10 Dos and Don'ts for Scalp Health

Hair Care

We often overlook the importance of scalp health when it comes to maintaining long, strong, luscious hair. Just like the skin on our face, the skin on our scalp requires attention and care. Think of the scalp as the fertile ground from which our hair grows. It's important to maintain a balanced, clean environment, providing the scalp with the TLC it needs for your strands to thrive. 

If you’re ready to start treating your scalp with the same level of care that you treat your skin, keep reading for some easy-to-incorporate do’s and don’ts for optimal scalp health:

1. Do: Exfoliate Your Scalp

Cleansing your scalp is the first step in creating a fresh canvas for your hair to look and feel its best. Build up and excess debris on the scalp can clog hair follicles, impede hair growth, and lead to issues such as dandruff, dryness, or excess oil. It's essential to remove this build up to maintain a healthy scalp environment, which in turn supports hair health.

That’s why it’s important to cycle in a clarifying shampoo in place of your regular shampoo about 1X a week (or as needed) that can exfoliate and detox your scalp. 

We recommend opting for a gentle, sulfate-free formula that deeply cleanses while providing hydration, making sure your hair doesn't feel dry and overly stripped after use.

Our Scalp Detox Jelly Cleanser is a clarifying shampoo which uses glycolic acid to gently exfoliate your scalp while vitamin E beads provide a burst of hydration. 

2. Don’t: Over Wash

While keeping your scalp clean is important for hair health, washing your hair too often can strip it of its natural oils, leading to scalp dryness and irritation and frizzy, weak hair. It’s important to find a good balance with what works for you and your scalp. Aim to wash your hair no more than once every 3 days, or as needed based on your hair type and lifestyle.

3. Do: Massage Your Scalp

An ancient Indian hair care practice, scalp massages are proven by both Ayurveda and science to encourage scalp health. This practice stimulates blood flow to the hair follicles to encourage hair growth for fuller, stronger hair. We like to think of scalp massaging as the hair care equivalent to using a facial roller on your face — it provides a multitude of benefits for your hair and scalp while also feeling really good.

To really feel (and see) the benefits, incorporate a scalp massage into either your hair oiling or hair wash routine at least 1X per week. Massage the oil or shampoo into your scalp while applying light pressure, moving your fingers in a circular motion. Make sure to target both the front and back of your scalp, paying attention to the areas you want to promote growth.

Our Scalp Detox Jelly Cleanser makes this easy as it comes with a scalp scrubbing nozzle that massages your scalp for a deeper cleanse. 

4. Don’t: Excessively Scratch Or Pick At Your Scalp

While it may provide temporary relief, scratching your scalp can damage the skin barrier and exacerbate issues like dandruff and inflammation. Instead, when you feel the need to scratch, opt to gently pat or massage to prevent damage. Pair this practice with a calming scalp treatment like our Scalp Rescue Serum, which contains colloidal oatmeal to reduce inflammation and neem to treat a dry, flaky scalp.

5. Do: Use Scalp Oils

Think of hair oiling like oil cleansing for your face. In combination with scalp massages, hair oiling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that offers a variety of benefits. Some scalp oils like rosemary are known to promote hair growth, while amla is praised for its nourishing, moisturizing abilities.

Our Hair & Scalp Recovery Oil contains both of these scalp-loving ingredients and can be used pre-wash to collect dirt, impurities, and build-up while providing nourishment to the scalp and hair. It can also be used post-wash on your ends to tame frizz. Read more about the benefits of hair oiling here.

6. Don't: Use Heat Directly On Your Scalp

Direct heat from styling tools can damage the scalp and hair follicles, leading to dryness, breakage, and excess fallout. Always use heat protectant products and avoid placing hot tools directly on or very close to your scalp.

7. Do: Use Clean, Sulfate-Free Formulas

It’s important for the ingredients in your products to be sulfate and paraben-free with clean ingredients. Sulfates are harsh chemicals that can deteriorate your scalp’s natural moisture barrier and cause irritation, while parabens are preservatives that can disrupt hormone function and potentially lead to hair loss and scalp irritation. 

We hold our formulas to a high standard, which is why each product is made with clean, thoughtfully sourced ingredients like turmeric stem cells, neem, and mowrah butter. Our products are not only cruelty-free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free, but are also pregnancy safe so you can confidently add them to your daily routine.

8. Don't: Forget About The Basics

A poor diet and dehydration can impact the health of your scalp, leading to dryness, flakiness and even hair loss. A balanced diet that’s rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids is crucial for scalp health and hair growth. Incorporate foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish into your diet to help nourish your scalp from the inside out.

9. Do: Use Scalp Treatments As Needed 

Scalp treatments are just like facial serums that help you target specific concerns. For example, our Hair Density Boosting Treatment uses turmeric stem cells which stimulate dormant hair follicles to improve hair growth and reduce shedding. If you want to get rid of a dry scalp, soothe irritation, or address excess build up, consider our Scalp Rescue Serum which directly treats dandruff and scalp build up with 1.8% salicylic acid while instantly soothing itchiness and irritation.

10. Don’t: Stress Out

We know this one is easier said than done, but it’s common knowledge that stress can manifest on the appearance of your skin, causing acne, inflammation, and breakouts. Similarly, on your scalp, excess stress can lead to dandruff, itching, and even hair loss by disrupting the hair growth cycle. Managing stress is crucial for maintaining healthy skin and hair. Practice stress reducing techniques such as meditation, yoga, scalp massaging, or deep breathing exercises to keep your mind — and your body — healthy.

By following these dos and don’ts, you can ensure that your scalp is primed to achieve your hair goals. Just like your skin, your scalp deserves nourishment and care through a holistic routine. Invest in your scalp through practices proven by science and Ayurveda both, so your roots can thrive. 

If you’re seeking healthier hair that starts from the scalp, we encourage you to explore our collection of hair care products.