Roots and Rituals: Nurturing Your Hair From Scalp to Tip

The topic of scalp care has been in the spotlight recently, with more and more people recognizing how a healthy scalp contributes to healthy lengths. The two are strongly intertwined, meaning that if you want your hair to look full, thick, and glossy, you need to show your scalp some TLC.

How can you do this? Read on as Nubi shares some expert advice for nurturing your mane from scalp to tip.

Cleanse Your Scalp Correctly

It goes without saying that if you want your scalp to feel healthy, then it needs to be kept clean. Allowing dirt, oil, product residue, and other debris to build up on your scalp can lead to a number of problems, from clogged follicles and reduced growth to itching, flaking, and even pimples and infections.

With that said, while everyone has their own shampooing style, it’s important to ensure that the way in which you wash your hair is benefiting your scalp.

For starters, although it may seem more effective to vigorously scrub at your scalp when applying your shampoo, this will only aggravate the skin in this area. Instead, you want to be gently but firmly massaging your shampoo in. Not only will this evenly spread your shampoo around but it will also boost circulation, leaving your scalp feeling healthier.

It’s also vital to make sure that you aren’t washing your hair too often. Each time you shampoo your locks, you’re removing the natural oils that keep your scalp hydrated and protected. Sure, you don’t want these oils to build up and leave you with greasy locks but you also shouldn’t attempt to completely eradicate them. In small amounts, they’re incredibly useful!

Hot water is something else that will strip away your scalp’s sebum. So, when shampooing your hair, turn the temperature down to lukewarm instead. Not only will this be better for your scalp, but it will also save the skin on your face and body from drying out too!

Always Condition After Cleansing

Shampooing is essential in order to remove the buildup of dirt and sebum that coats your scalp and strands. However, without this sebum to protect it, your hair becomes more vulnerable to dryness and damage.

That’s why it’s vital to always apply a conditioner once you’re done shampooing your hair. This will add moisture and lubrication back into your locks. Choose a conditioner that contains proteins and you’ll be strengthening the feel of your strands too. 

The Nubi Nourishing & Moisturizing Conditioner, which is infused with olive oil, plant proteins, and vitamin B5 would be a great choice. Each application will leave your hair feeling smoother and thicker while also preventing the look of frizz and static.

Use Hair Care Products Without Sulfates or Silicones

You’re probably familiar with how some skincare products contain harsh ingredients that do more harm than good. Well, the same applies to certain hair care products too.

Sulfates are one of those ingredients that are best avoided. They’re a popular addition to shampoos and conditioners because of how they remove both sebum and dead skin cells. However, they’re a little too good at their job, leaving the scalp feeling overly dry and irritated. That’s why many brands, including Nubi, are now working on creating sulfate-free formulas, which are far gentler on the scalp and hair.

Silicones are another no-no. Although silicone-infused products leave the hair feeling super silky, silicones are notorious for being difficult to wash out. This leaves the scalp prone to buildup, resulting in weakened strands that are susceptible to damage in the long run.

Don’t Allow Your Hair to Remain Wet For Too Long

It’s a common misconception that leaving hair to air dry after it has been washed is the best way to go. Unfortunately, doing so can actually lead to damaged strands along with an unhealthy scalp.

How? For starters, a damp scalp and the neutral pH that it consists of provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you’ve ever had wet hair for several hours and have felt itchy on your scalp, this is a sign of bacterial growth. Once your hair is dry, the scalp returns to its normal acidic pH, which helps to halt the spread of bacteria.

It’s also worth noting that wet hair swells in a way that can damage the inner layer of each strand. It’s a process known as hydral fatigue and it weakens the hair over time. 

Research confirms that if you want your hair and scalp to feel healthy, leave it to air dry until it’s about 80% dry, before finishing the job with a blow dryer. Look for a model with a powerful motor, such as Nubi’s Blow Me Away hairdryer. This will enable it to dry your hair faster, reducing the amount of time that your is exposed to heat.

