Healthy Hair Starts Here
Any guesses as to where 'here' is?
The answer is - your scalp! It's no secret that a key to strong, healthy hair is having a healthy scalp. Sometimes your pore (intentional... keep reading) scalp gets overlooked during your usual hair cleaning and styling regimen.
The recent New York Times article titled "Are You Not Washing Your Hair Enough?" claimed there's been a shift among women regarding the frequency of hair washing. We've gone from over-shampooing (2-3 times per week) to now under-shampooing (1 time per week). Either way, your scalp might need some extra attention to be in optimal health especially during these cold, winter months.
Hair color expert, Rita Hazan, who is known for her work on Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, knows a thing or two about dry, flaky, itchy or oily scalps. “People don’t think about their scalps as having pores, but your scalp should be treated like skin,” Ms. Hazan said. “You don’t want your pores to be clogged.”
Here are some simple recommendations to keep your scalp healthy and your hair looking its best:
Basics
Drink lots of water and eat natural foods - You are what you eat and hydration starts from within.
Dry your hair after showering - A constantly damp scalp creates a breading grown for bacteria and fungi, so be sure to dry your hair after washing. Towels can be rough on your hair, so try an old t-shirt instead. This helps avoid damage to your hair cuticles. Blow drying with low heat works too.
Use gentle cleansing products - Harsh chemicals can build up on your scalp over time even with lots of scrubbing and rinsing. Avoid products with lots of chemicals or try switching products to avoid gunky build up.
Beyond Basics
Clear your pores - Use at-home remedies to remove build up. Try adding brown sugar and oatmeal to your conditioner. You can add just a teaspoon or sugar and a tablespoon of oatmeal to a dollop of conditioner to get an even deeper clean. Mix in your palm, massage into hair for 2+ minutes, and rinse thoroughly.
Rinse with cold water - Cold water will help close your pores before drying which can reduce clogging. It also helps tighten your hair cuticles which can reduce frizz. #winwin
Massage your scalp - Use your fingertips to apply pressure to different areas of the scalp to increase blood flow and revitalize tired skin. Check out some tips from a salon stylist in this Women's Health article.
Hydrate with Coconut - One of the best natural treatments for a dry scalp is coconut oil. Massage a teaspoon to a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil into your scalp and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
Sometimes it's the most simple things in life that are the most effective. Beauty experts will always have new and different products and recommendations to keep your hair healthy. We say - do what works for you!
Have any other tips to keep your scalp healthy? If so, please share below.
Hair Up, Game On,
