5 Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Scalp

Everyone wants luscious, shiny hair and there are a million products to improve the quality of your mane. But there is something else that is at the root of it all: A healthy scalp.

The over-or underproduction of sebum, an oil that keeps our scalp lubricated, is the reason for the most commons scalp issues. Scalp conditions can fluctuate, leading to problems with hair growth, hair thinning, flaking, and other scalp issues. 

There has been more consciousness about our scalp deserving as much care as the rest of our skin. According to research by Philip Kingsley 42 per cent of the UK population are conscious about a scalp issue. 

The most common scalp disorders are dandruff, visible, white flakes of shed skin,eczema which can appear anywhere on the body as itchy, red-to-brown rashes with small raised bumps and Psoriasis which is chronic inflammatory condition that arises when the body fails to shed skin cells at a normal rate, causing a buildup. 

Our scalp is also sensitive to many other circumstances ranging from stress to pollution. Other factors that can have an impact on scalp health are the hairstyles you wear and how you wash. The extent to which hair follicles and the scalp are healthy, clean and maintained will have an impact on the quality of hair growth. 

But what can be done to achieve maximum scalp health? 
 

1. Exfoliate 


 

‘Permanently blocked or obstructed follicles may eventually cease to produce hair at all. It is essential that dead skin is removed by brushing or washing, but also by weekly exfoliation, celebrated hairdresser and certified trichologist Guy Parsons has told Harper’s Bazaar. 

Some products that have received excellent reviews for this are the 'Perfect Shine Clarifying Scalp Scrub' by Naturelab Tokyo and the ‘Crushing it Scalp & Body Scrub’ by We are Paradoxx. 
 

2. Be gentle with your scalp


 

What measures to take will depend on the type of scalp condition you have. Sometimes these hairy problems are simply the result of dry skin. In that case it is key to preserve moisture. For this, use lukewarm instead of hot water to allow more moisturizing sebum to remain on your scalp. Also, refrain from using heat and don't use a blow dryer or hair straightener to style your hair. Limiting chemical treatments such as coloring can also help to improve scalp health.
 

3. Less is more 
 

Washing your hair too often may also cause scalp issues. By shampooing your hair frequently you strip it of its natural oils. As a result your scalp may produce more oils to keep the skin hydrated which results in greasy-looking strands. To balance out the oil production try to increase the time in-between washes. 

 
4. Massaging 
 

Something else that may help is massaging your scalp when you wash your hair to stimulate blood circulation and gently remove buildup. But beware using your nails too vigorously can lead to an inflammation of the skin and cause entry points for bacteria. 
 

5. Vitamin bomb 
 

Ensuring you get a sufficient intake of vitamins through a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables can also support your body in producing new, healthy cells and maintaining a healthy scalp. Vitamin C which can be found for example in citrus fruit, strawberries, broccoli and spinach can help to heal damaged or dry skin. Foods that are rich in vitamin E, such as nuts, seeds, leafy greens and sweet red pepper can help to reduce inflammation by making up for a lack of sebum.

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