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Why Scalp Care Is The New Skincare
Your Scalp care should be an extension of your skincare routine. Think of it as skinification of Hair- party of your beauty routine.
According to a study by the L’Oréal Professional Academy, the scalp ages up to six times faster than facial skin because of exposure, harsh chemicals, product build-up, and more which means our scalp should be a priority.
SKIN-IFICATION of hair means treating your hair with the same care as your face, with formulas that use skincare-grade ingredients normally reserved for skincare products.
Your head of hair is dependent on your scalp. To understand the health of our hair, you need to look at the root of the problem. You will have shinier, stronger, and fuller locks if your scalp is healthy. This post contains direct affiliate links that don’t cost you anything- just a way to save you time and money.
Why Is The Scalp Health Getting So Much Attention These Days?
A lot of attention is being paid to scalp health these days for a variety of reasons. People now know that a healthy scalps lead to healthy hair. Pinterest came out with the 2023 trends and suggests that they are seeing a sudden interest in searches about “scalp treatment” , “clean scalp” and scalp care routine to achieve a healthy scalp.
Another reason hair health products are flooding the market, is based on pandemic stress to genetics . The Covid virus is also known to cause temporary hair loss.
The issue of women’s hair loss is showing up everywhere. More commonly, women with thinning hair are turning to a combination of oral nutritional supplements and topical creams, serums, and shampoos that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Drugstore brands from L’Oréal to Rejoice have introduced “anti-hairfall” ranges.
The importance of scalp health is catching on,” says Jen Atkin, whose newly launched Ouai Anti-Dandruff Shampoo contains salicylic acid to reduce flaking and soothe inflammation. “Scalp care is essential to achieving shiny, healthy hair.”
If you want to look your best you want to have healthy hair and maybe a new sexy hair cut, color or hair style but first things first!
What Is A Healthy Scalp ?
A healthy scalp has a balance of oils and moisture, a proper pH level, and is free from irritants and infections. A healthy scalp also promotes blood flow to the hair follicles, which can lead to stronger, thicker, and more vibrant hair.
A healthy crown has no signs of redness, irritation, dryness, flakiness, or buildup. It’s not inflamed or tender to the touch. A healthy scalp is easy to take for granted, simply because it’s comfortable and has no visible or physical issues.
HOW TO GET A HEALTHY SCALP
Salon Owner, LifeStyle Brand and YouTuber Joni Levi says, “before you consider a new hair style make sure you make that your hair integrity and health is foremost.” This starts with the scalp.
1. Go Clean- Use All Natural Products
Use sulfate-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free products that are all natural and can have a significant impact on your scalp health. The hair care industry has recently introduced some exciting new scalp-specific products that that will help you no matter what kind of scalp type you have.
Cult hair and beauty brand Ouai launched a scalp serum and vegan supplement capsules for thinning hair in May 2022. The Scalp Serum and Thick & Full Supplements utilize well-known haircare ingredients including peptides, biotin, hyaluronic acid, and pea sprout extracts to nourish hair strength and promote growth.
Quai Supplements
Amazon
The (for thinning hair)supplements are made with biotin,amino acids, keratin and ashwagandha to reduce cortisol in the body.
OUAI Scalp Serum
Amazon
for Thicker and Healthier Looking Hair, Balancing, Hydrating Formula for Fuller Looking Hair, 2 Fl Oz
The Nue Co, a UK based company just launched a popular new supplements for hair shedding and a fab new product called Super Thick Scalp Treatment. It’s vegan based and is known to increase hair growth and reduce dry scalp.
2. Treat your Scalp Like Your Face
Include your scalp in your daily skincare regimes. The same rule applies to your face as it does to your scalp.
Exfoliate and Moisturize The Scalp
This includes exfoliating. If you have a dry flaky scalp, it means you have build of skin on your scalp. For instance, dry shampoo products tend to build up on our hair and scalp. Yuck, I know that sounds gross, but it’s natural. Use natural exfoliating scrubs.
- Scalp Exfoliants: Scrubs or brushes, can help remove dead skin cells and build-up from the scalp, promoting healthy hair growth. Such as the Nue Company’s Super Thick Scalp Treatment.
Best Ways To Moisturize Your Scalp:
- Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner: Look for products that contain ingredients such as glycerin, shea butter, and coconut oil, which can help hydrate the scalp and hair like Qui’s Fine Shampoo.
- Apply a scalp oil or serum: Oils such as coconut, argan, and castor oil can be massaged into the scalp to provide moisture.Natural ingredients found in products we use every day on our skin such as apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil and aloe, we can find these ingredients in scalp serums.
- Use a leave-in conditioner: Leave-in conditioners can help add moisture to the hair and scalp, and can also provide protection from heat styling.
- Hot oil treatment: heating natural oils like coconut oil, olive oil, or castor oil, then massaging them into the scalp can help moisturize and nourish the scalp.
- Use a humidifier: dry air can cause dryness of the scalp and hair. Running a humidifier in your bedroom or home can help add moisture to the air and keep your scalp hydrated.
- Try a scalp mask – Scalp masks may lock in moisture
Leave In Treatments: Look for leave-in treatments that contain ingredients like biotin, which can help strengthen and nourish hair, or panthenol, which can help moisturize the scalp.
3. Eat Healthy Foods & Take Supplements That Are Good For Your Scalp
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Foods such as salmon, mackerel, and flaxseeds are rich in omega-3s, which can help reduce inflammation and promote healthy hair growth.
