In case you didn’t get the memo, scalp health is the latest frontier in the quest for shiny, healthy hair. No longer something to slip furtively into your basket at the pharmacy, scalp-care products are out and proud, and ready to help our poor, distressed tresses.
The truth is that a red, inflamed or itchy scalp can be the result of many factors – and it can affect just about all of us at some point. From a build-up of products or too many sweat sessions at the gym, to diverse factors such as stress, hormones, weather or ageing, scalp issues can feel like they come from nowhere.
Why Is My Hair Flaking?
What’s happening at cell level is usually an impaired skin barrier. Just like the skin on our face and body, if the barrier is compromised, skin will become red and inflamed and will possibly feel irritated when products go onto it.
“Flakiness or redness is commonly caused by things like dermatitis triggered by excess oil, or by contact dermatitis,” says Nicole Kae, creative director of hair-care brand Evo. “This is typically a reaction to products with high levels of fragrance or preservatives. But even weather plays a big part. So does stress.”
An impaired barrier can present in a number of skin issues, some of which seem at opposite ends: from flakiness and dryness to itchiness, irritation and oiliness.
“When your microbiome – your scalp’s ecosystem – is imbalanced you’ll notice quite a lot of change in your scalp,” explains Kae.
How Can I Fix A Sad Scalp?
A great place to begin repair is with a hair expert. They can take you through what will work for your hair type and scalp issue.
“In salon, I will always recommend a scalp exfoliation,” says Kae, who likes to use a combination of Evo’s Head Start Scalp Exfoliator and the brand’s professional scalp treatment, Top Drop Scalp Concentrate (which is only available in salon). “I pair that with a good massage to help the blood flow.”
There are things you can do at home, too. “Keep your scalp happy by not over-washing, especially with harsh products,” says Kae. “But on the flip side, don’t under-wash, because too much oil can feed the problem.”
Kae recommends washing two to three times a week, using lukewarm water and Evo’s Common Ground Scalp Shampoo, which helps tackle an out-of-balance scalp. Next, she suggests following up with a hydrating product like Evo’s Ground Control Scalp Treatment. Both are from the brand’s new scalp collection. “Don’t be shy to massage the product to activate blood flow,” says Kae.
Exfoliating the scalp works much the same as it does with your face: by removing dead skin cells, excess oil and product build-up. So make sure you do that once or twice a week, then follow with a balancing treatment such as Evo’s Home Base Scalp Serum. Dosed with cooling and calming peppermint and eucalyptus leaf oils, Evo’s scalp-focused collection works synergistically to help restore balance, support the skin barrier and reduce redness and irritation.
Other Routes To A Healthy Scalp
But it’s not all down to your bathroom routine – lifestyle factors also count when getting head and hair in harmonious balance.
“Keep your stress in check and get enough sleep,” recommends Kae. “Also incorporate scalp massage into your routine and get enough of the right nutrition in your diet by eating foods rich in protein, omega 3s and vitamins. And the big one is plenty of hydration: drink all that water!”
Get Evo Hair products here.
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