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Many people consider skin care and hair care to be part of their daily routine, but the intersection of the two – scalp care – is often overlooked. Now that everyone is talking about “hair scabbing”, many people are realizing that they never thought about scalp care and the role it plays in hair health. 4 scalp care tips recommended by experts.
The market is full of products these days that claim to help treat your scalp, but if you jump right in, you could end up doing more harm than good. So we spoke to leading trichologists to cut through the noise and give you the advice you really need.
Luxury Australian brand Straand is one of the pioneers in hair skinning – if you’re not familiar with their award-winning Crown Fix Scalp Serum (£20, Straandscalpcare.com), you should be, so it was only natural to consult the brand’s trichologist, Chelcey Salinger (executive director of the International Association of Trichologists), to find out more.
Closer to home, we spoke to London-based trichologist Tiffany Hall and Natalia Souza, a high-fashion hairstylist turned trichologist and founder of Reflect Hair Clinic. Here’s what they had to say:
Why is scalp care important?
According to Souza, scalp health is the foundation for hair growth and overall hair quality: “Neglecting scalp health can lead to clogged hair follicles, inflammation, and impaired hair growth cycles, ultimately affecting hair density, texture, and lifespan.”
She also explained how important scalp care is to avoid common scalp conditions: “A healthy scalp ensures an optimal environment for hair follicles, preventing problems like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis that can stunt hair growth and cause hair loss.”
“Proper scalp care helps regulate sebum production, maintains the scalp’s pH balance, and increases blood circulation, all of which are essential for nourishing the hair roots,” says Souza.
Scalp Cleansing
While people are trending towards shampooing less frequently, it’s important to keep your scalp clean with regular washing (two to three times a week for most hair types). Souza says the easiest way to improve your scalp health is to “keep it clean and well moisturized with a mild, pH-balanced shampoo.” This will help remove excess oil, dirt, and product buildup that can clog hair follicles.
If you haven’t used a pH balanced shampoo before, try something like Grow Gorgeous Balanced pH Balanced Shampoo (£14, Lookfantastic.com).
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Choose a mild shampoo such as Glow Gorgeous Balanced pH Balanced Shampoo (Lookfantastic).
Don’t overlook pH levels, either: Hall echoes Souza, recommending, “Use a shampoo with a pH level of around 5.5 (the skin’s natural pH level), which will help keep your scalp microbiome healthy.”
When you shower, opt for lukewarm water rather than hot, as heat can dry out your scalp and hair, warns Souza. “When your scalp is too hot, you sweat more, which affects your scalp’s pH level and throws off your microbial balance,” adds Salinger.
One more tip? Souza recommends a shower filter to prevent dryness, which can be a game changer, especially in areas with hard water. The Hello Klean Shower Filter (£65, Amazon.co.uk) is worth a try.
How does nutrition and diet affect the scalp?
Diet plays a big role in scalp health: “Eating a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients such as biotin, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids can provide proper hair follicle nutrition, further supporting scalp health and promoting stronger, healthier hair growth,” says Souza.
But diet has a multifaceted impact, as gut health itself can affect your hair. “Eat plenty of fiber (fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains) and protein, and keep refined sugar out of your diet,” advises Salinger. “This will help create the right microbiome in your gut, which will impact your overall health, including scalp health.”
An unhealthy diet can cause inflammation in the body, which experts say is a common cause of scalp ailments. As well as ensuring a healthy diet, you could also invest in some hair gummies such as Hair Gain (£29.99, Cultbeauty.co.uk) to give your strands a boost.
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Hairgain hair gummies are said to improve hair health (Cult Beauty)
The importance of circulation
Blood circulation is essential to keep your scalp and hair follicles nourished and oxygenated. Hall recommends regular scalp brushing and scalp masks, while Souza prefers a good old-fashioned scalp massage. “Promoting optimal scalp circulation with regular scalp massages can help improve the supply of nutrients to hair follicles, promoting healthy hair growth and reducing the risk of thinning hair.”
There are a number of scalp massage brushes and tools available to aid this process, including from companies like Aveda (£27.99, Johnlewis.com) and Freatech (£5.99, Amazon.co.uk).
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Freatech’s Stimulating Scalp Massager might be just the tool you need (Amazon)
There are lots of great products out there, but be careful not to overuse them; products that are too heavy can clog pores. When introducing scalp serums, oils, and masks, it may be best to try them in small doses. “Using the wrong conditioner can over-treat your scalp. The market is flooded with products claiming to do different things, and trying too many at once can irritate your scalp,” says X.
A weekly scalp mask is Hall’s top tip for scalp health, but if you have scalp problems, she says it’s important to choose the right mask to avoid aggravating your condition – Philip Kingsley’s Density Stimulating Scalp Mask (£25, Amazon.co.uk) is worth a try.
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Philip Kingsley’s Density Stimulating Scalp Mask is said to be suitable for all hair types (Amazon)
What to avoid
As well as knowing what to do to improve your scalp health, it’s also worth paying attention to the habits you should avoid: “Frequent hair colouring and overuse of harsh chemical treatments such as relaxers can damage the scalp’s protective barrier, leading to irritation and burning,” says Souza.
“Using hot heat styling tools without protection can dry out and irritate the scalp,” she adds, “Repeated use of tight hairstyles such as ponytails or braids can create tension and damage hair follicles, leading to conditions such as traction alopecia, which can also leave scarring.”
To protect your hair when using heat styling tools, it’s always a good idea to use a heat protection spray, and our reviewers rated Pureology Colour Fanatic Multitasking Leave-In Spray (£31.20, Lookfantastic.com) as their top recommendation.
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Pureology Color Fanatic Multitasking Leave-In Spray is designed to protect your hair (Lookfantastic)
Now you’re all set: a healthy scalp is yours! If you’re still experiencing itching, irritation, or dryness after following the tips above, Hall recommends seeing a professional straight away. “If left untreated, these issues can affect the health of your hair and develop into a chronic condition,” she explains.
For more ways to get strong, shiny hair, check out our review of the best hair oils for every hair type and budget.