- Vitamin C: Foods such as oranges, kiwi, and strawberries are high in vitamin C, which can help boost collagen production and promote a healthy scalp.
- Vitamin E: Foods such as almonds, avocado, and sweet potatoes are high in vitamin E, which can help nourish the scalp and promote healthy hair growth.
- Iron: Foods such as red meat, leafy greens, and beans are high in iron, which can help improve blood flow to the scalp and promote healthy hair growth.
- Biotin: Biotin is a B vitamin that can be found in foods such as eggs, nuts, and berries, which can support hair growth.
- Zinc: Oysters, beef, chickpeas and pumpkin seeds are excellent sources of zinc that can help promote healthy hair growth.
- Protein: Hair comprises keratin, a protein. Eating enough protein in your diet can support healthy hair growth and maintain the strength of your hair.
It’s worth noting that taking supplements should be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional, as some supplements can interact with certain medications or have side effects.
4. Get Your Beauty Sleep On A Silk Pillowcase
Silk pillowcases are believed to be good for your hair because they are less abrasive than cotton pillowcases. Silk is a smooth fabric that can help prevent hair breakage and damage caused by friction, which can occur when hair rubs against rough surfaces while you sleep.
Silk is less absorbent than cotton, which can help keep your hair’s natural oils and moisture intact, leaving your hair less dry and more moisturized. Silk pillowcases may also help to reduce frizz and tangling.
Most Common Scalp Issues For Adults
If you have any of these issues, you have an unhealthy scalp. Scalp problems are no joke and not fun.
- Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seb derm, as most derms call it, is one of the most common scalp conditions. In babies, it’s called cradle cap; in adults, it causes red, itchy patches with greasy scale or dandruff in an adult.
- Hair Loss
If you notice your hair breaking or shedding, or you see bald spots on your scalp, make an appointment to get evaluated by a health care provider immediately. The provider may run blood work to evaluate for anemia, vitamin deficiency, thyroid abnormalities, irregular hormone levels and autoimmune markers.
Hair Loss As A Result Of Covid
One of the side effects of Covid that some people are now learning is loss of hair. It didn’t occur to me that Covid was a big contributing factor when my hairdresser noticed the lack of fullness and hair at the nape of my neck. This may be another reason that the level of attention to hair growth concerns is on the rise.
- Dry Flaky and Itchy Scalp
A dry, flaky or itchy scalp can’t support the growth of healthy 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 wellness routine, you may face problems with dandruff, dead skin buildup at the hair follicles, and other conditions that can lead to hair loss.
A healthy scalp also helps to prevent dandruff, itching, and other scalp conditions. The scalp is home to thousands of hair follicles and sebaceous glands that produce oil to keep the hair and scalp moisturized.
- Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition caused by an overproduction of skin cells, causing the skin to become red and flaky. Its most defining feature is the scaly white or yellow patches on the scalp that develop. You can get psoriasis anywhere on the body, including the scalp.
- Ringworm
Despite the name, ringworm has nothing to do with worms. It’s an infection that leaves round, scaly, red rashes and patches of hair loss on the scalp.
- Folliculitis
Folliculitis is an inflammation or infection of the hair follicle, the sac that contains the root of the hair. It’s usually caused by bacteria (usually staphylococcus) that find their way into the hair follicles from a nearby infection.
Most Frequently Asked Questions About Your Scalp
Experts say there is no right answer for this question. It depends on your scalp & hair type, if you have a normal, dry or sensitive scalp, then a couple of times a week is probably sufficient. .If you have an oily/greasy hair, then you will need to wash more often. The thicker your hair and the less oil you have, the less you should shampoo.
It is important to choose the right hair care product. Shop for shampoos that are made for your hair type. Look for all natural toxic free hair products sourced with high-quality ingredients that contain pure plant oils and botanical extracts. Talk to your hairdresser if you don’t know.
The answer is yes, most people need to apply for a conditioner because shampoo is very drying and could leave your hair brittle if you don’t use a high-quality conditioner.
There is dandruff and dry scalp, two different things.
Our skin is covered in millions of organisms. Many factors contribute to dandruff. Factors include stress, diet, hormonal fluctuations and not washing the scalp enough can disrupt this barrier, allowing microbes to multiply, leading to excessive shedding of skin cells, known as dandruff.
Dandruff is also referred to by the name Seborrheic dermatitis and is more to do with excess oils, causing an overgrowth of a yeast. Making sure you shampoo regularly and choosing a product with botanical ingredients that cleanse and eliminate microbes will help to keep the scalp clean and free of dandruff.
A dry scalp is usually due to loss of hydration and oils from the scalp and can be caused by the application of unsuitable shampoos, illness, medication, environmental conditions and varying lifestyle factors. Just like dry flaky skin on the rest of your body, you need to moisturize.
There are signs and symptoms of itching and irritation in the head.
Use all natural products that will nourish and protect your hair. Eat well and take supplements that contain natural oils. Use hair masks often as well.
It is normal for both men and women to lose between 50-100 hairs per day. On average, your hair grows about 1 centimetre (half an inch) each month.
Your skin contains hair follicles, which are where hair grows. There is a growth phase for 3-6 years and a rest phase for 2 to 4 months. After this, the hair falls out. In its place, a new healthy hair begins to grow, and the cycle is repeated. It is normal to lose hair on your head every day because the hairs are always in different stages.
The post Why Scalp Care Is The Hottest New Hair Trend in 2023-the new skincare appeared first on Gal Pal Lifestyle Blog.
