If you’ve heard a lot about having a healthy scalp lately, it’s for good reason. That’s because scalp health is imperative for hair health. A healthy scalp can lead to fuller, shinier and stronger hair, which explains why “head spa” treatments that help your scalp (think a face mask or massage treatment, but for your head) are trending on TikTok. To learn more about achieving a healthy scalp, we tapped trichologists Mandy Buechner and Bridgette Hill for all the tips, tricks and products that can help. Keep scrolling for the simple keys to a healthy scalp and in turn a thick head of hair.
Why scalp health is important
“All follicular activity, hair creation, known as keratinization and hair growth, requires the involvement of the scalp and its structures,” explains Hill. And “to have healthy hair, you must first have a healthy scalp,” says Buechner. If the scalp is impacted with product buildup, sebum and/or dead skin and debris (which is why hair isn’t able to penetrate out of hair follicle), this causes the follicle to become dormant or slow down the growth process.
That’s why it’s important to keep the scalp and hair follicles clean, clear and well-maintained. In other words, they shouldn’t be weighed down by sebum, products or obstructed by things such as dead skin, dandruff or inflammation.
What can impact scalp health
“Scalp health can be impacted by genetics, diet, hormones, health, medications, stress, medical conditions, improper hair styling techniques and mineral and nutritional deficiencies,” Hill says. “If there are deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, nutrients, declining health, intake of toxic medications or high cortisol levels due to our stressful lives, the hair follicle may be negatively affected and compromise hair growth.”
And aging can also affect the skin on the scalp. “The skin of the scalp experiences similar shifts, just as the skin on our faces does,” says Hill. And if we “do not engage in proper scalp care or maintenance, our aging scalps lead to deteriorating hair follicles.”
Related: Why Does My Scalp Smell? Dermatologists Reveal What Women Need to Know
