Four Ways to a Healthier Scalp That Can Help Prevent Hair Loss

Add this word to your vocabulary: trichology. It’s a branch of medical and cosmetic study and practice concerned with hair and scalp conditions, how they relate to one another, and the treatment of the associated disorders. Trichologists specialize in the root cause of hair loss, which not surprisingly typically starts right at the scalp. In this way, Trichologists are the bridge between cosmetology and dermatology.

No two hair loss experiences are exactly the same, and that’s because you have to factor in things like geographic location, gender, medical history, ethnicity, age, lifestyle and habits, nutrient deficiencies, stress and anxiety, grooming products, and much more. While a cosmetologist might look at the surface, or only focus on the hair, a dermatologist might take a biospy jump right to the medical and anatomical stuff and define it in general terms, like ‘this is dermatitis or folliculitis’ and leave it at that.

Alternatively Trichologists ask a series of strategic questions to identify the hair loss triggers. Hair loss is very personal. It’s one thing to blame, let’s say, diabetes, for hair loss, but what medication are you taking? These medications might be creating inefficiencies in the absorption and/or function of your minerals and vitamins that would otherwise help the hair follicles and scalp.

We often use the metaphor of soil and plants: You need fertile, nourished soil in order for plants to grow healthy and strong. (OK, sun usually helps, too, but spare us the finer details.) If the soil is subpar—either there is a dearth of nutrients, or it’s simply a barren patch of land—then the plants will die, if they even grew in the first place. It’s important to think of your hair growth in the same way. Just as any number of issues could cause the soil to degrade and fail, the same can happen with the health of the scalp.

While medical remedies are a way to thwart hormonal assault on your follicles (such as finasteride and minoxidil), and to boost nutrient delivery, hair loss can frequently be mitigated by a number of additional less invasive tactics. Not all hair loss is genetic and there are numerous lifestyle changes, as well as holistic and plant-based solutions out there that can help reverse hair loss. For example, your hair loss could be the result of an overbuilding of proteins from your workout regimen, inflammation from your diet or even over-shampooing. Often times, you can end up doing more damage when you treat androgenic hair loss with prescriptions, when you could just treat it holistically.

So, consider adding this to your roster of routine health screenings: a visit to the trichologist. Even if everything seems balanced and healthy, a trichologist can help build a plan that will get ahead of future hair loss problems.

How to Care for Your Scalp 

Here are four ways you can prioritize scalp health on your own—even if hair loss isn’t a primary concern.

1. Get the right nutrients

A well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables will help supply the skin of the scalp with the raw materials necessary to produce new, healthy cells. Strive for two to four servings of fruits and three to five servings of vegetables per day. In addition, include two to three servings of meat, poultry, fish, eggs and nuts to ensure that your body has an adequate supply of protein, which is necessary both for scalp care and a healthy head of hair.

This prioritizes a balanced diet centered on Vitamins A, B, C, and E (leafy greens, sweet potatoes, berries, nuts), fatty acids (nuts, avocadoes, fish), proteins (eggs, nuts, beans), among other natural, whole foods. We also recommend Pure Encapsulation Hair Skin Nails Ultra and Pure Encapsulations Essential Aminos as a supplement to support the hair follicles and hair growth.

2. Pay attention to how you cleanse

Stretching time between shampoos is good for your hair because it allows the natural oils on your scalp to hydrate your hair, it minimizes daily (and damaging) heat styling, and it can help elongate the life of salon color. However, what’s good for your hair may be less good for your scalp, especially if your shampoo-stretching strategy involves using lots of dry shampoo or other products to maintain your style. The buildup of those styling products on your scalp can have the unintended effect of clogging hair follicles and limiting the ability of strands to sprout from your scalp. So, how do you balance the needs of your hair with the health of your scalp? Make sure when you do wash, you’re very thorough. This means, at least twice a month, use a clarifying product that deeply cleanses and breaks down excessive buildup. To ensure your deep cleanser is really getting your scalp skin super-clean, massage your shampoo in for at least thirty seconds, then let it sit on your scalp for another minute before rinsing away. We recommend Davines Solu Shampoo or R+Co Oblivion Clarifying Shampoo.

3. Exfoliate your scalp

While scalp exfoliation might seem counterproductive: Wait, so you scrub the scalp over and over in order to promote hair retention? While you might lose a few hairs in the process (ones that were bound to fall later that day, before restarting their growth cycles), doing this scrub also stimulates blood flow and nutrient delivery to your scalp and hair follicles. It also clears the scalp of dead skin cells, excess dirt and grime, as well as product accumulation. This allows follicles to grow stronger and uninhibited, while also mitigating fungal breakouts and flaking. The topical scrub you choose will largely be based on your scalps condition however, Davines Solu Sea Salt Scrub provides a deep yet delicate cleanse that removes impurities and build-up to cleanse and refresh your scalp. R+Co Crown Scalp Scrub is another option for a clean, rebalanced scalp.

If you suffer from dry skin or psoriasis, you may need to exfoliate two or three times per week; otherwise, exfoliating once weekly is generally adequate to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your scalp.

4. Do a weekly scalp treatment

At-home scalp therapies can range from leave-on masks to rinse-away treatments, but they all have a similar aim: To neutralize bacterial and fungal buildup, and deliver a high concentration of nourishment to the scalp and hair follicles, often while promoting circulation. Some might prioritize dry-scalp revival, while others may mitigate excessive oil production. Davines Purifying Shampoo is a clarifying and detoxifying shampoo the fights microbial attacks and dandruff to establish a healthy environment for hair growth and is an excellent solution for dandruff or severely imbalanced scalps.

5. Scalp massage

Beneath the skin on your scalp is an intricate network of blood vessels that carry oxygen and vital nutrients to the tissue. Keep the circulation going in your scalp by massaging the skin when you lather in the bath or shower. Then, once per week, spend 5 to 10 minutes massaging your scalp, using gentle circular motions. For the ultimate indulgence, consider getting a professional scalp massage.

6. Preserve moisture

Many common scalp problems arise from dry skin or are exacerbated by dehydrated tissue. When you shower and bathe, avoid exposing your scalp to hot water whenever possible. Instead, use lukewarm water for rinsing, which allows more of the natural sebum necessary for moisturizing the tissue to remain on your scalp. Once or twice per week, skip blow-drying and allow your hair to naturally air dry to give the skin on your scalp a break from the drying heat of your hair dryer.

7. Blow dry less often, and at cooler settings

The heat from a blow dryer is not just damaging to your hair; it can also wilt the follicles themselves. There’s no recovering from that kind of frying, so keep the dryer on cool, if you must, and pick up a Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer or an ionic dryer, which causes less damage to hairs. (Oh, and take milder showers, finishing with cold water while you’re at it.)

Join the Movement: work with the Best Non-Surgical Hair Replacement Provider in Ohio

If you are experiencing hair loss we invite you to schedule your confidential hair consultation today. Meet with Tiché Florence, our certified trichologist and hair restoration specialist at our state-of-the-art hair replacement center in Columbus, Ohio. There is no charge or obligation! We will provide you with complete information regarding causes of  hair loss and specific treatment or hair replacement options tailored to your individual situation and lifestyle.

Each of our hair restoration procedures is custom designed for your specific needs, lifestyle, and budget. Whether you are just starting to experience hair loss, or are in the most advanced stages, we can help with our full range of professional treatment options.