Scalp Wellness 101

By: Samantha K. Paris

We see all about skincare and haircare in our daily lives. We see new makeup products on TikTok, we see influencers giving hair tutorials, and we see ads for skincare on Amazon. But we don't see enough of is scalp care. If we care so much about our hair and skin, why do we avoid the entire area where the two meet? If you want healthy hair, that starts with the spot the hair grows from -- the scalp. After all, the scalp is made of living tissue while the hair strand itself is not. It's time we start caring for the scalp the way it deserves -- trust us -- the results will follow.

The common misconception is that our scalp gets fully cared for when we shampoo our hair. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. Just because there are no signs of dandruff or dry scalp doesn't mean there isn't any inflammation, irritation, mineralization, product buildup, or pH imbalances. Signs of an unhealthy scalp include itchiness, acne, redness, thinning, excessive shedding, constant appearance of short new hairs, dry/ brittle hair shafts, flakiness, excessive oil, and hair that seemingly doesn't grow. In order to keep our hair healthy, we have to optimize the condition of the microbiome of the scalp.

The most common Scalp Issues We See:

1. Product Buildup

   Styling products, dry shampoo, and silicones can stick to the scalp and be difficult to completely wash off at home with regular shampoos and improper care.

2. Dry Scalp OR Dandruff

   Two scalp concerns that are often mistaken for one another but are actually very different! Dry scalp, which is caused by a lack of moisture, presents as small, white, powdery flakes that fall easily. The scalp may feel tight and itchy, and the hair may feel dry as well. Dandruff is caused by yeast and excess oils. This presents as large, yellow-white flakes that are oily and stick to the scalp or to the hair. The hair may look oily at the root.

3. Inflammation and Sensitivity

   Stress, hormones, tight styles, poor nutrition, and inappropriately placed extensions are all common contributors of an inflamed and irritated scalp. Inflammation of the follicles has a direct connection with the growth of new hair strands.

4. Mineral Buildup (Hard water damage)

   Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron from hard water (which a lot of people have without realizing), can buildup on the scalp. These are not only difficult to remove and prevent proper scalp and hair health, but also continue to build up by using the same water source and no treatments. This often times can present as waxy, gritty, oily, or chalky residues. There are no flakes associated with this condition. The scalp may feel coated, itchy, or tight and the hair may feel dull, rough, tangly, resistant to color, and brassy.

5. Oily or Imbalanced Scalp

   Overactive sebaceous glands or disrupted scalp microbiomes can cause a slew of issues for your hair and scalp health. If your hair seems to get oily very quickly after washing, this is a possible contributor. The scalp may feel slick or heavy and the follicles may be clogged. The hair may become limp, stringy, and won't hold volume or styles.

Extensions and Scalp Care: Why we prioritize scalp care with every extension service:

• Extension wearers are more prone to buildup and inflammation around the wefts

• We teach the importance of weekly scalp cleansing and regular professional treatments for a clean slate for each extension service

• Other extension methods or lack of scalp care for extension wearers may cause scalp inflammation and clogged follicles. This will prevent healthy hair growth which is the last thing we want while you have your extensions. Extensions are designed to help your hair grow when done correctly, not to prevent growth.

What Can You Do To Care For Your Scalp

1. Scalp scope analysis

   The scalp analysis shows follicle congestions, redness, mineralization, and dryness.

   The tool we use to do this can take before and after photos that will be saved to your client portfolio as well as sent to your email or phone if you prefer. This way we can track progress and be sure that we are correcting the issue. After confirming whether the issue is mineralization, dandruff, dry scalp, or inflammation, we come up with a plan on how to treat the issue, customizing treatment to your needs.

2. Professional Scalp Treatments

   Hard water, product, and mineral removal with detoxifying scalp treatments are used for each scalp treatment. The use of vitamin C technology, zinc, and bentonite clay in our professional treatment give the scalp a full cleanse for each and every follicle, completely ridding any minerals or buildup that may have been present. Our HeadLab treatment includes a full scalp massage -- not only for relaxation, but also to promote blood circulation, further enhancing hair growth. We follow this up with a pH treatment and gentle exfoliation, a cooling scalp treatment, and serums and conditioning treatments customized to your needs. Steam, ultrasonic scrubbing, hot towels, and high frequency combing are all a part of our scalp treatments.

3. At Home Care

   During a consultation or any service in our salon, we can help walk you through your scalp concerns and issues and help direct you on what needs to be done at home. This will be different for everyone and will be a combination of oils, serums, shampoos, conditioners, and even lifestyle. At SB, we have hard water tests as well for take-home use, to see if your water source needs a little TLC!

If you're having issues with your hair growth, density, or scalp -- we are here to help!