We tend to judge the health of our hair with only the hair strands and the ends of it. Our focus commonly is its length, volume or shine. We would rather tend to ignore the starting point of hair growth and health, the scalp. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. While it is common to hear that statement almost everywhere, most naturals forget to include scalp care in their hair care regimen. Scalp is like a soil and hair is like a plant. If the soil is well taken care of, the hair will be strong and healthy.
Related:- 6 Best Scalp Care Products for Natural Hair
What causes Dry and Itchy Scalp?
Dryness and Itchiness are conditions when your scalp is not properly cared for. Dry and itchy scalp can be caused by;
- Product Build-up:- The most common cause of dryness is product build-up. You may utilize different styling products, conditioners, or treatments on your hair that aren’t meant for your scalp. Especially if you are co-washing regularly, a product build-up may occur, causing scalp dryness and itchiness.
- Sunburn: – Exposure to direct sunlight irritates and dries your scalp. Wearing a style that exposes your scalp to sunlight and uncovering your hair during sun exposure may cause scalp dryness.
- Lack of enough Moisture: – Moisture is critical for the health of your scalp. Lack of essential oils and scalp moisturizers causes scalp dryness.
- Not drinking enough water, allergies to different products, dirt, and exposure to different weather conditions may also be causes of dryness and scalp irritation.
How to care for your scalp
Proper scalp care should be incorporated in your natural hair care regimen, if you want healthy and strong natural hair.
1. Clean Your Scalp
Build up and dirt are the major enemies of scalp health. They cause inflammation, irritation and dryness if not properly washed out. Shampoo your hair between 7 to 10 days to keep your scalp clean. If your scalp is sensitive, use sulfate free shampoos to avoid irritation.
2. Massage Your Scalp
Scalp massage stimulates blood flow and makes your blood reach your follicles to deliver necessary nutrients and oxygen. The hair that grows out from those nourished follicles is healthy and strong. Scalp massage also helps you to relax and avoid stress and headache. You can massage your scalp with your fingers or a scalp massager.
3. Exfoliate
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, product build-ups and excess oil from your scalp. You can exfoliate with a scalp brush or scalp scrub.
4. Keep it moisturized
Moisture is key to keep your scalp healthy. Always keep your scalp moisturized. Apply essential oils frequently. Use hot oil treatments. Steam your hair and scalp with DIY hair masks or butter treatments and creams. Use moisturizing shampoos and conditioners during washday.
Related:- 6 Best Scalp Care Products for Natural Hair
