Have you ever woken up on a Monday morning, taken your shower, and you’re getting ready to do your make-up; as you look at the mirror, you realize that you have a bunch of split ends, your hair lacks volume, and it’s simply a mess?
Ugh!! 😩 Yup, we’ve all had those kinds of days.
When we talk about hair, we mostly talk about hair moisture, hair shaft, hair porosity, hair retention, but we neglect to talk about the foundation….the scalp.
We wouldn’t have our hair if it wasn’t for our scalp. So that is why we believe that it’s very important to talk about it. Everything starts at the root, in order to have healthy hair, you need a healthy scalp.
The science
Let’s get some scientific basis out of the way before we get to the juicy part.
The scalp is divided into three different layer:
- The epidermis which is the top layer, this is the layer we work with on a daily basis
- The dermis, the middle, is the layer that contains the collagen protein that helps to strengthen and support your skin.
- And lastly the lower layer, the subcutaneous layer protects the dense supply of blood vessels and fatty tissue of the scalp.
Our scalp needs to be nourished to allow it to produce healthy hair. That's why we have to make sure we take good care of it.
How to take care of your scalp?
Let’s talk about how to keep your scalp clean, moisturized, and less rigid.
Did you know that many factors can disturbed the health of the scalp?
Things like stress, product buildup, the weather, pollution, dietary deficiency, hormones, and medications. Just to name a few.
Clean your scalp at least once a month to get rid of the product buildup.
You might be thinking to yourself that you don’t apply products directly on your scalp. But your scalp produces its own sebum to condition the skin and also to act as a barrier to prevent internal moisture loss. As time goes, the sebum hardens (like wax) and creates buildup. Without a proper cleanser, this can create scalp issues. Exfoliating your scalp is also a good way to get rid of all the dead cells and buildup.
Moisturize and keep the scalp less rigid
There is nothing wrong with oiling your scalp. Some individuals might want to do so, and that’s completely fine. But we recommend doing it because it is a good way to keep your scalp moisturized. You can use your favorite hair care oil as many times as you wish, but keep in mind that with time the oils will create buildup on your scalp if you do not wash it off.
Also, massaging your scalp morning and night will help with blood circulation. You can massage the scalp using your fingers or with a scalp massager after applying your oil.
Stress
Too much stress can result in slowing down your hair growth. Reducing your stress will help you to keep your scalp healthy and happy. One way to reduce stress is to exercise. Exercising reduces the stress level and also allows our body to release a hormone called serotonin which directly affects your hair. Other options like meditating, taking a daily walk, naps and much can help reduce your stress level.
Genetics
The lack of sebum production, which leads to scalp drying is often a result of genes. Yep, our genetic making also plays a role in the health of our scalp.
The production of sebum on our scalp is controlled by our hormones and can change over time. Many factors can increase or reduce the normal production level of sebum. Things like dietary deficiencies, puberty and medications. This is why it’s recommended to take your daily vitamins and minerals.
Not everyone is born with the same sebum production levels, some have low sebum production from birth which can cause chronic scalp dryness.
Not having proper scalp care will definitely set you back on your hair journey. Understanding the basics of scalp and how to take care of it will help you reach your hair goal and avoid all the scalp disease. Start today with a healthy scalp!