angela & james

JUMP TO SCALP ROUTINE

Part of the fun of getting older is everything starts drying out, like a lot.  You go from a teenager doing everything you can to combat, what seems like, an eternal fountain of oil.  And somewhere along the way, it just stops.  And you’re sitting there going, now what?  As I got into my 40s, my scalp was no exception.  It wasn’t flaky.  I wasn’t developing dandruff or dermatitis or a chronic skin condition (and, by the way, if you are, you should seek a medical professional).  It just felt tight and irritated and made me obsess over my head, especially in the evening hours when I was trying to wind down and relax. Eventually, it worked its way down into my hair.  My hair became dryer, more course, just icky feeling.  It was making me crazy.  I started to do research and talk to stylists and hair professionals about how to combat this.  It took me a few years to perfect, but I honestly think I’ve got my scalp routine down to a science.  My hair feels soft again, my scalp feels “youthful” (but not in an oily way), and I can stop feeling like a little old lady.  As long as I keep up with my weekly routine, I’m golden.  If this resonates with you, keep reading…

The Science Behind a Scalp Routine

1. Microbiome – The Microbiome is a diverse ecosystem of fungi and bacteria living on your scalp right now.  Gross, right?  Actually not.  When this Microbiome is out of balance, this is what causes flaking, inflammation, dandruff, and dermatitis.
2. Scalp Barrier – The Scalp Barrier is skin, similar to what lives on your face.  This barrier is what regulates moisture and prevents your skin from drying out.
3. Oxidative Stress – Your scalp takes a bit of a beating every single day and induces something called Oxidative Stress.  When your head is exposed to pollution, UV exposure, and poor diet, your hair fibers become damaged and your hair root can weaken.  Remember to give that scalp a little TLC each and every week.
4. Sebum Production – Your hair follicles are linked to sebaceous glands which secrete sebum.  Sebum lubricates the scalp and hair.  Too little, the scalp will feel dry and tight.  Too much, the scalp will increase dead skin cells and clog the hair follicles.

Want to nerd out more on the importance of a healthy scalp?

Check out these articles below:

The Science of Beauty: The Complete Guide to Scalp Care – Allure

The Science of Scalp Health – K18 Biomimetic Hair Science

Everyday Scalp Care – American Academy of Dermatology

Tips for Developing a Scalp Routine Built for YOU

1. Mechanical Stimulation – Use your fingertips or a Scalp Tool to massage during the cleansing process.  Never use the fingernails to avoid lifting, fraying, or scratching the hair cuticle.  This process increases circulation while delivering nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles.
2. Scalp Type – Make sure you understand your scalp type.  If you have an oily scalp, wash frequently with gentle, exfoliating agents (think tea tree oil or salicylic acid).  If you have a dry scalp, wash less frequently with moisturizing agents (think sulfate-free). 
3. You Are What You Eat – Always, always remember what you put into your body matters more than what you apply externally.  A diet rich in vitamins, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and drinking enough water will reduce inflammation and preserve that skin barrier.
4. Flake Management – If you are seeing the presence of flakes on your scalp, work with a dermatologist to determine the cause.  White flakes are often caused by product buildup or a dry scalp.  Yellow flakes are often associated with Malassezia overgrowth.  Ingredients such as zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide may treat flaking issues.
5. Clarifying & Exfoliating – Treat your scalp once or twice a month to a clarifying or exfoliating product.  These specialized treatments clear away styling polymers, sebum crusts, and hard water deposits that an everyday shampoo/conditioner will leave behind. 

My Four-Step Journey back to Scalp Health

I took A LOT of steps over the last few years to identify my own scalp health issues, here are the ones that actually worked…

1. Water Hardness Test Strips – If your scalp or hair is questionably dry, start here.  You can buy these strips for less than $20 bucks on Amazon, and it will answer the most important question, do you have hard water in your place of residence?  We have a water softener in our house, and I still bought them.  It’s a really cheap way to find out, is this monthly service I am paying for actually working?
2. Filtered Showerhead – A water softener will do a lot of the dirty work, but, a filtered showerhead will do even more.  I was very skeptical about this one but I couldn’t believe the difference it made in my scalp and hair health.  A water softener and a filtered showerhead target completely different water issues.  Water softeners remove hard-water minerals and limescale build-up.  Filtered showerheads remove chemical additives, trap pipe debris, and target skin and hair irritants.  I did a lot of research and landed on this one.  I have zero regrets.

P.S. The Canopy Shower System also makes these Shower Aroma Kits that are an amazing addition to any DIY at-home spa day.   

3. Clarifying Shampoo – I would guess 90% of the products I use on my face and body are clean/non-toxic.  Full disclosure, this is one product I use that is not.  I use it sparingly, typically once a month.  I just have not found a clean product that is able to perform the way this shampoo can.  I use it one time and my hair is soft, free of product build-up, and feels restored again. 

4. Scalp Routine – This is my once/week scalp routine: Heritage Scalp Remedy Oil, Papaya Scalp Scrub with Scalp Massager, and Deep Conditioning Hair Mask.  All of these products are created by the clean/non-toxic brand Ceremonia.  Is Ceremonia sponsoring me?  Absolutely not.  This is just one of the few clean brands that has created a scalp routine that actually works.  My head feels amazing after performing this routine.  It is beyond scalp health.  It is a complete spa-like, aromatherapy, wellness moment in my week and I honestly feel like it low-key changed my life.    

Did you try this scalp routine?  We’d love to hear about it!

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