Here’s a little-known beauty fact to get you thinking: the health of your scalp directly correlates with the health and appearance of your hair. So, if you’re noticing your strands are looking a bit lacklustre lately, you might need to get to the root of the problem – literally!
If you’re experiencing hair loss or thinning, getting on top of your scalp health will be paramount to restoring fullness and longevity to the hair. Even if your locks still feel as luscious as ever, it’s always a good time to start a scalp care routine.
To help you support healthy hair growth, we’ve put together everything we know about scalp care… which is a lot, seeing as it’s our main gig.
Keep reading for our must-know advice, including the best haircare routine for healthy hair and some natural haircare tips to support your favourite products.
Why is scalp care so important?
Let’s start from square one – how does your scalp affect the health of your hair? It’s pretty simple when you think about it, as your strands can’t thrive in a less-than-ideal environment.
There are thousands of follicles on our scalp, each of which houses a single hair. If these follicles are obstructed, inflamed, or unhealthy, we run the risk of compromising our hair health.
There are many reasons your scalp follicles could be compromised, and most of them link back to the scalp microbiome.
What is the scalp microbiome?
Just like we have a microbiome of bacteria in our gut, there’s a separate ecosystem of bacteria that live on your scalp. When this ecosystem is in balance, your scalp should be healthy, nourished, and drama-free.
However, when issues like dandruff and dermatitis arise, it’s because the scalp microbiome is out of whack. There might be more bad bacteria than good present, or the ratio of different types of bacteria is not ideal.
How do you balance the scalp microbiome?
To balance the microbiome – and support your scalp and hair – we suggest a one-two punch of quality haircare products and a few lifestyle changes.
The best products for scalp care
When we’re formulating products to benefit the scalp here at skelp!, we focus on incorporating key hair- and scalp-loving ingredients, each with their own set of benefits.
We know that a balanced scalp microbiome is vital to seeing results, which is why many of our products focus directly on restoring this equilibrium through a potent yet gentle combination of vitamins and minerals.
Let’s run through a few of the best products for hair health and how each of them works to restore, revitalise, and replenish the scalp.
skelp! Head First Pre-Cleanser
What it does: Purifies and refreshes the scalp before you wash your hair, giving your products a better chance at success and keeping the scalp’s follicles free of debris.
How it works: Three acids – glycolic, lactic, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) – work together to chemically slough away dead skin cells and loosen buildup on the scalp. When combined with manual scalp massage when applying the product, the Head First Pre-Cleanser will leave you with a scalp that feels lighter and less irritated.
skelp! Clean Sweep Shampoo
What it does: Deeply cleanses the hair and scalp, soothes irritation, and rebalances the scalp microbiome through a few critical ingredients.
How it works: The most powerful ingredient in our Clean Sweep Shampoo is Defenscalp™, a rosebay extract that restores balance to the scalp by reducing sebum production and working directly with (not against!) the scalp microbiome.
A range of vitamin B derivatives including niacinamide (vitamin B3), panthenol (vitamin B5), and biotin (vitamin B7) deliver additional benefits including accelerated keratin production, deep moisturisation, and fortification of the hair follicle.
skelp! All-Rounder Scalp Brush
What it does: Puts the ability to increase scalp circulation and stimulate hair growth in your hands, literally.
How it works: No scalp care routine is complete without the skelp! All-Rounder Scalp Brush. This must-have accessory in any scalp care routine has been constructed with sturdy silicone bristles to let you easily stimulate the scalp when you apply product or wash your hair, rather than using your fingernails to manually scrub the scalp.
Scalp exfoliation is one of our top tips for healthy hair – by increasing blood flow to the area you can remove physical barriers to healthy hair growth, like product buildup and dandruff, and stimulate new growth.
skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask
What it does: Gives thirsty locks a huge drink of water, moisturising from the inside-out and adding strength, shine, and smoothness.
How it works: Used in the shower in place of your go-to conditioner, the skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask is an intensive treatment for super-dry hair that nourishes from the roots all the way to the tips. Soybean-based Amisol Trio™ creates a protective barrier around the hair follicle to protect the hair from dryness and damage. Hydrolysed wheat protein fortifies the hair shaft, and argan oil gives tired locks an enviable shine.
skelp! The Healer Serum
What it does: Delivers weightless hydration to the hair and nourishes the scalp for healthier hair growth.
