By Camilla Williams
The key to healthy hair begins at the roots: your scalp!
Many women who think they have dandruff due to dirty hair in actuality have flakes caused by a dry and irritated scalp. I’ve definitely been there and let me tell you watching those flakes fall at the hair salon is no fun. I either, pretend I don’t see it or attempt to brush it off when the stylist isn’t looking.
Well not any more ladies! Calcium found in hard water, harsh shampoos and a lack of natural oils, are all contributors of dry scalp and can prevent hair growth. According to World of Hair, “Calcium can choke the hair at the mouth of the follicle causing hair to break off.”
Moisturize your scalp and get long-lasting relief from flaking, and promote healthy hair growth with these tips below.
1) Limit your amount of shampooing! Especially during the winter months limit the amount of times you shampoo your hair in order to maintain the pH balance. And when you do shampoo, only use those that are sulfate-free.
2) Prevent buildup! While you want to limit the amount of times that you shampoo, your hair still needs to get clean in order to prevent product buildup on your scalp. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar are both great for this purpose and are gentle on your hair.
Twice a month, douse your hair with apple-cider vinegar to prevent buildup without causing damage. Rinse in cool water and be sure to apply a deep-conditioning treatment.
Baking soda is another effective way to remove product buildup. First, mix 1/4 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of baking soda and rinse with cool water. Or you can add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to your shampoo and wash as usual.
3) Massage your scalp! This is a must for a healthy scalp and should be incorporated into your hair regimen. Every other week massage your scalp with either an oil of your choice (I use coconut oil) or an exfoliating scrub. When I’m exfoliating my scalp, I mix raw brown sugar with Brazilian nut oil and scrub my scalp for 2-5 minutes.
