Scalp Talk

The key to healthy hair is a healthy scalp. Yet most of us tend to forget this when it comes to our regular grooming sessions. Shampoos, conditioners and serums are designed to target the mane, but the scalp needs care too. A number of new products are specially created to address issues like flakiness, excessive oil, sweat and dead skin cells. But are they a necessity?

Choose one for your scalp type

The scalp tends to be overlooked in our usual routine. Just like the body and face, the scalp produces sebum (oil) and sweat. Excessive residue of oil, sweat and hair products causes build up and clogged pores which can lead to dandruff, oily or itchy scalps and sometimes also hair loss. A shampoo is usually not enough to address these issues and one needs a scrub to clear the build up, explains Kinjal Ganatra, Director of The Blowdry Bar. “An exfoliator takes away unnecessary residue on the scalp leaving it supple and healthy. Most haircare brands do have some variant for scalp exfoliation. However, be careful as some products may have excessive detergent content. This will only temporarily clear the scalp, but in the long run it may do more harm than good. Ask your hairdresser for what product will work best for your scalp type. Popular ingredients in exfoliators include tea tree, mint and sea salt. Look for a silicon and paraben-free version if you have an extremely sensitive scalp. I would ideally recommend using an exfoliator twice a week in the summer or if you workout regularly. For relatively healthy hair and a scalp, once a week is ideal,” she adds.

Improves hair quality

There are many benefits of scalp exfoliation, says Alistan Cruz, Stylist, Nalini of Nalini & Yasmin Salon. “Exfoliators help open and cleanse pores. It encourages blood circulation in the scalp resulting in better quality hair, helps with essential vitamins and minerals reaching the hair follicle. If one has a scalp problem, one could exfoliate the scalp couple of days prior to a salon service such as colouring.”

Scalp exfoliating is similar to scrubbing your skin at specific intervals and helps to remove dead cells from your scalp, adds Jaykishan Anant Pawar, Assistant Manager in Training, Truefitt & Hill. “It’s a must for people who have especially oily or dry skin, or for those who use a lot of products. I believe everyone should do it at least once a month. While there are many products available in stores, a scrub can be made at home with the help of essential oils, coconut oil, brown sugar and conditioner. Mix sugar with coconut oil, add a few drops of essential oils like tea tree, jasmine and lavender. Apply and massage your scalp for some time and wash off with a mild shampoo. Those in a hurry, should just mix a spoon of brown sugar to shampoo and then apply it gently in circular motions on your scalp. Do it for four minutes and rinse thoroughly. Follow this with adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil for hair and a spoon of sugar to your conditioner,” he says.

Still not popular here

Adhuna Bhabani, Founder and Creative Director, BBLUNT feels though the process is revitalising, scalp exfoliating products are not that highly sought after. “They are not too widely available in India, to the best of my knowledge. They are generally recommended for oily and problematic scalps. The frequency of use is determined by the issue, some scalp issues require medical treatment and not simply surface treatments,” she adds.