Why You Need to Take Care of Your Scalp This Winter
Everyone wants healthy, shiny, and beautiful hair, but few realize that this means investing in so much more than just hair products. A beautiful mane also means a beautiful scalp—the invisible and living part of the hair that, just like the skin, is filled with a myriad of blood vessels. As unsettling as this may sound, these vessels are responsible for transporting all the nutrients your hair needs for growth, protection, shine, and suppleness. In other words, the condition of your hair directly depends on the health of your scalp. So in order to have the perfect winter beauty routine, it's important to engage in scalp hair care as much as it is to moisturize and apply your favorite face oil.
As explained by hair expert Chiara Mariottini (general manager of Sisley Paris), “If the scalp is well treated, your strands will be silky and hydrated. The fat produced naturally by your body is also distributed throughout your hair fibers so, when that region is healthy, your hair is too. When your scalp is unhealthy, however, you’ll experience excessive oiliness, hair loss, and dryness—not to mention more serious problems like itching and peeling.”
Sisley has just launched a collection completely dedicated to scalp care called Hair Rituel by Sisley, while other brands like O Boticario and Kérastase are investing in skin and root care. That being said, good scalp care also extends to your daily ritual, and there are several things that you can do to help maintain a healthy scalp. Discover four essential scalp care tips below, then read on to learn six products that can help to keep your scalp in optimal shape.
No. 1: Don’t take very hot showers.
Hot water damages the scalp and causes it to become irritated and scaly. These symptoms can also be exacerbated by stress and anxiety which, unfortunately, are pretty much an inevitable part of daily life. So if you can avoid hot showers, that's the best way to minimize irritation.
No. 2: Comb your hair delicately.
Combing your hair might seem like a harmless act, but the habit does have a big effect on the scalp. In addition to leaving your strands brittle, aggressive combing can form small bruises on your head.
No. 3: Practice daily hygiene.
As previously mentioned, our day-to-day is usually filled to the brim, so it’s easy to spend the bare minimum amount of time on activities like hair and scalp care. Nonetheless, taking the time to wash your hair calmly and smoothly is necessary. Work your way down the hair, making small movements and using a little shampoo.
No. 4: Choose your hair products well.
The products you use on the sensitive area of your head are very important and should thus be chosen carefully. Try to avoid products with dyes, salts, and detergents because they damage your skin in a gradual way. Instead, opt for products specially formulated for your hair’s wellbeing rather than appearance – think natural ingredients, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils.
This scalp care hair serum is a genie in a bottle that you didn’t know your scalp needed. Infused with a rich concoction of plant-based extracts, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, the revitalizing serum contributes to scalp health and luscious locks.
Hair Rituel by Sisley Revitalizing Fortifying Serum, $195, available at Sisley
Pollution and other free radicals can leave your hair damaged and lifeless, and this treatment works wonders to reverse that. The concentrate helps balance your scalp’s pH and sebum levels and leaves it feeling nourished and hydrated. Pair it with your favorite moisturizer for the best skincare and scalp hair care routine to get you through winter.
Pramāsana™ protective scalp concentrate, $46, available at Aveda
Show your scalp some much needed TLC with this cult-favorite hair scrub. This product works double duty as a shampoo and a scrub to soothe that incessant itching sensation, and it helps to gently exfoliate to minimize flaking and unblock hair follicles.
Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt, $53, available at Christophe Robin
This scalp care revival treatment perfectly blends the goodness of charcoal and tea tree oil to revive that dry and flakey scalp back to life. Designed to detoxify and remove buildup from the scalp, the product definitely delivers. The result? A beautiful and healthy-looking mane.
Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment, $32, available at Briogeo
Soothing and hydrating, this revitalizing scalp care mask treatment lives up to its promise. Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment to gently exfoliate your scalp for a quick detox.
Revitalizing Scalp Mask, $75, available at Omorovicza
This lightweight formula helps stimulate microcirculation of the scalp for a deep cleanse with an added bonus for those looking for some volume. Packed with a unique combination of precious oils like Amla, Maize, Camelia, Argan, the locks feel instantly silky and glowing.
Soin Gommage Rénovateur, available in salons