Boost Your Scalp Health, Boost Your Hair Health!

When we talk about skincare, we almost always think about the skin of our face, or secondly our body. What we often forget, however, is that the skin on our scalp is just as important as the skin on our face and body as the health of our hair depends it! As the condition of our hair is often considered one of the key factors in people’s assessment of physical beauty and self-esteem, conditions like hair loss, dandruff and skin diseases that affect the condition of our hair can be devastating. To achieve not only healthy looking, but also healthy feeling hair, the health of the skin of our scalp needs to be considered first. Read on to discover how to create a solid scalp care routine and rediscover your best hair ever. 
 

The scalp and its function

Before we talk about the how when it comes to scalp care, let’s start with explaining a little bit about the scalp and its function to understand why scalp care is important. Our scalp is the same as skin on other parts of our body and has follicles that contain hair and oil glands. Oil (sebum) is produced by each follicle via the oil glands to prevent the skin from drying out. Each hair grows from an individual follicle and the quality and growth of the hair can be affected if the follicles become blocked by dead skin cells or are congested with oil, pollution & dirt. Conditions such as dandruff, eczema or psoriasis on the scalp can further interrupt the hair follicles and hinder hair growth & health. 

To put it simply:  your hair can only be as healthy as your your scalp! if your scalp is not in a good condition, there is a less than optimal environment for hair to grow in which can result in dry, brittle and thin hair that lacks lustre and is basically a shadow of its potential gorgeousness. 

A few simple scalp care tips 

+ Think of hair washing as scalp cleansing. Choose a shampoo or hair wash specifically to treat the scalp and root area and  match your conditioner to the health of your hair mid-lengths and ends

+ Find a good balance between washing too often and not washing enough. This varies from person to person, depending on hair type but we recommend 2 x per week is enough for most people  

+ Try to use lukewarm, not hot, water when you wash your hair to maintain the natural oils on your scalp 

+ While washing your hair, use your fingertips to massage your scalp. This helps to increase circulation in your scalp, which increases the delivery of nutrients to the follicles and encouraging healthy hair growth

+ As your hair is at its weakest when wet, gently dry your hair and be sure to use a hair brush suitable for wet hair 

+ Protect your hair if you use hot styling tools with lipid rich products 

Nourishment for scalp improvement 

Choosing the right hair products can be confusing at the best of times, especially with a completely saturated hair care market. So which product do you choose?  Clear or opalescent, cheap or expensive, scented or unscented, thick or thin, all touted to improve your hair cosmetically while being tailored to the needs of various hair types, hair color, age and scalp condition. 

Let’s make choosing from the products on our website a little bit easier by explaining you what to expect from the products. At Nourished, we offer hair products from Sans [ceuticals], Innersense and Bondi Wash as well as our own hair products from Nourished x Romy. Read on and find out more about the different products in our clean & green hair care collection: 

Sans [ceuticals]

All hair washes and conditioners from Sans [ceuticals] contain two very powerful ingredients: 

+ Vitamin B5 - known for its ability to increase skin moisture and improve skin barrier function and for its exceptional smoothing and shine capabilities. It provides strength, resistance and volume. 

+ Sugar beet extract - packed with nutrients that are required for healthy skin and hair. With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties it has the power to retain moisture and calm the scalp.

In addition to the above, these products contain natural ingredients that ensure Balancing, Volumising or Nourishing properties. Something for everyone!  
 

+ Sans [ceuticals] Balancing Hair Wash and Balancing Hair Hydratant /

Conditioner 

 

+ Sans [ceuticals] Volumising Hair Wash and Volumising Hair Hydratant / Conditioner

 

+ Sans [ceuticals] Nourishing Hair Wash and Nourishing Hair Hydratant / Conditioner

Just as a dull skin benefits from a face mask, damaged, dry and/or brittle hair benefits from a hair mask once in a while. The Sans [Ceuticals] Hydratant Ultra+ Hair Treatment is formulated with potent levels of lipids to restore your hair’s lipid content leading to smooth, soft and shiny hair. 

