What comes to mind when you think of healthy curly hair full of volume and shine? Like so many of us, you might think that having healthy locks all comes down to the products you use. This is partly true, but we’ll let you in on a little secret; healthy hair actually starts with a healthy scalp.
If you’ve noticed that your scalp isn’t feeling its best and your hair is feeling a little rough around the edges, it’s time to get to the root of the problem. Whether you’re looking for the low-down on how to grow curly hair faster or just want to give your scalp the makeover it deserves, we’re here to help! Our top scalp care tips will have you waving bye-bye to an unhealthy scalp and hello to longer, healthier, and shinier curls.
Ready? Let’s dive in!
Common Causes and Symptoms Of An Unhealthy Scalp
When our scalp isn’t at its healthiest, we’re prone to experiencing some pesky symptoms, including dandruff, dryness, dermatitis—but what are the causes?
If you’ve been battling one of these symptoms and can’t quite put your finger on why, here are some of the most common reasons below:
Too many hair products: While giving your curls some TLC with your favorite hair products can go a long way every now and again, using too many products on your hair can lead to a build-up of excess oils and chemicals, which irritates our scalp and stunts hair growth.
Chemicals: If you regularly bleach, perm or relax your hair and your scalp isn’t feeling great, you may have found the culprit! Chemicals in bleach and hair colors like sulfates and hydrogen peroxide can cause some major stress on the scalp and, in some cases, can even induce hair loss.
Heat products: When we use flat or curling irons, they can strip the hair of its natural oils, leaving our curls and scalp extra dry and thirsty.
Genetics: There’s not too much we can do to prevent genetics from affecting our hair, but it’s good to be aware that some people are simply born more prone to dry scalps. Don’t worry, though - there are lots of things that can help! Stick around, and we’ll tell you how!
Your diet: Just as your diet can have a huge impact on your skin, it can also have an affect on your scalp. In terms of scalp issues tied to diet, lack of hydration and essential fatty acids are particularly to blame.
The environment: No matter how much TLC you give your scalp, heat, cold weather, pollution, climate change, and chemicals in the air can all lead to an unhealthy scalp.
Reactions to ingredients: If you’ve recently switched hair products and notice that your scalp looks sore and irritated, you might be experiencing an allergy to one of the ingredients. Speak to your doctor to identify which ingredients could be causing your scalp to react.
Hormones: Various life stages can bring a surge of new hormones that can have an affect on your scalp health. When going through menopause, for example, our natural levels of estrogen drop, causing the amount of sebum our scalp and hair produces to drastically reduce, leading to a dry scalp.
Although having a little dandruff and a slightly dry scalp every now and again is more of an annoyance than anything else, a dry scalp that won't go away can be uncomfortable and irritating. Getting to the bottom of why these symptoms occur is a great start, but how can you make sure your scalp stays healthy moving forward?
To keep your curls healthy and hydrated, make sure you’re not only using the right products but also making the necessary lifestyle changes to ensure your scalp is as happy as it can be!
Let’s look at a few ways to keep your scalp in top-top shape.
7 Ways To Look After Your Curly Hair Scalp
Now we’ve covered the causes and symptoms of an unhealthy scalp, it’s time to learn everything there is to know about how to keep scalp healthy.
1. Wash Only When Needed
When we were first starting our curly hair journeys, many of us would have to wash our hair so often just to keep our curls looking nice. Many products would give us great Day 1 curls, but wouldn’t hold up after that, causing us to rewash and style all over again.
Not only is this time consuming, but washing your hair too much can affect your natural production of sebum, which protects your scalp and hair from damage. Overwashing can actually make your scalp dry, itchy, and irritated. Sound familiar?
When we created the Love Ur Curls line, having products that helped extend the longevity of a good wash day was a top priority. It’s why our line is water-activated and easy to refresh your style with—extending your wash day to better suit a wash cycle that’s best for your hair. Check out our founder’s refresh routine here!
2. Avoid Shampoo with Sulfates
Sulfates can be too harsh for people with curly hair. They often will strip your hair of its natural oils, and with continued use can leave your curls dehydrated and your scalp feeling itchy, dry and painful - yikes!
It’s still important to properly cleanse your hair, though. We recommend investing in a curl-friendly sulfate-free shampoo, like our sulfate-free shampoo, which leaves your scalp feeling clean and hydrated. It gives the scalp a deep clean without drying it out thanks to naturally hydrating ingredients like shea butter and moringa oil.
3. Get Steamy
Yep, you read that right. It’s time to get steamy. When it comes to healthy scalp tips, this is a must. We’re not talking about applying steam directly to your scalp, though. But by creating a little steam in your bathroom before and during hair washing, your pores will find it much easier to open up, breathe, and sweat out any product build-up.
Steam is also great for blood circulation. So if you're looking for some help growing your curls, don’t be afraid to get things a little steamy every now and again.
4. Treat Yourself With A Scalp Massage
We like to say scalp care is skin care. Treat yourself to a nightly scalp massage using our specially formulated Healthy Scalp Serum. Just apply to your fingertips and gently massage your scalp for 1-2 minutes before bed. The hyaluronic acid in the serum will bring a surge of moisture to the scalp while basil and turmeric extracts help promote the appearance of longer, fuller, healthier hair. Our customers notice a huge difference to their scalp and hair health after incorporating this into their nightly routine!
5. Nourish Your Skin From The Inside
Whether you want to learn how to grow curly hair faster or how to maintain a healthy scalp with curly hair, we can’t stress how important it is to nourish your scalp from the inside out—aka be mindful of what you eat and drink.
Making sure you’re drinking plenty of water and eating foods that are full of fatty acids like omega-3s can help keep your scalp and mane shiny, hydrated and full of volume. Spinach and foods high in protein can also work wonders on dry, lackluster curls.
6. Give Extra Attention With Exfoliation
No matter where you are in your curly hair journey, learning how to properly clean your scalp can transform its appearance and eliminate unwanted dandruff and dead skin that are holding your curls back. For this reason, one of our favorite scalp care tips is exfoliating. If you’re not sure how to exfoliate your scalp, our scalp massager is just the thing for you.
On hair wash days, gently move the scrubber around your scalp in circular motions, taking your time to thoroughly cleanse each section of your scalp.
7. Protect Your Scalp
It’s easy to forget, but our scalp is our crown. When we take good care of it, it returns the favor by looking after our curls.
When learning how to maintain a healthy scalp with curly hair, protecting your scalp with a scarf on sunny or particularly dry days can prevent any unwanted damage, like sunburn, from the environment. You can even use a scarf when you’re at home to keep your tresses looking and feeling fresh.
Tailor To Your Curly Hair Needs
When it comes to learning how to maintain a healthy scalp with curly hair, remember that you’re unique. Figuring out what your scalp needs and how to keep it healthy may take a little time, but it’s well worth the effort.
Don’t be afraid to try a few things - your scalp will let you know what’s working and what’s not. All you need to do is listen and pay attention to how your crown is looking.
