Your hair comes from your scalp; so it only makes sense that a healthy scalp is the first step towards healthier-looking hair. Not taking preventative steps to maintain your scalp can lead to dandruff, excessive oil, hair loss, dermatitis, or even long-term acne. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to keep everything healthy up there – all it takes is a few minutes out of your regular grooming routine
- Cleanse your scalp regularly.
If you are like me, you HATE wash day. We call it wash day for a reason, it takes ALL day for most of us with curly hair. However, avoiding this task leads to oil and dirt build up which can clog the hair follicles. This keeps healthy hair from growing and can even cause hair loss.
I recommend washing or co washing hair and scalp once a week. If that is not possible, I recommend using a clarifying solution designed to clean the scalp such as Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey Protective Styling Clarifying Scalp Treatment or Shea Moisture jojoba oil & ucuuba butter no-rinse foam cleanser.
2. Massage
Scalp massage is beneficial because it helps promote good blood flow to the scalp, increases circulation, soothes nerves, and relaxes muscles. Scalp massage also promotes hair growth and luster. It feels great, too. One each week, massage the scalp with the fingertips using a firm pressure in a circular motion. Place the fingers directly on scalp to avoid pulling. Perform this exercise for three or four minutes or if you are lucky, get a loved one to do it!
3. Balanced Diet
Green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, eggs, fish, and chicken are a good source of protein that assists hair growth. Try foods rich in antioxidants such as blue berries. They boost your metabolism and improve blood circulation that is necessary for a healthy scalp.
4. Check the pH level of your shampoo
All hair products fall on a pH scale, which evaluates how chemically basic or acidic it is. The pH scale ranges from 1 to 14, with 1 being extremely acidic and 14 being extremely basic. Purified water sits in the middle at 7, and is pH neutral. Acids and bases react with one another in different ways that can produce unexpected results. The oils on your scalp are typically at a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, meaning it’s slightly acidic. This is important to keep in mind when choosing a product to use for your scalp.
I generally recommend using a shampoo that is slightly acidic to preserve the natural acidity of your skin. This is because chemicals that are basic can react with the oil on your scalp and neutralize it, which can damage the health of your skin. Look for mildly acidic ingredients like sodium citrate or citric acid as an indicator that your shampoo has balanced acidity to help preserve your natural balance.
5. Avoid product build up
Try not to pile on too many products all the time to achieve various hairstyles. Keep it simple when it comes to your hair care regimen. Too much oil, heavy creams, and greases can cause your follicles to clog up and prevent your scalp from getting the adequate moisture it needs to stimulate hair growth. Some organic oils such as olive oils can even exacerbate scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis.
6. See your medical provider if you have excessive dandruff
Excessive dandruff could mean you have a condition called seborrheic dermatitis, a fungal infection called tinea or even psoriasis. All of these conditions can cause hair loss. If you have excessive dandruff that does not respond to the usual anti dandruff remedies, it is time to see someone.
Kimberly Brown
Perfect Skin Code
