5 Expert Tips for a Healthy and Clean Scalp

Everyone wants beautiful healthy hair, and the only way to achieve this is to make sure that you have a clean and healthy scalp. Just like the skin elsewhere on your body, you need to keep your scalp toned, pliant, and stimulated for your hair to grow out healthy and strong. To keep the pores on your scalp clear and healthy, follow the tips below.

1. Check The pH Level of Your Shampoo

All hair products fall on a pH scale, which evaluates how chemically basic or acidic it is. The pH scale ranges from 1 to 14, with 1 being extremely acidic and 14 being extremely basic. Purified water sits in the middle at 7, and is pH neutral. Acids and bases react with one another in different ways that can produce unexpected results. The oils on your scalp are typically at a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, meaning it’s slightly acidic. This is important to keep in mind when choosing a product to use for your scalp.

Experts generally recommend using a shampoo that is slightly acidic to preserve the natural acidity of your skin. This is because chemicals that are basic can react with the oil on your scalp and neutralize it, which can damage the health of your skin. An example of this is egg or egg yolk masks or washes, which are slightly basic. They’re commonly used as home remedies for excessively oily skin, but they can react with your natural oils and neutralize or strip them away. Look for mildly acidic ingredients like sodium citrate or citric acid as an indicator that your shampoo has balanced acidity to help preserve your natural balance.

2. Use a Good Moisturizer on Your Scalp

Your scalp, just like the skin on the rest of your body, needs regular moisturizing to stay supple and well-toned. Jojoba oil is an excellent moisturizer since it contains vitamin E, which is good for both your hair and maintaining a healthy scalp. Another option is shea butter, which is a natural moisturizer. Any kind of lotion or moisturizer that locks in moisture and preserves the naturally produced oils can help your scalp stay healthy and flake-free.

3. Give Yourself a Regular Scalp Massage

Scalp massages have a surprising number of benefits, especially for people who are struggling with scalp care. Giving yourself a good scalp massage can give you a healthy scalp by promoting the flow of blood to the area and encourage hair growth, as well as soothe your nerves and relax the muscles in the brain. Here are a few tips on how to give yourself a scalp massage.

• Apply gentle pressure to your scalp and move your fingers in a circular motion, massaging slowly from the base of your neck up to your hairline.
• Repeat the process, increasing the speed of the circular movements and applying a bit more pressure with your fingertips while you massage your scalp.
• Spread your fingers wider so that you can massage your entire head.Work from the base of your neck above your ears to the front of your head and then back again.
• Rake your fingers through your hair, scratch your scalp gently with your finger nails. Start again from the base of your neck, move up to your hairline, and back again. Wrap a warm damp towel around your head, lie down for a few minutes, and relax.

Massaging your scalp regularly like this can help alleviate irritation and itchiness while promoting blood flow and hair growth. It’s a free and easy way of making yourself healthier!

4. Prevent Your Scalp From Drying Out

Remember those natural oils we were mentioning before? Shampooing with hot water can strip thos natural oils from your scalp, causing it to become dry. You can keep the natural oils in your scalp and stop it from drying out by always washing your hair with lukewarm water only. Warm water is okay, but limit how much you blast your scalp with hot water. Also keep in mind that the heat from excessive blow drying can also lead to dry scalp, so actively manage your temperatures to keep your scalp happy!

5. Do. Not. Over. Wash. Your. Hair.

If you prefer to wash your hair on a daily basis, use a shampoo that contains moisturizers and softening agents that is specifically designed for frequent washing. Better yet, ditch your shampoo and only use it every 2 – 3 washes. Using conditioner only will keep your hair fresh, lightly cleanse it, and won’t strip the natural oils in your hair. When using a shampoo, keep in mind that the majority of shampoos are aimed at working the scalp rather than the hair. Make sure to focus on rubbing and massaging your scalp when you wash your hair to help you achieve the healthy scalp you are looking for. So just how much washing is over washing? That depends on your skin and how much of that natural oil is produced. Some people can wash daily and still have plenty of oil to spare, while others struggle to maintain natural oils when washing only a couple times per week. Listen to your skin and wash your scalp only as much as necessary.

Treat Yourself & Your Scalp at Evergreen Beauty College

We understand, life can be hectic and busy, so not everyone has the time or energy to maintain a scalp care routine. If you don’t have the time to do it yourself, you can always visit a one of our Evergreen Beauty School student salons to take care of yourself at a reasonable price

Is hair or skin care something that has always interested you? Make a career out of it! Evergreen Beauty College offers programs for cosmetology, esthetics, and more to help you build a career out of beauty. Contact us today to learn more about how you can get started!