With the objective of more healthy hair, many individuals flip to topical remedies or well-timed trims. However specializing in scalp well being, specialists say, is the foundational strategy to produce stronger, extra resilient strands.
“Wholesome hair at all times begins with the scalp,” says Emily Carey, hairstylist at LifeSpa in Inexperienced Valley, Nev. “The scalp is pores and skin in spite of everything, and whereas there could also be many hair follicles, it’s nonetheless essential to maintain this pores and skin freed from micro organism, hydrated, and in a wholesome situation. If the pores and skin is dry or has clogged pores or different illnesses, it might have an effect on hair development and look. For the shiniest, strongest strands, you’ll need to guarantee your scalp is in good well being.”
Carey explains the scalp circumstances she sees most frequently, and she or he shares her suggestions for remedying them and attaining a more healthy scalp.
1. Dry Scalp
Dry scalp is certainly one of two of the largest culprits of poor scalp well being (the opposite is dandruff — extra on that beneath). Whereas each lead to seen flakes of pores and skin coming off the scalp, they’re two totally different circumstances.
Dry scalp is like dry pores and skin on the physique: It’s tight and lacks moisture. The flakes are dry and infrequently smaller than dandruff flakes. You might expertise dry scalp in case you take scorching showers, use harsh shampoos, or are in a drier local weather — every of those can draw moisture away from the scalp.
To alleviate dry scalp, Carey advises utilizing a hydrating scalp serum designed to reduce irritation and tightness. She recommends utilizing Kérastase’s Nutri-Complement Scalp Serum. “You should utilize this product to focus on the spots which are in want of moisture,” explains Carey. “I personally are likely to get actually dry on the nape of my neck, for instance. This product helps scale back the irritation with out making my hair oily. I additionally love to make use of this product after a pool day if my scalp will get sunburned, because it helps to forestall the pores and skin from peeling.”
Carey suggests utilizing the serum day by day till dry scalp subsides. After which use it a couple of times every week going ahead to assist preserve the scalp balanced
2. Dandruff
Dandruff is a milder type of the pores and skin situation seborrheic dermatitis, which is brought on by an overgrowth of Malassezia, a yeast-like fungus. Malassezia is generally discovered within the pores and skin, however overgrowth can occur when there’s extreme oil on the scalp. Overproduction of oil can occur naturally within the physique as a consequence of genetics, hormonal modifications, or different components. Oil can even construct up from rare shampooing. Like dry scalp, dandruff causes itchiness and flakes on the scalp. Nevertheless, dandruff flakes seem extra yellow than white and are oily and thicker.
To deal with dandruff, Carey recommends utilizing a scalp serum with salicylic acid, such because the Kérastase Serum Nuit Antipelliculaire, an anti-dandruff night time serum. “Salicylic acid helps clear up plugged hair follicles whereas additionally hydrating and soothing the scalp and hair,” she says. “You’ll need to apply this serum at night time when your hair is dry. I counsel utilizing one pump and massaging the product into your scalp, specializing in drawback areas, together with your fingers. Do that nightly till the dandruff clears up.”
In case you are battling aggressive dandruff, Carey additionally suggests utilizing an antidandruff shampoo, such because the Bain Crème Antipelliculaire Antidandruff Shampoo from Kérastase. “This shampoo may be very hydrating and comprises pyrithione zinc, which might alleviate signs of dandruff.”
Carey recommends washing with the antidandruff shampoo twice per week. “This retains your hair clear whereas nonetheless permitting your pure oils to hydrate your hair and scalp between washes,” she says. “Washing your hair an excessive amount of could cause dryness, whereas not washing it sufficient could cause irritation that may compromise your scalp well being.”
3. Product Buildup
Product buildup is one other scalp situation that usually will get confused with dandruff and dry scalp. When hair merchandise construct up in your scalp, the pores and skin and hair follicles can develop into clogged and unbalanced, leading to a flaky residue.
“I’ve purchasers who typically apologize for his or her ‘dandruff’ after they sit in my chair, however 90 % of the time it’s not dandruff, it’s product buildup,” says Carey. “When you wash your hair solely as soon as per week and use hair styling merchandise like dry shampoo or gels, these styling merchandise can construct up shortly on the scalp, inflicting clogged hair follicles, residue, and flakes.”
To fight product buildup, Carey typically tells her purchasers to strive a clarifying or scalp balancing shampoo that works to interrupt down buildup.
“I personally love the Kérastase Chronologiste shampoo as a result of it’s clarifying but very hydrating and delicate sufficient to make use of every single day,” she says. “Cleaning shampoos sometimes are usually extra drying, however that is the right stability between moisture and clarifying. I at all times suggest washing hair twice in a row with this shampoo to essentially take away all product buildup and to verify the scalp is cleansed fully. As a bonus, it additionally removes any heavy metals within the hair that could be there due to swimming or laborious water use on the hair.”
(Be taught extra: “How Do I Wash My Hair?”)
