Why you can’t have healthy hair without a healthy scalp

Beauty is more than skin deep, and the same goes for our hair

What role does a healthy scalp play in achieving beautiful healthy hair? Read on as we break down what 'scalp health' means, its connection to healthy hair, and how you can improve the health of your scalp with a few simple daily changes.

Scalp woes

We're all familiar with some of the outward signs of poor scalp health. Dry/tight sensations, itchiness, excess hair fall, flakes and dandruff can draw our attention to an underlying problem. While many of us moisturise and tailor our skin and body care routine according to changing needs and temperatures, scalps are often neglected when it comes to our regular routines. 

The root cause 

The causes of poor scalp health such as flakiness or itchiness are many and varied. It's possible you have experienced symptoms of an unhealthy scalp as a direct result of your routine. For example, some bleaching agents and hair dyes can exacerbate conditions such as dandruff; incorrect cleansing and product application may leave your scalp feeling itchy; while over-washing with harsh surfactants (sulfates) may have played havoc with your oil production. Identifying a cause and effect relationship is key to improving your scalp's health. 

On the other hand, many scalp concerns can be hard to link to an exact cause. Ongoing dandruff or excessive hair fall can seemingly occur without a direct trigger, this makes getting to the root cause more difficult.  In these instances, a broad-spectrum approach to scalp improvement may be required to maximise your hair's health & growth potential. 

Tip: Don't just brush off dandruff. Think about some of your daily habits that may contribute to the flakes. Identifying the triggers can help to solve the issue.

Become a 'green thumb' 

Imagine your hair strands are flowers and your scalp is the earth from which they grow. Just like gardening where healthy plants grow best in balanced and nourished soil, healthy hair relies on a similar approach to grow to its full potential. This means tweaking hydration, essential nutrition, microbial balance and daily habits in order to maintain the perfect environment. 

An undernourished scalp that shows signs of poor health can directly impact the health of the hair. It is essential that the hair follicle and the scalp are clean, hydrated and well nourished to ensure hair can grow long, healthy and glossy.

Tip: A tailored approach to scalp care, just like skin care, is important for optimum scalp health.

Go beyond topical treatments

When it comes to scalp health, topical products can only go so far, or in this case, 'deep'. For many people, shampoo is the main product that comes in direct contact with the scalp. Conditioners are often applied to the 'mid-lengths and ends' of hair and rarely become part of a regular scalp care routine.  Shampoo's usual MO is to cleanse the hair and scalp, removing excess oil, product and dirt.  While cleansing is important, depositing moisture to the scalp is not usually a function of shampoo. It can be tricky to strike a good balance between adequate shampoo hydration and next-day oiliness. Going beyond skin-deep is the best way to effectively address concerns where your topical approach may be missing the mark. 

Supplement Solution: "Give me scalp balance"

Oil balance and intensive nourishment are made possible with Apotecari's Crowning Glory. This scalp saviour is rich in essential fatty acids and nutrients to restore balance, nurture hair strands from the follicle, and provide needed moisture to flakey, dry scalps all from within.

Supplement Solution: "Give me hair growth"

When deciding to address growth and hair fall, we recommend including Mane Event into your supplement ritual. A stunt in hair growth can reflect an inadequate level of certain key nutrients. Supplementing with the right hair nutrition can encourage growth and protect against damage. Our duo, A Perfect Pair, teams Mane Event with Crowning Glory to provide an intensive scalp and hair growth solution.

Supplement Solution: "Feed my hair from within"

Apotecari's berry & pomegranate flavoured Hair Atelier powder combines plant-based proteins with vegan collagen, antioxidants and targeted vitamins and minerals to elevate follicle and scalp wellness, year round. By supporting the scalp, Hair Food encourages stronger, glossy and more manageable hair.

Enhance your shower skills

Its never too late to improve a skill, even one as simple as washing our hair. 

Hair washing habits can easily be tweaked for the better. Instead of washing hair once with a large amount of shampoo, cut your shampoo in half and perform a double cleanse. The first lather removes the bulk of the oil, dirt, product and pollution while the second shampoo finishes the process and ensures the scalp has been perfectly cleansed. For an intensive scalp detox, consider a scalp scrub once per month.

Use a scalp and shampoo brush and evenly massage your entire scalp in small circular motions. This ensures that the shampoo penetrates to the scalp and ensures the entire scalp is washed properly. The best part of all is that it's the closest you'll get to an 'in-salon' wash at home- what a delight!

Try the Apotecari 5-in-1 Scalp & Shampoo Brush. The flexible silicone 'fingers' are second to none when it comes to busting-flakes, cleansing efficiently and enhancing circulation. 

Rinse, rinse, and when you think you're done, rinse again! Using your fingers or a scalp & shampoo brush, gently massage and part hair all over while rinsing with water. A thorough rinse will remove all traces of shampoo and conditioner from your scalp, helping to maintain cleaner hair for longer and reducing the risk of scalp irritation.

Styling products, particularly when applied to the scalp, can cause itchiness and flakiness. Use small amounts of styling products and repeat several times if necessary rather than using a large amount of product in one go. This will help you control the placement of the product.

Go easy on the dry shampoo. Using dry shampoo too frequently or day after day can significantly increase scalp irritation and clog your pores and hair follicles. Limit use to once per week and wash well no more than 2 days after application.