How it works: This product is, once again, made up of a fantastic combination of scalp-supportive ingredients including Defenscalp™, biotin, and vitamin C. They all work in tandem to benefit both the scalp and the hair, adding in moisture, strengthening the hair follicle, and calming inflammation.
This formula also incorporates hydrolysed wheat protein to repair damage and protect the scalp and hair against stressors like heat and pollution.
Our top scalp care tips for healthy hair
As well as building a strong scalp care routine to support your hair growth and strength, there are lifestyle changes you can implement. Alongside your skelp! scalp care routine, add these practices into your day-to-day to reap the rewards for your scalp health.
Eat a healthy, microbiome-friendly diet
The foods that stress out the scalp microbiome are similar to those that can have an adverse effect on our skin – think sugar, caffeine, overprocessed foods, and saturated fats. If you want to improve your scalp condition, consider cutting these out of your diet.
It’s also important to incorporate nutrients for healthy hair, such as omega fatty acids, into your diet. Prioritise a balanced diet for hair health rich in fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Our gut microbiome thrives on plant diversity and ties into the scalp microbiome – so the more different types of fruits and veg you can eat, the better!
Manage your stress
We all know that stress is a silent killer. While we might think we’re doing an okay job of dealing with our stressors, the body always keeps the score, and even if something isn’t manifesting mentally, it could show up physically – like as a disrupted scalp.
Where possible, remove external stressors from your life to support your scalp routine. Consider offsetting unavoidable stressors with healthy stress management practices like meditation, mindfulness, and exercise.
Focus on hydration
One of our best natural haircare tips is to drink lots of water! While most of us know we need 8-10 glasses of water per day, research conducted by Hydralyte in 2023 shows that we’re not putting knowledge into practice: 82% of Australians are drinking less than this recommended amount.
A well-hydrated body will deliver rewards in every aspect of your life, from the amount of energy you have to the quality of your skin, and the scalp is no exception. After all, there’s no point adding hydrating products into your routine if your body can’t support and retain this hydration. So, grab your emotional support water bottle and get to drinkin’.
Always consult your doctor
As well as these lifestyle changes and your new arsenal of scalp-friendly products, it’s vital to seek medical advice if your scalp issues are severe. If you’re dealing with seborrheic dermatitis or eczema in particular, you may need additional support from a topical product. So, it’s always best to chat to your GP to put together the pieces of the puzzle!
Your new scalp care routine with skelp!
Ready to put our scalp care tips into action to stimulate hair growth and improve the condition of your scalp and hair?
We’ve built the perfect routine devised to take all the work out of scalp care.
1. Exfoliate the scalp with the Head First Pre-Cleanser
Apply the skelp! Head First Pre-Cleanser directly to the scalp before you shower, massaging it in with your fingers. To stimulate hair growth, use the skelp! All-Rounder Scalp Brush to work the product deeper into the scalp and improve circulation. Then, jump into the shower to rinse it out.
2. Wash (and wash again) with the Clean Sweep Shampoo
Lather up using the skelp! Clean Sweep Shampoo to cleanse the scalp and hair without stripping it of its natural oils. Use the All-Rounder Scalp Brush to massage the shampoo into your scalp. Once you’ve shampooed and rinsed as normal, repeat – an oft-forgotten but completely necessary step! This second wash will properly impart the shampoo’s benefits to the hair.
3. Add hydration using the Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask
From the roots to the ends of the hair, apply the skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask to restore lost moisture and leave the hair feeling silky smooth. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse out completely.
4. Dry the hair and apply The Healer Serum
Using our new skelp! Microfibre Hair Towel to maintain healthy hair and prevent unwanted hair shedding, wrap up the hair. Once 50 to 75% dry, remove the towel and apply 5-10 drops of the skelp! The Healer Serum directly to the scalp. Massage in and leave to be absorbed by the scalp!
No more hypothesising about what will help your hair grow long and strong – with these tips, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance at restoring balance to the scalp and providing your hair with a healthy environment to flourish.
Build your skelp! routine today by exploring our range of scalp-loving products.
