A key secret to healthy hair is a healthy scalp. Clogged follicles, irritation, lack of circulation, and other scalp issues can interfere with hair growth, impact how your hair looks, and even cause hair breakage and loss. So, it’s important to care for your scalp just as you care for the rest of the skin on your body.

What We Mean By a Healthy Scalp

A healthy scalp is one that is free from:

• Flakiness
• Irritation
• Redness
• Itchiness
• Oiliness
• Dandruff
• Pain
• Bumps
• Scabs
• Cysts
• Sun Damage
• Hair Loss

6 Tips for a Happy, Healthy Scalp

Here are some ways you can show your scalp some love.

Use Gentle Products

Pay attention when purchasing hair care products. Avoid harsh, irritating formulas by looking for options that are free of sulfates, alcohol, parabens, silicon and allergens as they strip away natural oils, leaving your hair frizzy, dry and damaged – and your scalp dry and irritated. 

Take Care When Shampooing

Gently massage the shampoo into your hair to encourage circulation rather than overstimulation and irritation. Be sure to completely rinse the product out of your hair and scalp.

Don’t Overwash

Shampooing too often can be damaging whether you have oily or dry hair. Washing hair too frequently can strip away your hair’s natural oils, causing the scalp to produce more, leaving your hair greasy. If you have dry hair, frequent washings can make your scalp irritated and itchy. 

Eat Well

Getting sufficient omega-3 and fish oils in your diet can help stimulate blood circulation in the scalp, which can help promote hair growth and reduce breakage, as well as decrease irritation. Folic acid and Vitamin D also help promote healthy hair growth.

Protect Your Scalp from the Sun

When out in the sun for a period of time, you should protect your scalp as you would the rest of your body. Wear a hat or apply a lightweight sunscreen to your scalp to prevent sunburn. 

Get a Scalp Treatment

An experienced stylist can examine your scalp to identify any potential issues that could be preventing you from having happy, healthy, voluminous, and vibrant hair, then recommend a scalp treatment to address those issues. A scalp treatment can:

• Unclog hair follicles to boost hair health
• Stimulate blood flow to encourage blood to deliver important hair nutrients
• Prevent hair thinning and loss
• Remove dandruff to promote healthier hair