How Important Is Scalp Health For Long Healthy Hair?
The scalp refers to the skin covering your head, and as such, it is similar to the skin on your body, the only difference being that the scalp has more, larger, and terminal hair follicles. The health of your scalp tissues is dependent on nutrition, hygiene, hair care products, and how you use them, which further affects the survival and growth of follicular units, hair growth, and hair shaft thickness.
Read these scalp care tips:
– Keep the scalp clean
This one is important because not cleansing your scalp can cause the natural oils produced by the skin to build-up. Excess oil and build-up can cause dandruff and clog the hair follicles, leading to hair loss and hair thinning. Keeping the scalp clean can clear blockages, helping hair grow better and appear fuller.
– Don’t over-wash
Keeping the scalp too clean can strip away natural oils from the skin, causing the sebum or oil glands to produce more oil to keep the skin and hair shafts moisturized. Find what works for you according to your hair type and lifestyle. If you must shampoo every day, choose a mild cleanser for your scalp and hair type. Try to go without shampooing for a couple of days; you can use a dry shampoo or natural cleanser like baking soda in-between.
– Keep the scalp moisturised
A healthy moisturised scalp will remain free of dandruff and will promote healthy hair growth. Don’t turn to conditioner to keep the scalp moisturised–this product is only for your hair strands. Use a moisturising shampoo or a leave-in tonic on your scalp after shampooing. Limiting the use of harsh chemicals also keeps the scalp from drying out.
– Use the right shampoo and conditioner
Consider both scalp and hair type when choosing hair care products. Mixing brands is fine, as long as you’re not using harsh products. If you’re avoiding sulphates, do consider using a clarifying shampoo once in a while to remove the build-up of other hair care products. Hair can get too used to the products you use regularly, so switch things up as your hair and requirements keep changing. Do check the pH level of your shampoo–use a slightly acidic one, as a shampoo that is basic will react with the natural acidity of the scalp and neutralise it, damaging the health of the scalp.
Can Massaging the Scalp Help Hair Grow Long?
Massaging your scalp regularly can certainly boost hair growth. That’s because massages stimulate blood circulation, which channels more nutrients to hair roots. This increased nutrition results in health follicles and improves the growth of hair. In addition to this, scalp massages relieve tension, anxiety, and stress, which are known causes of hair fall.
There are two massage techniques that stimulate hair growth particularly well:
– Reach into your hair with all your fingers and pull gently so as to feel some tension. Use this technique all over the scalp.
– Dip fingers into oil or hair tonic and tap gently all over the scalp using a relatively fast rhythm.
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