Healthy Hair + Scalp

Today’s TOPIC TUESDAY is brought to you by Heather Brown, hair stylist, and is all about healthy hair and scalp!

All healthy hair begins with your scalp.

Think of your scalp as if it’s the soil of a garden. Poor soil quality (scalp) will directly affect the well being of the plants (hair) growing in it.

So what exactly is considered a healthy scalp? Glad you asked! A healthy scalp is free of itchiness, redness, flakiness, irritation, pain, acne, cysts, sun damage, and excessive hair loss.

Luckily there are several ways to achieve a healthy scalp:

1.) A CLEAN SCALP - will promote good cell turnover and promote a healthy environment for optimal hair growth.

-Gently wash every 2-3 days. Washing more often strips your hair of its natural oils. Washing less creates build up of dead skin, oil, products which can lead to inflammation which slows hair growth. So going for that happy medium is what we aim for!

-When choosing a shampoo you want to avoid sulfates, alcohol, and fragrances. Sulfates strip natural oils in your hair. Alcohol and fragrances suck moisture out of your hair. These kinds of shampoos will leave your hair feeling frizzy dry and damaged plus dry your scalp out.

PRO TIP — When shampooing your hair, gently massage your scalp with the pads of your fingers vs. scratching with your nails. Doing so will increase circulation and avoid causing abrasions on your scalp. Also for those struggling with a dry/itchy scalp would benefit from increasing time between washes to balance out oil production.

2.) CONDITION YOUR SCALP - Every time you wash your hair you should be conditioning your scalp. Conditioner does for your scalp what moisturizer does for your face. If you are not conditioning your hair because you feel as though it weighs it down or makes it greasy, think again! Try out several conditioners and find one that works for you, don't just cut it out of your routine altogether.

3.) SCALP TREATMENTS - You can treat your scalp 2-3 times weekly by diluting essential oils and massage it into your scalp with the tips of your fingers.

-Rosemary - will promote maximum hair growth

-Lavender and Tea Tree - will help battle fungal dandruff along with being a natural antiseptic.

4.) EXFOLIATE/CLARIFY - Once a month you should exfoliate your scalp. Doing so will remove dead skin cells on the scalp and allow for healthy hair growth along with reducing the amount of hair you shed. You should also be clarifying your scalp monthly. Look for a clarifying shampoo that has a citric acid in it. This is going to remove any product build up that’s accumulated. You will shampoo hair as normal, massaging your scalp with your finger tips then allowing it to sit for 3 minutes before rinsing well, followed by your favorite conditioner.

(Shameless plug: scalp and scalp detox treatments are offered at AO-The Space. This includes clarifying along with exfoliating your scalp…plus a nice scalp massage. Book your appointment today!)

Thanks to Heather for today’s informative subject and insights!

Stay healthy, stay well, and have a beautiful day!

xoxo - Jessie