If you haven’t heard yet, ‘scalp health’ is the new haircare buzz word. As you age, a thriving scalp is the key to achieving your healthiest looking locks. Your hair grows from individual follicles surfacing on your scalp. It is vital that the follicle and scalp are clean, clear, and maintained. Moisture easily escapes from your skin, whereas microbes have an easy time entering. Follicles that are clogged with oil or dead skin will negatively impact your quality of hair growth.
The answer to a flourishing and nutrient-rich scalp is a deep cleanser. A scalp cleanser is a solution that exfoliates and stimulates scalp skin. Typically, these deep-cleaning agents are used once or twice a week, depending on your scalp conditions. Read on to learn more about the five wonders a scalp cleanser works on aging hair.
5 Best Things About Using a Scalp Cleanser
1. Cleanses away Natural Buildup and Product Residue
Natural buildup and product residue can compromise the environment of your scalp. Your skin cells are constantly dying and regrowing. When they die, they’re supposed to shed and new ones should grow to replace the old ones. However, as you age the dead skin cells do not shed fast enough. A buildup of dead skin cells can cause a lot of flakes to fall from your scalp. Also, sweat can remain in the scalp. Lastly, many hair products with waxy substances can stick to scalp if they are not properly rinsed out.
Cleaning your scalp with a deep cleanser will remove the build-up and promote healthy cell production. A cleanser will unclog your pores and rid you of gunky buildup. Consider using a scalp cleanser with activated charcoal and lactic acid, like the one from Better Not Younger. Activated charcoal absorbs excess oils and dirt from the scalp, pores, and hair. It extracts toxins from your hair, allowing your pores to breathe easier after a wash. Lactic acid gently exfoliates the top layer of the scalp to dissolve buildup around blocked pores.
2. Balances Oil Production
Your sebaceous glands secrete an oily lubricant called sebum. Sebum lubricates the scalp and forms a protective barrier to moisturize and protect the hair shafts. Also, sebum keeps the pH levels of the scalp balanced. If your sebaceous glands are overproducing sebum it is likely to result in greasy hair or dandruff. Excess oil on your scalp can trap bacteria under the surface and weaken the hair follicles. On the other hand, if your glands are underproducing sebum a dry and itchy scalp can occur.
To maintain a balanced oil production, introduce a scalp cleanser into your weekly hair regimen. If your scalp is prone to dryness, a cleanser will gently remove excess buildup, while providing more hydration. Find a cleanser that includes soothing ingredients like tea tree oil or coconut oil. A cleanser for an oily scalp will correct imbalances and soothe inflammation of the hair follicle, which manages oil production. Look for beneficial ingredients like apple cider vinegar and ginger oil.
3. Restores your Scalp’s pH Balance
A healthy scalp pH range is from 4.5 to 5. Scalp pH plays a large role in moisture retention in your hair. An appropriate amount of acid causes the hair cuticle to lay flat, allowing it to retain moisture. If the scalp is too basic, the cuticle opens up and your hair dries out more quickly. Additionally, a pH balance is optimal to prevent bacterial and fungus growth. Many hair products can disrupt the natural pH of hair, which can create an imbalance and negatively impact your hair health.
A scalp cleanser has the power to balance your scalp’s pH levels. Look for cleansers with natural acids, like apple cider vinegar and aloe vera, to return your hair to an ideal pH range. Apple cider vinegar has a pH of about 3 and is often diluted with water. ACV flattens and closes the hair cuticle, which locks in moisture and prevents breakage. Aloe vera has a pH of 4.5 and is known to remove extra oil, fight product buildup, soothe the scalp, and protect strands.
4. Increases Blood Circulation
Blood circulation plays an integral part in ensuring that your scalp derives the essential nutrients and oxygen to grow strong and healthy hair. A healthy subcutaneous blood flow helps the hair remain in the anagen (growing) phase for a longer period of time. Residue and buildup can obstruct blood flow under the skin. As you age, hormone fluctuations and genetic factors bring on the presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes hair follicles to miniaturize and eventually shut down into dormant follicles. The miniaturization of follicles leads to a lower blood flow to the hair bulb. The poor connection between the hair bulb and blood vessels prevents nutrients and oxygen from reaching your hair, while DHT cannot be carried away.
A scalp cleanser will clarify your scalp to increase blood flow and deliver nutrients to your hair follicles. It is best to massage the cleanser into your roots to efficiently stimulate blood flow.
5. Promotes Hair Growth
Removing dead-skin cells from the scalp improves the health of your epidermis, stimulates hair follicles, and promotes hair growth. When your hair follicles are clogged, it can stop the hair follicle from rising to the surface. This will ultimately lead to thinning since the follicles aren’t able to grow and cycle as normal. In summary a deep scalp cleanser will exfoliate impurities, balance oil production and pH levels, and increase blood circulation. All of these factors are necessary in fortifying dynamic hair growth.
Let’s Wrap it Up
Strong and thick hair is achieved through a healthy scalp. As you age, your scalp is vulnerable to several conditions like dry skin, oily skin, dandruff, and clogged follicles. A scalp cleanser with ingredients like apple cider vinegar, activated charcoal, and lemon juice can properly wash away residue and buildup. Say goodbye to dryness, itching, flakes, and weaker hair… it’s time to give your scalp the care it deserves with a deep cleanse.
