The Benefits of Using a Scalp Treatment

Nowadays, most of us are aware that a good skincare routine is important for healthy, glowing skin and preventing premature ageing. We spend hundreds of dollars a year on serums, creams, SPF, face masks, the list goes on. But how often do we think about the skin on our heads? i.e. our scalps. In reality - this is an extension of the face. 

Why your scalp needs extra attention

Two of the key differences between the skin on your face and scalp are that the scalp has more sebaceous glands (which produce oils and sweat) and has a “lower barrier function”. This lower barrier function essentially means this skin struggles to maintain and replenish hydration levels compared to the rest of the body. As if this didn’t make it fragile enough - your scalp is front and center when it comes to sun exposure. 

For these reasons, the scalp can be prone to a number of unpleasant skin conditions, and therefore, definitely deserves more love than most of us give it! The scalp also plays a crucial role in the health of our hair. Healthy, shiny, bouncy hair begins with a healthy scalp! 

Do you want to know what scalp type you have? Take the scalp quiz to find out!

Different Scalp Conditions

This can be a sensitive topic (no pun intended!). Scalp issues are experienced by most people in some shape or form with varying degrees of severity. These issues can be stressful and even embarrassing to deal with, that’s why finding an effective and natural solution can be life-changing. 

We go from the more serious end of the spectrum with conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or dandruff, to more common struggles like dryness, oiliness, or itchiness. If you do suffer from any form of eczema, psoriasis, or dandruff, we highly recommend speaking to your dermatologist before adding new products into your routine. For some of us, our scalp conditions are less obvious and hard to identify. This is where silent inflammation comes in. 

Silent inflammation

Maybe you’ve noticed that your scalp goes through phases of being itchy, flaky, overly oily, or sensitive, but you can’t seem to pinpoint why this is happening. Most of us actually suffer from silent inflammation on our scalps, characterised by itching, flaking or oiliness. This is a direct result of an imbalance in your scalp microbiome. 

What is the “scalp microbiome”?

Scalp microbiome is the community of natural bacteria and diverse microorganisms living on your scalp. It is crucial to keep your scalp microbiome healthy and in balance in order to prevent scalp irritation and to grow strong, healthy, shiny hair. You can read more about this here.

Tips for a healthy scalp

1. Start with a good sulphate-free, moisturising shampoo such as our Honey Infused Hair Wash. A sulphate-free shampoo is gentle, and will not strip your scalp of its natural oils. This is especially important if you already suffer from very dry or very oily scalp/hair.

2. Try to wash your hair between 1 and 3 times per week. Clean hair and scalp are obviously important, just don’t overdo it! Washing less often will prevent your hair from being stripped of its natural oils and in turn over-producing these oils. That being said, if you have a large amount of product build-up, it is necessary to remove this build-up as it could clog your pores and cause irritation. When washing, try to use warm water rather than hot water, as hot water can cause your hair and skin to lose moisture! 

3. Focus on nourishing, hydrating, and protecting your scalp by introducing a scalp treatment or serum into your routine. This is where we would recommend our first-ever scalp product, the Honey Infused Scalp Treatment. Keep reading to find out what the benefits are of using a scalp serum!

4. Take time to massage the scalp. You can do this with a special tool, or just your fingertips. Massaging the scalp after applying your scalp serum helps to stimulate microcirculation (blood flow), which has many amazing benefits such as stimulating hair growth and the flow of nutrients to your hair follicles. 

The 4 key benefits of using a scalp treatment

If you’re already using a great shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask - you might be wondering why it is necessary to add a scalp treatment into your routine. Some of our most commonly asked questions are:

• “My hair is oily, which products should I use?” 
• “How can I grow my hair faster?” 
• “My hair is dry, what will help with this?” 
• “How can I make my hair look shiny?”

If you find yourself asking any of these questions, a scalp treatment is a perfect way to start addressing your hair concerns and issues. It is also important to know that scalp treatments are for everyone. Even if you have no apparent scalp concerns, you can definitely benefit from caring for your scalp.

A scalp treatment will:

1. Promote healthy hair growth

If your scalp is not cared for, your hair growth will be slowed, and the hair that does grow may be more fragile and prone to breakage. This is because the natural bacteria and diverse microorganisms that live on your scalp also live in the hair follicle, which has a direct effect on the strands that grow. 

Taking time to deeply massage your scalp also helps promotes blood flow, helping to deliver important nutrients to your follicles. Therefore, balancing the scalp ecosystem and massaging your serum onto your scalp will directly promote healthier, stronger strands right from the root.

2. Unclog hair follicles and remove dead skin cells

Just as you want to avoid clogged pores on your face, you should avoid them on your scalp too! Hair follicles can easily become clogged by the sebum (oils) produced by the sebaceous gland in the hair follicle, in combination with dirt and products. This can lead to all sorts of issues like redness, itchiness, bumps, lack of growth and even hair loss. 

Using a scalp treatment will help to gently clean and unclog these follicles, while active ingredients work to reset sebum levels. We recommend taking the time to gently massage your scalp treatment or serum into your scalp, which will also help with exfoliation and blood flow. 

3. Regulate oil production

When your scalp microbiome is out of balance, your scalp can begin to overproduce or underproduce oils, leaving your hair either dry and flaky or weighed down and greasy. Using a scalp treatment can address this issue from the root, keeping the scalp hydrated and nourished, while also rebalancing the microbiome. As a result, your oil production will slowly begin to regulate itself. 

4. Eradicate irritation, itching, flaking and redness 

Irritation, itching, flaking and redness can be caused by a number of internal and external factors. Anyone who suffers from any of these conditions knows how frustrating they can be. Scalp treatments will help to instantly soothe and relieve these symptoms and with sustained use, these symptoms will go away altogether as the product works to replenish, balance and protect the scalp. 

Wrapping up

Healthy, shiny hair begins with a healthy scalp! If you’ve read all of the benefits listed above, it becomes pretty clear how a scalp treatment can benefit your hair. When your oil production is balanced, your hair follicles are stimulated, unclogged, and nourished, the end result is the perfect foundation for happy, healthy hair!

Be sure to check out our new Honey Infused Scalp Treatment, as the perfect product to begin your healthy scalp (and healthy hair) journey. 

- By Mana, Gisou Beauty Advisor