximize the growth of healthy hair from the scalp. The Full Lengths Density Elixir serum contains a blend of stimulating natural extracts and clinically proven hair growth support actives that help the scalp follicles produce denser, thicker, and fuller hairs over time.
Consider investing in a water filter/softener.
If you live in an area with mineral-treated water, the calcium and magnesium in it can react with ingredients in your shampoos - and even with your sebum - leaving residue that can clog the follicles and irritate your scalp. A good filter will pull out the metals from the water before it touches your hair and scalp, leaving you with softer water that can help clean and hydrate your scalp.
How to support a healthy scalp
Some of these things may require bigger changes to your current regimen than others. But many of them you can implement easily without having to do more than making a conscious effort to avoid certain things. The key isn’t to be 8-for-8 in your first couple weeks and gradually fall back into old patterns, but rather to pick the easiest ones, be consistent with them, and work your way up to making more habits that will be better for the health of your scalp in the now and also long term.
