When you’re struggling with the appearance and volume of your hair, you probably think it’s just your hair that’s the issue. But in most cases, it’s actually your scalp that influences the appearance and texture of your locks. That’s why a healthy scalp is the best way to get healthy hair.
If you’re wondering what you can do to improve your scalp health, check out these three professional tips.
Washing Your Hair
Most people assume that a daily shower and shampoo is the best thing for hygiene. However, our scalps have a natural oil, called sebum, which is excreted to protect the skin and hair follicles.
When we shampoo our hair every day, the sebum glands think they have to keep excreting the oil to protect your skin. This means that your sebum glands are on “high alert,” and it’s why your hair looks greasy after just a few hours post-shower.
Training your sebum glands to secrete less means washing your hair less. Start out by only washing your hair every other day, then move to every two days, then three if possible. Your scalp skin will thank you! And your hair will have more strength and volume than ever.
Conditioning Your Scalp
Are you one of those people who avoids using conditioner on your scalp? Most hair experts say to only condition the ends of your hair to prevent tangles, but if you live in a dry climate – or it’s the middle of winter – your scalp might need the moisture. Especially if you have a lot of dandruff, using conditioner is a great way to heal the scalp and make your hair healthier than ever.
Choose a high-quality conditioner (not a generic one that might cause more irritation) and only condition your hair and scalp when you shampoo your hair. That way, you’re adding a layer of moisture after the shampoo strips away the oil from your scalp. It’s like putting lotion on dry parts of your body!
This will ensure that your scalp is moisturized, which helps your hair follicles hold tighter and gives your hair more volume.
Brush Your Hair
Brushes do more than work through tangles in your hair; they actually promote healthy hair growth. Using a high-quality bristle brush (not a spiky plastic one), make sure to brush the hair along your scalp. This breaks up any dead skin, brings blood flow to the surface of the skin, and stimulates the hair follicles.
All of this brings more oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and follicles, which means your scalp will be healthy and your hair will look great.
Focusing on Scalp Health for Better Hair
There are a ton of other factors that impact your scalp and hair health, including exposure to sun and poor diets. Remember that your scalp is just like any other skin on your body. It needs to be protected and it needs moisture! When you start caring for your scalp, you’ll notice that your hair feels lighter, holds more volume, and doesn’t fall out!