Pore you – why scalp health is important
From clarifying shampoos to head massages, Prudence Wade says we need to scope out our scalp
Many of us have been using the past year to fine-tune our skincare routines, but there’s a chance you’re missing out a major area: your scalp. This probably won’t last long. ‘Scalp’ searches increased by 196 per cent on Cult Beauty last year – but where did it come from?
“Being in lockdown has helped highlight what we want to ‘fix’ with our skin and hair, and as the scalp is an extension of our skin, it’s increasingly becoming part of people’s haircare regimens,” says Michael Shaun Corby, global creative director of Living Proof (livingproof.co.uk).
If you’re looking to show your scalp as much love as it deserves, here’s everything you need to know…
Why should we take care of our scalp?
Corby puts it simply: “Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, so scalp health is an essential component to having great hair.”
What should we be doing to boost scalp health?
“Like the skin on your face, pores can get clogged with excess sebum or dirt,” Corby says. “Dead skin cells can get trapped between the hairs on the scalp as well as dirt, dust, pollution and so on.”
This means proper hair washing is key. Corby suggests scalp scrubs and exfoliators can be “abrasive”, so recommends using a detoxifying shampoo once a week instead “to remove product build up, hard water on hair and scalp, and pollution”.
Akash Mehta, co-founder of haircare brand Fable & Mane (fableandmane.com) is a big advocate of weekly massages. “When you’re massaging your scalp, you’re increasing the blood circulation and therefore, you’re allowing more oxygen to reach your scalp, which is in turn, going to increase the hair production,” he claims.
What mistakes might we be making?
Yes, it’s important to have clean hair – but that doesn’t mean we should be reaching for the shampoo every day. Over-washing can “strip the hydration from your scalp, which can lead to dryness and irritation,” says Corby, who also recommends ditching shampoos with sulphates, particularly if your scalp feels dry, itchy or is prone to spots.
“Sulphates can often cause irritation, so it’s best to avoid if possible,” he says.
Products to try…
Shampoos: L’occitane Purifying Freshness Solid Shampoo, £10; Wild Science Scalp Relief Shampoo, £24. Treatments: Innersense Detox Hair Mask, £28 and Hello Klean Clarifying Scalp Soak, £25, both Cult Beauty. Oils: Fable & Mane Holiroots Hair Oil, £29; Aveda Nutriplenish Multiuse Hair Oil, £30.