Apply a Hair Oil or Serum
If dandruff isn't your main issue, "there are scalp serums, lotions, and oils that can moisturize the scalp just like you would moisturize other skin areas," says Dr. Rubin. Replenish the scalp's moisture directly with an oil or a serum specifically intended for the scalp and hair.
Exfoliating your scalp can also help remove buildup and promote healthier hair. Scalp massage is a simple and effective way to encourage circulation and loosen buildup. Rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar can also help remove buildup and restore your scalp's pH balance.
Dry Scalp: Hydrating products that do not strip the scalp of natural oils, such as aloe vera, colloidal oatmeal, and vitamin E, help moisturize dry scalps and reduce irritation and itching. Oily Scalp: Alpha-hydroxy, beta-hydroxy acids, and glycolic acid work to gently remove excess oil from the scalp.
Use an Exfoliating Scalp and Hair Scrub
To gently exfoliate daily buildup, use a delicately exfoliating scalp and hair scrub as part of your hair care regimen once a week. An exfoliating scalp scrub can be used as a precursor to shampoo or as a shampoo itself and works wonderfully for a deeper cleanse.
Not only does your scalp have a plethora of sweat glands, but it also has an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands, which produce oily sebum. Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells.
Gently shampoo
A product that contains salicylic acid can soften thick, stubborn patches. Other ingredients can also help. Calcipotriene: Most people apply this manmade form of vitamin D to the scalp before going to bed.
SAY NO TO SILICONES
Some silicones, like those commonly found in popular haircare products, like to stick around on your hair and scalp. This can help dirt and debris accumulate, which will lead to build-up that can cause scalp dryness and irritation and more fragile, brittle hair. DO opt for silicone-free products.
Our top pick is Briogeo, a clarifying shampoo and scalp-scrub combo treatment that our testers said banished itchy symptoms and flakes for days on end.
There is no need to wet your hair daily. Depending on your scalp and hair nature, you may wash it frequently. If you have oily or greasy hair then you may wash your hair more frequently when compared to normal scalp.
In order to create this natural scalp scrub, simply mix 2 parts sugar and 1 part honey together in a bowl. Apply to your hair and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Make sure to rinse thoroughly as you wouldn't want to leave any sugar residue behind!
Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.
A regular exfoliation will help lift away build up. Try using a pre-wash scalp brush, and your fingertips (but not your nails) to massage in your shampoo. This will further help to physically remove any lingering build up. A clarifying shampoo two or three times a month can work wonders.
Aloe Vera Gel: Apply fresh aloe vera gel directly to your scalp. Its natural enzymes can break down excess sebum and impurities. Tea Tree Oil: Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo or conditioner. Tea tree oil has antifungal properties that can help eliminate dandruff and maintain a clean scalp.
Summary. Baking soda as part of your hair care routine might allow you to replace commercial shampoos. People report that baking soda dissolved in water can remove excess oil and buildup in hair, restore pH levels, treat dryness and dandruff, and lighten dyed hair.
While it may not be visible at first glance, a simple scratch on your scalp could reveal tiny flakes around the part in your hair or even a white, oily substance under your nails. That substance is a high concentration of scalp sebum, along with some product buildup, sweat, and dead skin cells.
Head and Shoulders Daily Moisture Scalp Cream
This lightweight, quick-absorbing formula is one of our favorite natural hair products. It's suitable for protective styles like twists and locs, or relaxed hair. Apply it all over your scalp to seal in moisture and prevent flakes and itchiness.