Our hair and its growth have a significant impact on our appearance. It has its tricky way of making us look young or old, depending on what hairstyles we want. Some people dye their hair, altering their natural hair color, which also impacts their overall appearance. However, hair dyes, pollution, and other factors can affect hair and scalp health. Several videos on the internet teach us the proper way of caring for the hair and scalp. But it is overwhelming to delve into all of these pieces of information at once; that is why we are here to help.
As they say, scalp care is the new skincare. So let us jump into it!
What causes hair and scalp damage?
Healthy hair growth begins with a healthy scalp. You must check your scalp first if you desire healthy, volumized hair. The most common causes of scalp irritation are head lice, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis, and psoriasis. How do all of these potentially deteriorate our scalp?
- Lice: Lice are an unpleasant but common part of childhood. Statistics show that more than 12 million Americans get lice yearly, and most cases are aged between 3 and 11. They feed on blood and propagate when females lay eggs on the scalp.
- Dandruff: Dandruff is white flakes caused by built-up shedding dead skin and excessive oil. Although it is non-transferable and unharmful, it can cause bothersome itchiness. Experts recommend having two to three products to address dandruff situations.
- Folliculitis: This condition is an infection or inflammation of the hair follicle typically caused by bacteria. The follicles are irritated from makeup, shaving, and clothing.
- Seborrheic dermatitis: This condition is a mild form of dandruff, but in worse cases, you can witness excess oil and scalp reddening. You may also see crusty and greasy scales between your eyebrows and around your ears and nose.
- Psoriasis: Psoriasis can appear anywhere, although it often happens on the scalp. The condition causes the body to produce excessive new skin cells, which can build up from crusted and thick scales which feel sore or itchy.
Why do you need hair and scalp care?
Although mostly left unnoticed, the scalp is a complex part of the skin which holds thousands of hair follicles. Taking care of our scalp and hair is vital because they age and are bound to face changes like any facial and body parts do. Like our faces, scalps can get dry, oily, and flaky and may even develop pimples. Your scalp needs are active as they will also change over time, like our skin needs.
Neglecting scalp needs may affect your hair growth from a small to large scale. It can start from dandruff or oil-build-up problems to hair loss. If not appropriately addressed, daily hair breakage, soreness, and itchy scalp can get uncomfortable. If you have curly hair, surface-level effects of improper scalp care include leaving your curls looking dry, lackluster, and limp.
What are healthy routines for hair and scalp care?
We want to avoid going into the abyss of hair and scalp treatment and are not gatekeepers of all the information you need! So here are ten healthy routines for healthy hair and scalp!
- Identify your scalp type: Like identifying our skin type, whether dry or oily, scalp type must also be identified, as this will be your starting point. As you pick products for your hair, observe how your scalp reacts to the treatment. Determining scalp type will dictate the products you need and their frequency.
- Wash your hair in the morning: Washing your hair before leaving your house will start a clean coat, ready for any hairstyle. However, you should skip washing your hair every day. On days when you decide to wash it, wash it in the morning.
- Moisturize: Moisturizing your hair does not risk whatever scalp type you have. There are several types of moisturizers in the market and experts suggest looking for products with ingredients like glycerin because this will help your scalp seal and attract moisture. You can start by testing out subtle to strong products depending on where your scalp adopts.
- Use a trusted conditioner: Using a conditioner is the basis of hair and scalp care. As we know, using shampoo alone is insufficient because it makes the hair dry after removing excess dirt and oil. A good, trusted conditioner keeps your hair smooth, moisturized, and soft all day.
- Oil: Hair oils vary in viscosities. Lightweight hair oils are absorbed to hydrate the scalp from within, while heavy hair oils seal moisture, simultaneously soothing itchiness and dryness in the scalp. Oil is essential; however, ensure to rinse it off properly as oil build-up can cause dandruff.
- Exfoliate: Like our skin on the face, the scalp also develops dead skin build-up. Especially when you have curly hair, you are most probably dealing with high-maintenance products. To have healthy hair, you must exfoliate leftover products and dead skin before going into a scalp conditioner and shampoo.
- Brush with a wide-toothed comb: In detangling your hair, experts recommend using a wide-tooth brush or comb because this prevents hair loss. It easily glides through your strands without damaging your roots. You may start brushing the tips initially before moving up.
- Deep treat: Deep conditioning treatment focuses more on the hair itself. But aside from this, the scalp also benefits from the additional moisturizing ingredients from deep treatments. You may also want to add moisturizer with Coconut formula, especially if you have an itchy scalp or need to balance the hair oil.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking water may not be directly connected to keeping a healthy scalp and hair, but water intake does a lot for our skin and scalp. It keeps your skin soft and glowing and makes your hair healthy and moisturized despite exposure to the elements.
- Acknowledge seasonal adjustments: As mentioned earlier, our scalp needs may differ, so you must acknowledge and adjust your hair and scalp care. Choose products and remember how they affect your scalp seasonally.
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Are you ready to get the best out of your scalp and hair? Contact the best cosmetology school in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA!
