Healthy Scalp... Healthy Hair

Healthy hair is always a topic everyone’s looking to discuss… especially me, but often we forget that healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. I mean LITERALLY that is where it starts. An unhealthy scalp can lead to a number of problems for your hair ranging from unpleasant itch, to unsightly dandruff, to the most severe - hair loss.

Here is a weekly schedule for healthy scalp maintenance:

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Daily

If you are showering: Dry brushing your hair before each shower will help to strip oils from your scalp and move it to your dry ends - helping to keep the hair protected from over absorbing water. Dry brushing also helps to exfoliate the dead skin from your scalp and promotes healthy blood flow. I love my Mason Pearse brush for this purpose as the bristles help to stimulate the scalp.

If you are very active, shampooing every day is very drying and can cause your body to over produce oil. You can skip shampoo, rinse and massage your scalp with your fingertips to loosen any oil, and apply a small amount of conditioner.

If you are skipping the shower: When you are trying to preserve a blow out, not over shampoo or just frankly don’t have the time, spritz a little Apple Cider Vinegar and water on your  scalp. You just need about 5 drops of ACV to 5ounces of water, ACV clarifies and exfoliates your scalp, and helps prevent fungal or bacteria growth. 

3x a Week

This is how frequently I suggest you wash your hair using shampoo. Depending on your hair type and activity that week it may be more or may be less, but this is my general rule of thumb. It is important to choose a shampoo that is best suited for your hair and scalp.

  • Dry Scalp: a non sudsing or sulfate free shampoo should be your go to. These shampoos will clear the hair without completing stripping it of all natural oils which help to lock in moisture.

  • Oily Scalp: you will most likely need a mild sulfate in your shampoo. Look for shampoos with natural cleansers like lemon and rose. To finish apply a small amount of conditioner to your ends and either comb through with your fingers or a wide tooth comb. Make sure to rinse very well as to not leave any residue on your scalp or hair. 

Once a Week

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Many of you exfoliate your skin weekly - some even daily. The skin on your scalp should be no different. Exfoliating the scalp help to clear off all the product we’ve been layering on through out the week and promotes healthy new hair growth. Exfoliation day should take the place of one of your shampoo days mentioned above, as exfoliation strips the scalp and the hair, similar to shampooing. For these more complicated days heres the sequence:

  1. Dry Brush

  2. Exfoliate ( I love the Christophe Robin Sea Salt Scrub - the crystals are a natural exfoliate and help to absorb toxins from the scalp)

  3. Apply a light weight mask (currently in my shower I have the Shu Uemura Moruto Volume)

Every scalp is different and some may need more attention than others… but based on the many heads I see a day, following the above will help improve scalp healthy and subsequently hair health!

Kimberly Cannon