Natural Remedies For A Healthy Scalp

Winter is a tough time for your scalp. Going from the warmth of indoors to freezing temperatures and biting winds outdoors can wreak havoc on your hair, skin, and your delicate scalp.

Then there’s the dry heat in your house, in your car and at work, sucking much of the moisture out of your skin and hair. The result is that your scalp gets dehydrated, leading to itching and flaking.

The good news is that there are some things you can do to keep your scalp healthy, and you can do it without the aid of harsh chemicals. Here are some all-natural approaches to addressing a dry scalp.

What NOT To Do. There are some important things you need to avoid if you want to have a healthy scalp. The first is to stop using hair grease, which has long been considered a staple of good hair care. Unfortunately, it contributes more to the problem and not its solution. Hair grease clogs your pores and prevents moisture from penetrating to your scalp. Just say no to hair grease! Shampoos and many oil containing products should be approached with care. You need to read the labels on the products you buy – if one of the first five ingredients is mineral oil*, petrolatum or lanolin*, don’t buy it because they will do more harm than good.

Shampoo Infrequently. Shampooing too frequently will just exacerbate problems with dry scalp. Even a weekly washing will turn out to be too frequent for some. Most people end up going with a shampoo every 10-14 days. Since you’re only shampooing about twice each month, it’s okay to use a clarifying shampoo* to take care of any buildup, but make sure the pH is between 4.5 and 5.5 to mimic the pH of your scalp. When you do shampoo, make sure to use the pads of your fingers and not your nails to rub it gently into the roots of your hair and scalp.

Scalp Massage. This may sound silly, but the benefits can be fantastic, especially if you use the right oil. Besides feeling good and reducing stress, scalp massage can also stimulate hair growth. To get the most benefit for your scalp, use natural oils* like jojoba, coconut, olive or avocado. Use a tablespoon of oil at most to moisturize and lubricate the part of your scalp you’re going to massage keep the pads of your fingers (no nails) planted firmly and use a circular motion like you would when giving a back rub. If you use a good, natural oil to massage your scalp every day, you won’t need to buy or use separate conditioners for your hair.

Drink Lots of Water. You should also take particular care to drink as much water as you can, especially during the winter months. Keeping your whole body well-hydrated on the inside will help distribute much-needed moisture to your scalp as well. Drinking 8 glasses of water each day will not only rejuvenate your scalp, it will increase your overall health by leaps and bounds.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy scalp isn’t rocket science, but it does take some time and effort on a regular basis. Take these natural scalp-care tips to heart, make them a regular part of your daily routine, and enjoy the benefits!