If you are trying to grow out your hair, it all starts with a healthy scalp. Unfortunately, not many people know this and more often than not, they end up with less-than-expected results in their hair growth journey. To take care of the scalp, we first have to understand what it is and how it functions.
What is the scalp?
The scalp contains hair follicles (responsible for producing hair), oil glands (that produce sebum which is an oily substance that keeps your head lubricated) and blood vessels (that supply oxygen and nutrients to the hair cells). It is therefore, important to keep your scalp healthy at all times, especially if you plan on going bald.
A healthy scalp is the key to a healthy head of hair. It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t realize this!
So here are some tips on how to keep your scalp happy and healthy:
1. Don’t wash too often
Nobody said never to wash your scalp/hair. Of course, we’re not neanderthals. But, washing too often will strip your scalp of some natural oils and nutrients it needs to function properly. As is with every principle, this can be affected by things like environmental conditions where you live, and/or if you have any other hair conditions. A washing routine, is usually recommended – perhaps twice daily.
AND, when you do wash your hair, be sure to use gentle shampoos and conditioners that won’t damage your scalp or upset the pH balance. There are a bunch of them out there.
2. Eat a balanced-diet
Believe it or not, a healthy diet is an added bonus for getting and keeping a healthy scalp.
A balanced diet for your scalp consists of proteins, good fats and vegetables/fruits. These three nutrients work together to build and maintain good a scalp.
Proteins play an important role in building new cells that are needed to grow new hair. Make sure you get your protein from good sources like lean meats, fish, and dairy products. These foods contain amino acids that can help repair damaged hair cells and prevent further damage as well as build new ones (this is called “keratinization“).
Fats are essential to healthy skin and hair growth because they provide moisture to the scalp which helps keep it smooth and shiny without any flakes or buildup of dead skin cells on your head after washing it regularly with shampoo or conditioner twice per week!
Vegetables and fruits are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that help keep your scalp strong and healthy.
So, it’s time to cut back on processed foods like sugary snack foods and fast food restaurants like Taco Bell or McDonald’s.
3. Avoid drying shampoos
Dry shampoo can be great for the rest of your hair, but it’s not good for your scalp. The product itself is harsh and drying, which is not what you want on your hair when you’re trying to protect your delicate facial skin! Instead, try using conditioner or oil as a leave-in treatment to keep your hair looking fresh after showering.
4. Massage your scalp with coconut/olive oil
Coconut oil is a great source of lauric acid, which is a medium-chain fatty acid found in coconuts that can help promote hair growth. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, which can help nourish your scalp and keep it healthy. We made a whole post about which essential oils are good for your scalp. You can find that here.
5. NEVER use hot water on your scalp
You’ve probably heard this advice before, but it’s so important that we’re going to say it again: hot water is the worst thing you can do to your scalp.
It’s especially bad if you’re trying to remove dirt or oil buildup from your scalp, since hot water can actually increase the amount of grease on your hair. It also makes it more likely that you’ll get an infection in your scalp and cause damage to the follicles there—which can lead to balding. Always use lukewarm water. Warm water has been proven to stimulate blood blow to the hair follicles, which results in increased hair growth. It also helps to get rid of excess oil from the scalp.
Conclusion
As you can see, having a healthy scalp is a great first step in growing your hair. We hope you’ve been able to learn how to care for your scalp the right way.
At SCALPPRO, we’re all about hair and scalp health. Our new service, Scalp Micropigmentation is a hair treatment that uses pigments to create a head full of hair, which is effective in fighting baldness, or alopecia. Schedule a consultation today to discuss how scalp micropigmentation can be a right fit for you.