It’s no exaggeration to suggest that scalp care is the new skincare. Haircare and skincare companies have been adjusting their attention in recent years to create hybrid solutions that attempt to maintain the hair and scalp healthy.
For good reason, the personal care industry is flooded with such products today: the skin on your head is just as important to care for from the skin on the remainder of the body. You’re probably thinking if your shampoo and conditioner routine is adequate at this point. The quick answer is yes, it can be if you do it correctly. We enlisted the help of specialists to decipher the ins and outs of scalp care.
Why Scalp Health Matters
Your hair’s health is inextricably linked to the health of your scalp. “It’s like the soil in which the plant — or, in this case, your hair — develops,” explains Benjamin Paul, MD, a double board certified face plastic surgeon and surgeon director at HairCareMD in New York City. While the skin of your face is an outgrowth of the scalp, it is thicker and supports roughly 100,000 hair follicles.
SundayIISunday, a newly released hair care company, discovered that the scalp ages six times faster than the skin on your face and body through brand study. Even with a head full of hair, “given the position on the body, it’s more susceptible to direct environmental impacts on a more frequent basis,” brand manager McKenzie Harris adds.
How to Care for the Scalp
It’s critical to begin caring for your scalp as soon as possible, just like the rest of your skin. After all, preventing damage is significantly easier than repairing it. Scalp care is frequently developed to cure and prevent issues including dryness, flaking, product buildup, thinning, and even hair loss, rather than the fine lines and hyperpigmentation that skincare often addresses.
Your scalp requires some TLC in order to work properly. Using scalp stimulation to remove debris, grime, and oil on a regular basis should be part of any hair care routine to keep the hair healthy. Brushing and shampooing your hair on a regular basis is a good start. However, the frequency with which you do so is determined by the amount of sebum (oil) produced by your body.
As far as shampoo goes, Dr. Paul has these recommendations based on a patient’s scalp type:
You may be shampooing too frequently if your scalp is dry. Reduce your shampooing to two to three times per week and add moisture to your hair with a scalp serum or oil (more on that below!).
Oily Scalp: If you have an oily scalp, washing your hair more frequently may help. Use conditioner solely on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair and find a shampoo that doesn’t claim to be moisturizing.’
Sensitive Scalp: The temperature of the water you use in the shower has an effect on the health of your scalp. It’s ideal to use cool or lukewarm water, especially when using a light shampoo.
Itchy Scalp: Make an appointment with your dermatologist for an evaluation if you are experiencing irritation or discomfort on your scalp.
However, scalp care entails more than just shampooing. Brushing is also important. Ted Gibson, the famous hairdresser, salon owner, and founder of Starring by Ted Gibson claim, “That old wives tale of brushing your hair and scalp 100 times before going to bed truly works.” “It aids in the distribution of your own natural oils throughout your hair as well as stimulating the scalp, which I believe is one of the most crucial aspects of scalp care.”
Products for Scalp Care
On the product front, there’s a fresh crop of scalp-specific products on the market, ranging from serums and oils to exfoliants and masks. “[Customers] are searching for high-performance scalp and hair care products in a variety of formats and functionalities that mimic skincare,” Harris says. A handful of our favorite entrants are listed below:
SERUM: SUNDAY II SUNDAY SOOTHE ME DAILY SCALP SERUM
Try this scalp serum blended with peppermint oil and ginseng to soothe and hydrate a dry, itchy scalp. Massage the lightweight tonic into your scalp with your fingertips (not your nails!) every morning or evening, wet or dry hair. It also aids in the alleviation of strain caused by protective styles such as braids. $28,
Shampoo: Neutrogena healthy scalp shampoo
Neutrogena recently released a line of four shampoos with distinct skincare elements to address various scalp types. Pink grapefruit is used to clarify & shine to help balance oil, while hydro boost contains hyaluronic acid (ha) for extra moisture. Because they’re ph-balanced and soft, you can use them on a regular basis without damaging your hair. Walmart.com, $9 conditioner: dove derma care scalp dryness & itch relief conditioner
This Dove conditioner, which is marketed as a dandruff treatment, is light enough to massage into your scalp and has hydrating elements that reduce dryness and itching. The composition is sure to relieve a dry scalp, dandruff or no dandruff. $7,
OIL: LEONOR GREYL RÉGÉNERESCENCE NATURELLE
Apply this roller-ball mixture to your scalp twice a week, massage it with your hands, and leave it on for 15 minutes before shampooing. To help strengthen your locks, the pre-wash treatment comprises a blend of oils like borage and mimosa tenuiflora. $40.
