Scalp care is the new skin care. And an increasing number of spas are increasingly adding scalp “facials” to their menus — which promise that scrubs, treatments and lengthy scalp massages for around $50 to $75 will reduce dirt, debris and gunk that clog your follicles. This isn’t something NEW, we used to call them scalp treatments. But what is newer to the market, is at home scalp exfoliators.
Like the skin on your face, your scalp can get oily, which can lead to irritation and dandruff.
Just like the skin on your face, your scalp contains sebaceous glands that produce oil (sebum). In the right amount, sebum helps make your hair soft and shiny. But an overproduction of sebum, or buildup of oil on the scalp, can feed the malassezia furfur yeast that leads to dandruff. An oily scalp can also lead to flare-ups of seborrheic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition marked by red, greasy patches, itching or burning, and dandruff flakes. Exfoliating with a brush or with a scalp scrub can help get rid of the flakes.
Excess oil can also cause hair thinning.
Greasy hair is not only unsightly, but it can signal an unhealthy scalp. It is important to treat oil-clogged follicles, especially if you produce an abundance of oils, use a lot of products, or have noticed a loss of hair growth. These issues are often caused by a build-up or overproduction of sebum.
An overproduction of sebum on the scalp may result in undernourished roots. because excessive sebum can block hair follicles and spur bacteria and fungi growth, is important not to neglect an oily scalp. When sebum builds up, it eventually hardens. Too much sebum affects the normal growth cycle. Essentially, hair that falls out (a natural occurrence) is not replaced like it normally would be. Clogged follicles can actually result in thinning and eventual hair loss.
Exfoliating can keep hairstyling products from building up on the scalp, which can make the hair look dull.
Hairstyling products can also build up on the scalp and clog hair follicles, especially your favorite dry shampoo. The current trend for dry shampoos and only shampooing the hair once or twice a week is not always a good thing for the scalp.
Even if you do shampoo multiple times a week, it doesn’t mean you’re getting everything removed from the scalp. There is a big difference between shampooing the hair and exfoliating the scalp, and if you are using a sulfate free shampoo, they don’t lather as much therefore they may not be breaking down everything on the scalp.
The hair follicle looks and acts very much like the pores on your face. Just as bacteria and dirt in the pores can cause acne and irritation, so, too, can it affect the hair follicle. You can get build-up from using products, especially if they’re silicon-based, and over time they start to build up bad bacteria that can cause inflammation and itchiness and even hair loss.
What if you have a dry scalp?
Exfoliating your scalp can help. Especially in harsh weather conditions, such as extreme cold or heat, when your scalp is the driest, it is important to do what you can to keep it healthy. If you see flakes coming from it, they are probably not dandruff. They are the dead skin cells falling off. Dandruff causes huge white flakes while dry scalp causes small yellowish-white flakes.
The goal is to normalize your scalp-healthy scalp equals healthy hair.
I recommend using Royal Spa Scalp Revival Scrub to exfoliate your scalp 1-3 times a week. Formulated with salt granules, this exfoliating formula soothes the scalp by helping to eliminate product buildup and dead skin. It is also formulated to balance and leaves the scalp feeling smoother.
Royal Spa Scalp Revival Scrub is safe for color-treated hair. It is a sulfate-free hair cleansing product. Use it in place of shampoo by squeezing one tablespoon onto wet hair and delicately massage the scalp. Add water as needed and lather to cleanse. Rinse thoroughly and follow with a conditioner. I would even consider using a deep conditioner. It’s also NOT tested on animals.