Most people spend a ridiculous amount of money on what they put on the hair shaft itself, but neglect what’s going on beneath it. The scalp is home to every single hair. When the condition of the hair isn’t shining, growing slowly, or misbehaving, the root of the problem is generally at the source.
The scalp itself is skin and at a pH that regulates oil production, the phalanges that grow out of it, and can literally make or break how any of those hair shafts behave once they’ve been sprouted. If the scalp is not healthy, no amount of conditioner to “fix” it later will help.
It’s akin to the soil of a plant not being healthy. No amount of wiping down of the leaves, or leaf shine will help if the soil is not healthy. A plant has a similar premise to hair when it comes to its base and its growing roots. Scalp health matters. The gorgeous frangipani in
Australia doesn’t stand a chance of looking its best if its growing medium isn’t optimal, so neither does hair. Many products contain sulfates and synthetic fragrances that can “smell nice.” But these also zap out any good oils from the scalp that either leaves it too dry, or forces it to make too much oil in return.
Neither is any good for hair growth. But instead of eliminating the problem, we throw more products at the “solution.” Breaking this cycle is usually best done by going straight to the condition of the scalp first.
The first indicator is an itching sensation, but there are a number of other “symptoms” that may be dismissed as normal hair shenanigans. Flaking that mainly only appears on darker shirts but isn’t quite itchy like dandruff. Hair that is too oily by mid-afternoon no matter how freshly it’s washed in the morning.
Tender spots on the scalp that feel “off” when touched; these are all symptoms that the follicles are unhappy, and that it does not bode well for their ability to grow any hair of decent quality.
Some people experience a complete change in their hair overnight whether it’s a change in texture or their once lush mane grows to a certain length and just stops. Before blaming it on genetics or age, check out your scalp health. Inflammation and product build-up is REAL! So is follicle and pore blockage.
All of which interrupts the process of hair growth. For those wanting to care for it naturally, Naturally Linda Hair Care offers a host of organic products that allows the scalp to do its own job.
Excessive hair fall (more than 50-100 strands a day) usually has to do with scalp health as well. Follicles can’t thrive in an inflamed environment, nor can they do their job if they’re blocked by old products doing nothing other than blocking their function. When follicles can’t do their function, any hair that does grow will be weak and susceptible to breakage.
Here’s something that surprises most people, but even healthy product can cause issues when it builds up over time.
Silicones, oily conditioners and conditioners in general build up on hair and on scalp over time instead of working as they claim, leaving an invisible bed of product that keeps your scalp from breathing.
Product build-up attracts dirt and dead skin cells and forms a layer cake with these ingredients that gets caked underneath any shiny hair shaft you see on the surface. This has the potential to clog those little pores on your scalp as well.
When follicles get clogged, hair gets thinner and weaker (if it grows at all). Most people don’t see this manifestation until there’s persistent itching or a decline in the quality of their hair despite using “good” products.
The process may take a bit of time and may feel strange while your scalp gets acclimatized to its new environment.
Scalp pH balance is around a 4.5-5.5 level which makes up its protective acid mantle that fights off fungus and bacteria while encouraging hair to grow.
Most commercial shampoos mess with this pH trying to lather and leave a nice after smell. So, here’s what happens when pH levels go astray:
The hair cuticle lifts causing weakness in each shaft making them susceptible to dryness and frizz. The scalp loses its protective acid mantle making it up to serious irritation.
Oil glands misbehave either not producing enough oil or going into overdrive while leaving no homeostasis behind Most natural products work with (not against) mother nature.
Treating scalp issues doesn’t take any fancy shampoos or treatment protocols in most cases. In fact, all it takes is cleaning up your product list and giving your scalp what it really needs instead of what you think it needs to be happy again
Take out any ingredient that claims it nourishes hair while stripping it of oil expecting you to make it up with silky product. Plant based ingredients have healing mechanisms that synthetic ones can’t replicate. Tea tree oil has natural antiseptic properties without destroying the good bacteria. Aloe vera increases moisture while soothing inflammation.
Natural oils mimic human oils thus regulating how much oil your scalp makes instead of forcing it to act one way or another.
Look after your scalp like you do your face. It’s skin too. The right investment here will go further than any styling product on the market at giving you high quality, manageable, growing locks if you take the time to tend to them properly.
Scalp health is as important as looking after your face. Both are made up of living tissue; both have a tendency to behave in undesirable ways when exposed to certain products.
Beauty can then be built if we put those treatments into action on a regular basis using good products (not just commercial ones).
Investing in Scalp health will pay dividends when it comes to more manageable and healthier looking head of hair than any styling product can offer you.
When the base of your hair is well taken care of, your ends won’t need as much maintenance with third party products.
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