Is better scalp health on your wish list? It should be!
With all our focus geared towards the appearance of our hair, the very foundations of our beautiful manes, our long-suffering scalps can feel a little neglected.
What a difference a day makes. We know you want results, the sooner the better, so we’ve compiled our favourite instant-impact scalp fixes. If you want to fight the flakes, support hair growth, revitalise your scalp or quash the irritation, this routine is for you. There’s no need to hide under a hat any longer!
Repeat our 24 hour routine every 2 to 4 weeks or whenever you need a quick reboot
EVENING
Step 1: Scalp oil
If an itchy or flaky scalp has you in despair, donning a hat indoors and running from dark clothing, a nourishing, overnight treatment may help you rebalance the moisture and reclaim your mane. While a temporary oil slick may not be your cutest look, hang in there because the next morning is when the magic happens.
Starting with unwashed hair and working in small sections, apply a nourishing, antioxidant-rich scalp oil. We love Black Chicken Remedies’ HairOMTM Restorative Hair and Scalp Treatment, Aesop Sage & Cedar Scalp Treatment, Meraki Rose Quartz Glow Oil and Christophe Robin Moisturising Hair Oil with Lavender. Alternatively, a natural carrier oil such as almond or jojoba oils along with some beautiful essential oils may offer similar nourishing benefits. Depending on the product, you’ll use approximately 1-2 tablespoons of oil to cover your whole scalp.
Tips:
Protect your pillow – offer up a sacrificial pillowcase or soft towel to cover your pillow overnight.
If preferred you can spot treat, depending on your concerns instead of treating the whole scalp
Step 2: Gentle massage
Now that your hair is oiled-up, flip your head upside down and gently massage the oil into your scalp. Circular massage with your fingertips helps to warm the oils and disperse them evenly. While massaging your scalp, draw your fingers through your hair, spreading those hydrating oils so your strands can slurp them up too.
Regular scalp massage supports circulation and provides a mild exfoliation effect. The Apotecari scalp and shampoo brush is excellent for this purpose!
MORNING
Step 3: Rinse
You’ll be pretty keen to wash the oil down the drain as soon as your alarm jolts you awake, but be cautious with that water temperature. One cause of a flakey scalp can be the oh-so-tempting hot shower, especially on a chilly winter morning. Notch it down a little and if your skin is turning red, it’s too hot! The benefits of a tepid shower extend not only to your scalp but to your hair and body too.
Step 4: Scalp scrub
Before you shampoo, we recommend using a flake-busting granular scalp scrub. Growing in popularity, there are a number of effective options available. Try the award-winning Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt. However, if you want to trial the scrub concept before committing to purchase, there are a plethora of DIY versions online. We love Kristy’s make-at home recipe from Life-n-reflection. When applying the scrub, a gentle hand is essential. If you are too vigorous you risk doing damage and exacerbating your scalp issues further.
Apotecari’s 5-in-1 scalp and shampoo brush is excellent for maintaining a flake-free scalp in between these more intensive scrub sessions.
Tip: Avoid a scalp scrub before or after colouring your hair because it can increase scalp sensitivity
Step 5: Shampoo and condition
Shampoo and condition as normal but you may want to check the product information. Common inclusions in shampoos and conditioners such as fragrance, parabens and some surfactants (foaming agents) can trigger an irritant response. Switch to a formulation that is specifically designed for sensitive scalps. These products omit many of these irritating culprits and replace them with gentle, calming alternatives.
Once your hair is clean and conditioned, take a deep breath, brace yourself and follow with a cool rinse over your scalp for the last few seconds of your shower.
Step 6: Supplement
Apotecari’s Crowning Glory is a hydrating and nourishing scalp-saving dietary supplement that contributes to a healthy intake of essential fatty acids. Unlike some water-based vitamins and certain minerals, essential fatty acids are stored by the body and can be built up over time. These reserves rely on your diet to provide adequate amounts of the right types of ‘good’ fats.
Good fats that are incorporated into the diet have a rapid effect on the makeup and function of cellular membranes in all tissue1. Tissues such as the skin (and scalp) can benefit greatly from ensuring sufficient daily intake; think smooth, supple, flexible and hydrated skin cells.
THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Hydrate your environment
In dry, cold climates try adding a humidifier to your office space or bedroom. This will increase the moisture in the air, replacing some of the moisture that heaters and air conditioners suck out. Alternatively, placing a bowl of hot water in your space can also make a small difference to the humidity in air conditioned rooms.
Tip: Heaters quickly zap moisture from the air leading to dry skin, so try to maintain 6-8 cups of water and/ or herbal tea each day.
Up the protein
While you may not automatically link protein and better scalp health, there is a strong connection. It is the amino acids within protein sources that form the foundation or ‘building blocks’ of skin, hair and nails. Adding 2 teaspoons of Apotecari Hair Food into a morning smoothie or glass of non-diary milk provides a vegan boost of protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals to support the health of your skin and scalp from within.
- Surette, ME, The science behind dietary omega-3 fatty acids, CMAJ, 2008
