Is scalp care part of your hair routine? Or, like most of us, do you only think about your scalp when it’s giving you grief? Like the rest of our skin, our scalp needs proper care to be its healthiest, and a healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair.
Care for your scalp to keep your crown comfortable and your hair its happiest.
Edited by Mary Ptucha and Jenny Tellier, July 2023.
Here are some easy scalp care tips along with some of our favourite products that focus on providing nourishment to both hair and scalp. These steps promote blood circulation, offer soothing and anti-inflammatory relief (goodbye dry, itchy scalp), balance detoxification (no more congested scalp) and optimize growing conditions for your hair (hello, longer locks).
SCALP MASSAGE + TREATMENT OIL
A scalp massage is a simple and easy practice that promotes blood circulation to the hair follicle - essential for hair growth. We love this practice for its accessibility as you can do it anytime, with just your fingers.
Choose a nourishing oil with scalp and hair-friendly ingredients.
F. Miller Hair Oil
Ideal for all hair types, this concentrated repair serum is formulated with a blend of stimulating botanicals designed to protect, hydrate and nourish hair and the skin beneath it. Formulated to improve shine, softness and resilience it delivers conditioning nutrients deep into the hair follicle.
Living Libations Scalp Tonic
This oil soothes and treats a wide range of scalp concerns, like dryness, flakes and irritation. To use, take a few drops in the palm of your hand and gently massage into the scalp before washing.
Rahua Founder’s Blend Scalp & Hair Treatment
This powerful blend of plant ingredients helps balance the scalp's moisture levels and soothe irritation. To use, massage this nourishing treatment into the scalp and hair and leave for at least 15 minutes before rinsing out.
HH tip, leave on overnight before cleansing in the morning.
EXFOLIATION
The next step in your healthy scalp hair routine is exfoliation.
Exfoliation can be done daily with a hairbrush, running the brush over each section of the scalp and gently brushing through to your ends. Note, this is also a form of scalp massage and will help distribute your natural oils through your hair.
Exfoliating your scalp before cleansing loosens dry skin, oil and product build-up, allowing for a more thorough cleanse.
Natureofthings Cleansing Body & Scalp Polish
Made with rhassoul clay, fuller's earth and ceylon cinnamon oil, this luxurious scrub cleanses the scalp of excess oils, pollutants and product buildup while stimulating circulation and promoting healthy hair.
Apply to a dampened scalp in the shower, gently rubbing in circular motions for at least 45 seconds, rinse thoroughly, and follow up with a scalp-friendly shampoo. We recommend using this every other time you wash your hair or as your scalp needs.
Rahua Scalp Exfoliating Shampoo
This 1-step shampoo scrub provides a gentle purifying exfoliation experience for the scalp removing dead skin cells and build-up while improving blood circulation. Plant-powered ingredients such as Symbiotic® Rahua, sacha inchi, and morete oils nurture overall hair health.
Apply on fully wet hair, massage onto the scalp in a circular motion, lather, and rinse thoroughly. Follow with your favourite conditioner. We recommend using this every other time you wash your hair or as your scalp needs.
CLEANSE
The next step is the cleanse. We have a few favourites for shampoos which take great care of the scalp as well as the hair.
The Hair Routine Balancing Shampoo
This shampoo is formulated to perform on all hair types and does a great job of balancing the scalp to its natural equilibrium while nourishing the hair. Made with organic oils such as eucalyptus and tea tree.
We find ourselves recommending this shampoo over and over for its ability to balance any hair type and stimulate blood circulation and hair growth.
Natureofthings Hair Cleanse Concentrate
This luxurious shampoo utilizes bioactive plant, mineral and aqueous ingredients for supremely clean hair and a healthy scalp. Cleansing and detoxifying coconut-based surfactants, along with Moroccan lava clay and salicylic acid allow for hair follicle rejuvenation.
Notice Shampoo Bar The Stimulator
Made with French green clay which pulls oils, toxic substances, and impurities from your scalp and hair. It has antioxidant and protective properties as well as stimulating the scalp.
Notice Shampoo Bar The Balancer
Great for calming the scalp and normalizing hair follicle activity. With turmeric and calendula this shampoo promotes collagen production, provides nutrition to your roots, promotes cell rejuvenation and can help to prevent dandruff.
Each of these star shampoos has a coordinating conditioner which works beautifully with it for amplified benefit. We also encourage mixing and matching your conditioner with your shampoo. This is where you can choose a formulation and routine catered to your hair's specific needs.
SCALP TONER
Rahua Scalp and Skin Toner
The product you never knew you needed!
This multitasker is formulated to cleanse, balance and refresh – leaving the scalp soothed and revitalized. Especially great for dealing with seasonal weather extremes, this gentle mist rebalances the scalp’s microbiome and pH levels and reduces excessive oil production.
Beneficial for all hair types, we recommend using this toner morning and night and as desired throughout the day to soothe and hydrate the scalp.
To use, shake well then mist generously onto clean scalp and skin.
HAIR TREATMENT MASKS + HAIR TOWELS
Masks aren’t just for your face!
Just like your favourite face mask, hair treatment masks are a great way to get a boost of concentrated care into both your hair and your scalp.
We recommend using one of these targeted hair masks between cleansing and conditioning.
Apply the mask throughout damp hair, then pile hair on top of your head and wrap in a lightweight towel (Hair and Hand Towel - Cove and Marin are designed just for this!). Sit back and relax for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse off and condition your hair to seal the cuticles. This traps the treatment leaving your scalp and hair soft and luscious.