How to take care of your scalp?

You might think that your scalp doesn't necessarily need to be treated if it is not tender, or has no dandruff, irritation or itching. Big mistake ! It is indeed important to take care of this part of the epidermis, as we do with our body or our face (which we clean and moisturize on a daily basis!). Besides, pampering your scalp and keeping it healthy is the key to having beautiful hair. According to a recent study by Head & Shoulders, specialist in hair care, a healthy scalp gives us stronger, thicker hair; while an irritated scalp, damaged, in particular by dandruff, weakens the hair, which also becomes finer and duller. So what are the right actions to take to finally take care of your scalp as it should? Follow the guide !

How to clean the scalp without harming it?

Good scalp health begins with proper cleansing, just like the skin of the rest of the body. The skull collects a lot of impurities, whether it is dust, sebum, pollution particles, shampoo residue or even dead skin. Understand then that it is essential to rid your scalp of all this so that it can breathe and be healthy.

And this will be done at the same time, and with your shampoo. So prefer gentle products that do not attack and pay attention to the composition. If you have a problematic scalp, you can also bet on formulas adapted to your problem. For example, if you have a dry scalp that causes itchiness and dandruff, turn to a suitable shampoo that will help the scalp shed many dead cells and soothe it. Are you prone to excess sebum on the scalp? Take a purifying product, specially made for oily roots. Those who have a sensitive scalp will prefer shampoos with soothing and hypoallergenic active ingredients. Be careful, if you are using a specific product to treat your scalp problems, alternate every 3 or 4 washes with a mild shampoo to provide a detox break to your hair between treatments. Finally, just because your shampoo is hydrating doesn't mean you have to skip the conditioner. Bet on a nourishing and protective product for a complete hair routine.

Our shopping to take care of your scalp:

• Purifying shampoo with jujube bark extract, Christophe robin on sephora.fr
• Supreme hydration anti-dandruff shampoo Head & Shoulders on amazon.fr
• Kerium anti-dandruff and anti-itching cream shampoo, La Roche Posay on 1001pharmacies.com
• Naturia extra-gentle balancing shampoo, René Furterer on 1001pharmacies.com

Homemade masks for the scalp

If you have a problematic scalp, you can also combine washing with the application of a treatment mask once a week to treat your problem. Here is an ideal homemade mask for scalps with dandruff :

• Take some coconut oil and castor oil, which you mix with a little lukewarm water;
• Then proceed to a scalp massage with this mask and leave on for 30 minutes;
• Rinse off with shampoo to remove residue.

Another common problem is fatty roots. For absorb excess sebum, we recommend this green clay mask which will have the effect of a "blotter":

• Mix equal proportions of green clay and apple cider vinegar;
• Apply the paste to the scalp and leave on for at least 14 minutes;
• Rinse and wash with your shampoo.

Moisturize the scalp well

As explained a little above: moisturizing our face and our body is an essential step in our daily beauty routine. Also take the time to pamper your scalp, which is just as in need of hydration. To do this, treat him to once a week a treatment packed with nutrients with a hydrating mask that you can do yourself.

Here is the recipe for our homemade mask for a deeply nourished scalp :

• Take a plain yogurt (its slightly acidic pH will help that of the scalp to be restored) and two tablespoons of honey (known for its nourishing and restorative properties, this ingredient will help the scalp to regenerate);
• Mix the ingredients together;
• Apply the preparation to the entire head, line by line and leave on for about 10 minutes.
• Rinse your scalp with lukewarm water;
• Finish with a mild shampoo.

How to rid the scalp of its impurities? With a scrub!

Once a week, take a few minutes to scrub the scalp before your shampoo. This will allow him to get rid of his many impurities (dust, pollution particles, shampoo residue, perspiration, dead cells, sebum etc.). There are commercially available exfoliating products, but if you are a fan of home made, you can also make your own homemade scrub by mixing sugar with vegetable oil for normal hair (like argan oil or olive oil, preferably organic) or a little honey if you have a dry scalp. Place the paste obtained line by line on the skull and massage your scalp in circular movements. Rinse and shampoo as you normally would.

If you don't have the time to do your home care, there are also ready-to-use products on the market:

• Peppermint hair washing scrub, Sephora Collection on sephora.fr
• Hair scrub with clay, Mulato on amazon.fr
• Washing scrub for irritated scalps, Kerastase on sephora.fr

A head massage for good blood circulation

This is THE time we prefer at the hairdresser … why not treat yourself from time to time, after an exhausting day, a head massage? Nothing like it to take off the roots of the hair, activate the blood circulation of the scalp and give it back a real flexibility … but above all: nothing like to relax! An essential gesture that is good for our scalp and our morale. To be done with your fingertips or with a massage brush, like this one found on amazon.fr.

Our latest recommendations:

• To avoid drying out the scalp, avoid dry shampoo. Limit its use to a maximum of 3/4 times per month.
• Do not use your heating devices (hair dryer, straightener, etc.) too close to your head to avoid burning or attacking your scalp. Keep some distance. Do not program them on the hottest temperature either.
• Wash and rinse your shampoos and treatments withlukewarm water and not with too hot water. On the one hand, it attacks the scalp, on the other it activates the production of sebum … and your oily hair!

Video by Zoomin

To read also on aufeminin:
> Fight dandruff in 5 steps: follow the guide
> 9 solutions to put an end to oily hair
> 5 mistakes to avoid when washing your hair