Natural Scalp Treatments

Healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp. This body part is often overlooked as we wash our face or shampoo our hair. Taking good care of your scalp by keeping it clean and full of moisture will benefit hair growth, eliminate dry skin issues such as dandruff, and prevent hair loss. Your scalp is an extension of your face so using products such as masks, scrubs, and conditioners that you can easily create at home should be part of your healthy hair and skin regime.

 

Remember the old-fashioned beauty tip of brushing your hair one hundred strokes a night? The purpose of this was to boost your circulation, distribute skin oils, and clear your scalp of dead skin cells and surface debris. Today we have access to much more than a simple boar bristle brush, but the idea of keeping the scalp clean, conditioned, and clear is still a good one. We are also a bit harder on our hair than pioneer people were. We rarely air-dry our locks in favor of the faster method of using a heated hairdryer. The same goes for styling.

People used to sleep in rag or pin curls. Today high heat tools and styling aids are used to create or straighten waves. These not only dry out our hair but also can stress the skin on our scalps. This is also true for harsh shampoos and soaps. You wouldn’t use a strong detergent on your skin, yet we often fill our heads full of sudsy soaps and shampoos that dry out our scalps. Look for gentle shampoo products that are also moisturizing. You can create your own natural shampoo using equal parts mild castile soap and water or herbal tea. Using a gentle shampoo with scalp hydrating glycerin or natural oils will make a difference. The temperature of the water used also will help preserve natural skin oils, try, and use warm or lukewarm water rather than hot water when shampooing or rinsing.

You can create rich conditioners or masks that only take a few minutes to apply and can be used weekly when you wash your hair. These masks are meant to improve circulation and keep your scalp clean. Giving yourself nightly head massages also helps, much like hair brushing with a natural bristle brush. You can also create simple scrubs to exfoliate dead skin and styling product buildup. Your skin functions best when it is clean and clear. Clean skin can absorb more moisture, and this will help boost your hair follicles and new hair growth. Often with just a few simple changes to your hair care routine and focusing on the health of your scalp, you will see immediate results. Here are some simple tips to maintain a healthy scalp.

Pro Tips for Creating Healthy Scalp Routine

The best way to have healthy hair is to start with a healthy scalp and the use of scrubs, shampoos, rinses, and masks can help you achieve that. Also, a healthy diet rich in zinc, iron, and protein will help your hair grow. Here are some simple steps and tips:

Exfoliate weekly: Dead skin cells stay on your scalp between washes, which can lead to breakouts at your hairline and flakiness at your roots. If you use styling products such as gels or hairsprays they also can build up on your scalp. Mix up a simple scrub using cornmeal or sugar and massage into your scalp before shampooing. The same products you use on your complexion for exfoliating dead skin can safely be used on your scalp.

Switch to a natural shampoo: Using a gentler cleanser for your hair will not only benefit your hair but will also help your scalp. Shampoos with strong subsiding agents or detergents can strip your scalp of helpful natural skin oils. It is also more drying to both your hair and skin. If you do not want to switch shampoos, you can dilute them with water or try shampooing every other day.

Detox Monthly: Do a detoxing treatment once per month. Mix up a clarifying rinse using apple cider vinegar and water and treat your scalp to a deep cleaning mask made with natural clay. This will help keep your skin clean, clear, and hydrated. Super clean skin absorbs more moisture which will equate to healthier hair at the roots.

Scalp Massages: Massage a light natural oil such as jojoba or argan oil into your scalp nightly to help condition and clean your scalp and boost circulation. This is best done before bedtime and will also help relax you before bedtime.

Sunscreen: Wearing a hat with a large brim when outdoors is best to protect your skin and hair, but if this is not possible then protect your scalp from a burn by using the same sunscreen product you use on your face around your hairline and where your hair is parted. If you have areas where your hair is thinning, make sure the skin is protected. This is a good practice year-round.

The information in this article is for educational use, and not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be used as such.