While wind, rain and humidity can wreak havoc on our meticulously styled hair, nothing ruins a good hair day like a persistent, itchy feeling.
Lucky for us, dryness, irritation and yes, that dreaded itch, could be a thing of the past, with our haircare routines increasingly focusing on the thing that can solve some of our biggest hair dilemmas and sources of discomfort: our scalp.
When it comes to soothing, hydrating and nourishing the literal root of our hair (and its problems), there are a number of ingredients we should look towards to offer some much-needed relief and care.
Of course, it’s first important to understand what may be causing our strands, and our scalps, to stress out in the first place.
Dryness & Dandruff: The Missing Link
An itchy scalp can be caused by a number of things, including skin conditions like psoriasis, fungal infections and yes, even head lice. The main culprit, however, is dandruff, an extremely common condition that almost half of us experiences at one point in our lives.
Accompanied by itching, flaking, red skin and yellow or white scales, dandruff can be caused by contact dermatitis, sensitivity to hair products, seborrheic dermatitis or a overgrowth of a yeastlike fungus.
The good news? Fighting dandruff—and the associated itchiness, dryness and discomfort—isn’t as hard as it sounds. Incorporate an anti-dandruff shampoo, like Head & Shoulders Sensitive Scalp Shampoo into your washing routine to kiss goodbye to flakiness.
Offering up to 100 per cent dandruff* protection, it gently soothes an aggravated scalp**. Formulated without phosphates, parabens and paraffins, and pH balanced with antioxidants for extra protection, the clinically proven and dermatologist-recommended shampoo offers a gentle cleanse. Plus, it’s also infused with aloe vera, known for its soothing properties.
It may be worthwhile to also add some scalp-soothing ingredients into your regular routine, in the form of scalp scrubs, oils or masks to rebalance, calm and soothe a sore, itchy and uncomfortable scalp. As an added bonus, they may just leave the rest of your hair feeling soft, shiny and healthy as well.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid already has a starring role in many a skincare routine, thanks to its exfoliating properties.
A type of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), the chemical exfoliant works to remove excess oil and dead cells from the surface of the scalp, minimising irritation and itching. It also helps strip away the build-up left behind by products like hair oil, hairspray and dry shampoo, leaving our scalps cleaner and fresher.
Rosemary Oil
With strong anti-inflammatory properties, products containing rosemary oil can help soothe and promote healing of the hair and scalp.
It’s also been shown to improve circulation, with increased blood flow to the scalp helping hair follicles thrive. As an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent, products with rosemary oil can also aid in fighting off scalp issues that are causing hair loss, breakage and damage.
Peppermint Oil
Not just the domain of toothpaste, peppermint oil can be a helpful addition to any routine for a healthy scalp. Best for people with oily hair and scalps, it often works hand in hand with rosemary oil to promote hair growth and repair.
With stimulating properties, peppermint oil can stimulate the scalp and help promote a better hair growth cycle and can even increase the follicle number and depth for increased hair thickness.
Plus, the pleasant, cooling sensation peppermint provides can help reduce skin inflammation, calming the skin and the scalp.
Look for scalp-focused, pre-cleansing products containing the oil to help break down oil and dirt before your normal washing routine.
Brought to you by Head & Shoulders.
* visible flakes with regular use
** aggravated scalp due to dandruff
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