Looking for a salon strength treatment that you can easily use at home? Sans has you covered with their two superdose hair infusions:
 
+ pH + Shine Corrector - ideal for anyone with coloured hair, damaged hair or frizz-prone hair

 
+ Moisture + Protein Infusion  - for those of you with dry hair, damaged hair, keratin treated hair & hair that breaks easily 

Innersense

At Innersense, they believe in the power of simplicity. Each ingredient is carefully sourced directly from nature and minimally processed to preserve its pure potency. Free from harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, silicones, and synthetic fragrances, Innersense offers products that lovingly support your hair, letting you shine every day.

+ To get the best out of  fine to medium hair by enhancing volume and shine we recommend the Pure Harmony Bath and the Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner. Top it off with the I Create Lift Volumizing Foam

+ For blondes, grays, and silvers we recommend the silver Bright Balance Hairbath and the Bright Balance Conditioner.

+ For some extra care for dry hair we recommend the Hydrating Hair Mask. To reset the hair we recommend the Detox Hair Mask and the True Enlightenment Scalp Scrub

+ For styling products for every hairtype we recommend the Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer. For our curly girls we have the Quiet Calm Curl Control and I Create Hold .

Bondi Wash

Both the Cleansing and Nourishing products from Bondi Wash are enriched with Australian Native Botanicals including Banksia, a flower extract deeply restorative for hair thanks to its abundance in amino acids. These products are free from the ingredient Cocamidopropyl Betaine, making them ideal for anyone with a sensitivity or allergy to this ingredient. 

+ For normal to oily hair, we recommend Bondi Wash Cleansing Shampoo and Conditioner

 

+ For dry to normal hair, we recommend Bondi Wash Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner

Nourished x Romy

All of these 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free products are capable of improving barrier function and calming the scalp, giving damaged hair the opportunity to heal and repair:

 

 + Nourished x Romy Cleanse + Refresh  Hair Wash 

Cleanse + Refresh your hair without stripping the hair or scalp of its natural oils with this natural Hair Wash. The luxurious yet lightweight formula delivers fresh, silky & voluminous hair every time. Free from silicones & parabens, this Hair Wash is ideal for all hair & scalp types and is Curly Girl Friendly!  

+ Nourished x Romy Restore + Repair Conditioner

Restore + Repair your hair & scalp with this lightweight yet deeply nourishing 100% natural Conditioner including Moringa Seed, Avocado, Broccoli Seed & Argan Oils to repair & hydrate your scalp skin barrier. This conditioner is suitable for all hair & scalp types & is Curly Girl Friendly.  

+ Nourished x Romy Dry Shampoo + Styling Powder + Scalp Treatment

Besides cleaning your hair, this dry shampoo adds thickness and volume + acts to restore the skin barrier function of the scalp, making it ideal for those with dandruff, sensitive scalps and psoriasis. 

+ Nourished x Romy Luxurious Hair + Scalp Treatment Oil 

This heavenly oil offers protection from moisture and lipid loss with the use of hot styling tools and leaves your hair soft, smooth and luminous. The ultimate for smooth and silky locks!

Want to learn more about healthy hair? Read all about Why shampoo is ruining your hair

This article was written by guest contributor Dr Coco Dekkers. Coco lives in Amsterdam and is a PhD medicine - dermatology student.  
 
References
+ Truëb RM et al. Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress. International Journal of Trichology. 2018 November-December; 10(6): 262–270.
+ Sinclair RD. Healthy hair: what is it? Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings. 2007 December; 12(2): 2-5.
+ Draelos ZD. Essentials of hair care often neglected: hair cleansing. International Journal of Trichology. 2010 January-June; 2(1): 24–29.
+ Camargo FB et al. Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations. Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2011 July-August; 62: 361-369. 
+ Jasmitha SK et al. A review on beta vulgaris (beet root). International Journal of Pharma and Chemical Research. 2018 April-June; 4(2): 136-140.