Looking at the evolution of the skin care and beauty industry, an interesting albeit sad pattern can be noticed. While skin care regimens seem to consist of a number of steps, hair care routines have remained far simpler. A lot of people will simply shampoo their hair and maybe oil it before being done with it. The same people will then proceed to execute up to 10 steps in a regimen for the rest of skin. It is weird considering that the scalp exists. That’s right; underneath that head of hair is skin that needs specialized care because the very beauty of your hair depends on it!
Why your scalp deserves as much care as the rest of your skin
Your hair grows on the bed of skin that is your scalp. In this regard, guaranteeing the health of your scalp also means that the hair that grows out of it is beautifully healthy as well. Just like the rest of your skin, your scalp needs to be regularly cleansed, exfoliated, and nourished. Tending to your scalp should be an important part of your overall hair care regimen if your ultimate goal is to revel in the beauty of a lush mane!
So how do you properly care for your scalp?
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Clean and exfoliate regularly
We all know how easy it is for the hair to accumulate dirt and buildup of product over time. By extension of course, this also applies to your scalp. The pores and hair follicles on your scalp can get clogged up with dirt and buildup, but also dead skin cells.
Regularly shampooing will take care of the buildup, but you will need a more thorough approach for the clogged pores. Exfoliation is a more thorough way to cleanse your skin, and there are products that make this happen for your scalp. Simply focus on shampoos that contain exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid or white willow bark extract. There also exist scrubs that are specifically for the scalp, giving you a more in-depth exfoliating experience.
A teasing bush can also greatly improve the exfoliating process, providing that physical scrubbing that loosens up the dead skin.
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Never forget to moisturize
A moisturized scalp is a healthy one. When the follicles have a constant supply of hydration and natural oils, the hairs that grow out of them are strong and lustrous. Too many scalp problems exist because the skin is simply too dry.
Try to avoid drying your scalp out too much by exposing your scalp to unnecessary heat. Washing your hair with hot water, or using a hot blow-dryer; these are common culprits that dry the scalp up.
It is important to keep the scalp from losing its natural oils and moisture, but be sure to supplement it with products that help to preserve or add to it as well.
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Always massage
The scalp is a bed of skin and follicles. Underneath it is a complex network or nerves and blood vessels that need to be taken care of as well. Make a habit of regularly massaging your scalp, especially during treatments, and when you wash.
A physical massage keeps the blood properly flowing, a circulation that delivers the much needed nutrients that maintain scalp health. Using your fingers or a scalp massaging brush, make gentle circular motion all over your scalp. Not only does it keep your skin healthy, but it also feels really good!
Giving your scalp the kind of care it deserves is actually simpler than most people think. If the payoff is that you get to enjoy soft, lustrous hair, then it is definitely worth it to give it a proper shot.