In the pursuit of beautiful hair, we often overlook an incredibly important aspect of healthy locks—the scalp. A healthy, well-nourished and clean scalp supports optimal hair growth, both in terms of growth rate and quality of hair.
Unfortunately, shampooing alone may not be enough to adequately care for your scalp. Between hair product buildup and skin’s natural regenerative process (including shedding dead skin cells), hair follicles can become clogged, impeding hair growth and healthy circulation. On the flip side, your scalp may also become dry (itchiness and non-dandruff flaking are a big clue; also, an uncomfortable “tight” feeling may also indicate that your scalp needs additional conditioning).
Both situations call for a little scalp pampering. Fortunately, you can accomplish soothing, beautifying scalp care from home with these two simple methods. The following treatments can benefit a variety of hair conditions—and you may want to give both a try (though probably not in the same go, which could be rather time-consuming).
Scalp Scrub
Perfect for: product build-up, a scalp that feels clogged, root/new growth that looks lackluster and lacking in volume.
Using a scalp scrub is an easy and enjoyable way to pamper your scalp and remedy common scalp problems. A scalp scrub boosts circulation, encouraging the flow of nutrients in the bloodstream to the scalp. It can also cleanse and clarify by exfoliating and removing dirt and product buildup, thereby unblocking pores in the scalp. Finally, a scalp scrub invigorates the scalp, soothing and cooling an itchy scalp.
DIY Scalp Scrub
A simple mixture of ⅓ cup baking soda combined with enough water to form a paste will leave your scalp feeling clean and refreshed. For a spa-like experience, add a few drops of a cooling, stimulating essential oil (like peppermint, eucalyptus, pine, or juniper).
Some professional scalp scrubs also include a high-quality sea salt, which can help supply minerals to your treatment. In my experience, however, nothing quite restores volume, shine, and softness like a baking soda-based scrub. This baking soda treatment is especially good for hair suffering from the effects of hard water (build-up, dullness, hair that never quite feels clean even after you shampoo it).
Christophe Robin Scalp Scrub features sea salt.
Massage the paste into wet hair (prior to shampooing), focusing on the roots. After a thorough massage, wash hair with shampoo as usual. Repeat up to once a week on virgin hair; use sparingly on color-treated hair as baking soda can fade color over time). For dry scalps, add a teaspoon of non-comedogenic oil to the paste (like argan oil). Do not use on broken skin.
Jojoba Oil Scalp Treatment
Perfect for: dry scalp and hair, hair that feels dry and looks lackluster.
This jojoba oil treatment provides the perfect scalp “food” for a happy, comfortable, well-moisturized scalp—and shiny hair that moves beautifully. And it can be done in the comfort of your home.
Jojoba oil (which is technically a wax but has an oily consistency) is wonderfully suited to healing a dry, itchy scalp as well as effectively moisturizing hair without leaving behind a tough-to-remove greasy residue. It will not evaporate like water-based moisturizers, however.
Jojoba oil has a very similar structure to that of skin’s natural oil (sebum), so it’s perfect for dissolving excess oil and buildup, which can clog the scalp and inhibit healthy hair growth. This anti-inflammatory oil also provides a cooling effect for an irritated scalp.
If you experience psoriasis or scalp dermatitis, jojoba oil’s gentle antibacterial and anti-fungal properties can help improve the health of your scalp. Furthermore, by improving micro-circulation, jojoba oil encourages the reproduction of hair cells, for faster, more abundant growth.
At-home jojoba oil scalp treatment:
In a small bowl, pour ⅓ cup of jojoba oil (or more if you have very long hair). Add any additional oils you desire (argan oil is a great choice). Finally, add three drops of lavender oil, three drops of tea tree oil, and three drops of rosemary oil (essential oils are optional but add a pleasant fragrance as well as antimicrobial and antibacterial benefits). Mix well.
Use a fine-tooth comb to evenly distribute the oil mixture into dry hair. Take the remaining oil and apply several drops to your scalp. Gently massage the oil into your scalp using small, circular motions. Leave in hair for up to 15 minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual.
Have you tried either of these healthy DIY scalp treatments?
Related: 5 Simple DIY Tips for Managing Oily Hair
These 5 Vegan Hair Products Will Give You Magically Good Hair Days
Kate Moss Uses This DIY Beauty Treatment To Clarify Pores & Firm Skin—& We’re Into It
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Photo by Autri Taheri on Unsplash, Amazon
