Healthy beginnings are the best way to have good results.
The scalp is where your hair grows, and if your hair has a healthy start, you are likelier to have healthy hair. If you are making a conscious decision to improve the health of your scalp, then the look and texture of your hair will thank you. So, why not take the time to understand how to maintain a healthy scalp?Â
Soon, you will say goodbye to an unhealthy scalp and say hello to a clean and healthy scalp.
Table of Contents
How to Find Out If Your Hair Is In an Unhealthy State?
You should know when your hair is in a healthy or unhealthy state. That is why you should take the time to check the current state of your scalp. Usually, it is easier to determine when your scalp is in a healthier state. So, the focus will be on an unhealthy scalp. With that in mind, you might have an unhealthy scalp if;
- Your hair is falling out
- Your scalp is tight and itchy
- You notice a change in your hair texture
- Your scalp is extremely flaky
- You feel like you can’t skip a wash day
If you realize that you have an unhealthy scalp, then it is time to fix that, and by the end, you will have all the needed information to do so.
What Causes an Unhealthy Scalp?
Now that you know what an unhealthy scalp looks like, you should also know what causes it. When it comes down to it, many things in our everyday routine can lead to an unhealthy scalp. For example, a poor diet, pollution, or stress can cause an unhealthy scalp.Â
Another cause is how often and what products you use to wash your hair. When it comes to shampooing your hair, knowing what’s best for your hair type is best.Â
Type 1 and 2 hair may need more frequent wash days than type 3 and 4, but that doesn’t mean you should wash your hair every day. Also, take the time to look at the ingredients in your shampoo.
You will want to avoid the following ingredients:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Mineral Oils
- Alcohols
These ingredients can harm the scalp and should be avoided or used once or twice a month.
As overwashing is one cause of an unhealthy scalp, under-washing is another. It is best to wash your hair to maintain a healthy scalp. You should notice that throughout a few weeks of using a leave-in conditioner, scalp products, heavy oils, dry shampoo, or hair sprays can lead to build-up on the scalp.
You will have build-up if you use hair products without washing your hair. Also, if you don’t properly clean your hair, the build-up will cause breakage or hair loss.
Some of these causes are avoidable, while others are not. As always, go based on what your scalp and hair need.
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What Does an Itchy Scalp Signify?
An itchy scalp can sometimes be the first sign of an unhealthy scalp. The cause could be due to bacteria, head lice, or irritation.
Bacteria: means there is still sweat, sebum, and/or pollution on your scalp.Â
Head lice: look like lumps of dandruff that are louse eggs, and you are dealing with uncontrollable itchiness from lice due to their need for blood.Â
Irritation: is when there is an irritating ingredient in your product. Also, if you are not washing out the shampoo in full, you can irritate your scalp if you leave the shampoo on the scalp. The shampoo left on the scalp will dry it out.
6 Methods to Get a Healthy Scalp
Here are six ways to avoid dealing with an unhealthy scalp. These methods will also help you improve the health of your scalp.
1. Wash Your Hair Regularly
As said earlier, you should not wash your hair every day. Your scalp can become very oily because you are stripping the natural oils from your hair. Overwashing also leads to dryness, irritation, and flaking.
Based on your hair type, this is how often you should wash your hair:
Type 1 and 2: Two to three times a week
Type 3 and 4: Once a week or twice a month
Keep in mind that infrequent washing is equally as bad as overwashing. As I said earlier, not washing your hair can lead to build-up. Build-up can cause inflammation and slow down the process of new growth.
2. Invest In a Good Shampoo
With an idea of how often you should wash your hair, you should also know what ingredients to look for in your shampoo. Some great shampoo ingredients are:
- Peppermint oil
- Tea tree oil
- Vitamin E oil (great for greasy hair)
- Rosemary leaf extract (great for oily hair)
Looking for good ingredients will help you find the right shampoo to solve all your problems.
3. Massage Your Scalp
A scalp massage feels great, and it is beneficial for your scalp. All you have to do is apply firm pressure to your scalp and move your fingertips in a circular motion.Â
Do this for at least four minutes. A good scalp massage helps promote good blood flow and hair growth, soothe nerves, increase circulation, and relax muscles.
You can massage your scalp as often as you would like.
4. Use Tea Tree Oil
If you want a healthier scalp, consider using tea tree oil in your hair care regimen (insert link). Tea tree oil is a great product to cure any dry scalp issues. Since tea tree oil has antimicrobial properties, it is useful when dealing with dandruff.Â
You must know that you should not use it by itself. It will need to be diluted or mixed with something else. Just add a couple of drops to your shampoo. If you see any irritation or redness, stop using it.
5. Exfoliate
Exfoliating is one step most people don’t do in their hair care regimen, but it can help maintain a healthy scalp. You want to use an exfoliant with a finely ground texture. Avoid microbeads such as sugar, crushed shell, or sea salt.Â
Apply your exfoliant to a wet scalp, and with your fingertips, move in a circular motion to gently massage the exfoliant into your scalp. Afterward, leave the exfoliant on your scalp for about five minutes. Then wash it out thoroughly, and follow with your conditioner.Â
Do this activity once or twice a week to reduce build-up.
6. Have a Clean Diet
Eating right and drinking water is always helpful when improving how our bodies work, and now is no different. When you have a healthy diet, the overall health of your hair can improve.Â
Your diet should be full of fatty omega-3s, zinc, and iron if you want to improve the look and texture of your hair and increase the moisture level of your scalp.Â
You want your diet to contain salmon or fish oil supplements, nuts, vitamins, avocados, legumes, and leafy greens.
If you have an unhealthy scalp, you should create a wash routine that will work for you and your hair. With a great regimen, you will need a good shampoo. Look for a shampoo with peppermint oil, tea tree oil, vitamin E oil, or rosemary leaf extract.
With a clean scalp, take the time to massage and exfoliate your scalp. Lastly, try to improve your eating habits by adding vitamin-rich foods. If your problem does not improve, then seek a dermatologist for help with your condition.