Scalp Exfoliation

You probably already regularly exfoliate the skin on your face and body, but does your scalp receive the same attention? Many tend to forget that the scalp is made up of skin too, meaning that it’s just as prone to blocked follicles and the various problems that this can cause.

This is where scalp exfoliation can save the day. It will clear out any clogs in your hair follicles, giving your hair a healthy environment to grow from. It will also remove any product buildup, along with flakes of dandruff and environmental toxins. The stimulation that it provides to your hair follicles will help your hair to grow faster, longer, and healthier too.

How should you go about exfoliating your scalp?

It’s easy enough to create a DIY exfoliator but using overly abrasive ingredients could end up causing more harm than good. Instead, your safest bet would be to purchase a dedicated scalp scrub. You should only need to use it once every week or two, after shampooing but before you apply your conditioner.

Don’t Overdo the Heat Styling

There’s no disputing the fact that exposing your locks to high levels of heat can be extremely damaging. Doing so regularly is even worse as this will weaken your hair cuticles. This then leaves your locks more susceptible to breakages.

This doesn’t mean that you have to completely abandon your heated styling tools. Instead, simply limit how often you use them. It can also be helpful to invest in tools that are designed to minimize the appearance of damage, just like the Nubi Soft N’ Straight 1.25” Ceramic Pink Styler. Not only does this hair straightener boast an adjustable temperature dial, meaning that you can turn down the heat to prevent causing unnecessary damage, but it also comes with negative ion and infrared heat technology to keep your hair looking soft, smooth, and healthy.

Of course, don’t forget to apply a heat protectant before attempting to heat style your hair. This way, you’ll be creating an additional barrier between your strands and the heat. Rather than the heat directly damaging your strands, it will burn off that barrier instead, leaving your hair intact yet still beautifully styled.

Invest in a Shower Filter

There’s a good chance that the water that’s pumped to your house is treated in some way. The specifics of this treatment will depend on where you live, but it usually involves adding certain components to the water to sanitize and disinfect it.

Unfortunately, some of the minerals that are added to treated water can have a detrimental effect on your scalp and hair. Calcium and magnesium, for example, not only sometimes react to ingredients in shampoos and conditioners but also interfere with the sebum produced by your scalp, leaving you more likely to experience irritation and clogged follicles.

The solution is to invest in a water filter. They’re relatively inexpensive and easy to install. They work by removing minerals and chemicals from the water before it reaches your hair and body. This results in softer water that will cleanse your mane without causing any damage.

Protect Your Locks From the Sun

It’s common knowledge that the sun’s UV rays can be disastrous for the skin. However, while many make an effort to keep the skin on their face and body protected with SPF, the scalp is often neglected.

When UV rays hit your scalp, a number of things happen. The cell structure of your strands ends up damaged, protein loss occurs, and your hair color can even change. Sun-damaged hair is highly prone to dullness, tangles, and hair loss, making it worth protecting your locks from this as much as possible.

How? One option would be to invest in a sun protection product designed for use on the hair. They’re usually available in spray form, making them easy to apply.

Alternatively, you could also turn to accessories to provide a physical barrier between your scalp and the sun. A wide-brimmed hat will block UV rays from damaging your scalp. Keeping your hair tied back at the same time will minimize how much exposure the rest of your lengths suffer from.

Keep Stress Levels Low

It’s a known fact that high levels of stress can severely impact a person’s mental health. However, it can also cause problems for your skin too, including the skin on your scalp.

Each time you feel stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This interferes with the skin in a variety of ways. Some people experience excessive dryness and dandruff while others notice an increase in sebum production and, therefore, oiliness and acne.

If you want to ensure that your hair looks its very best, work on cutting back your stress levels. Not only will you notice an improvement in your mane, but the rest of your skin will start to look healthier too while your mental state will also become much more positive.

Summary

Your scalp plays an essential role in how healthy your hair looks and feels. The better condition your scalp is in, the thicker, stronger, and more vibrant the rest of your hair will look. If scalp care isn’t something that you’ve previously prioritized, now is the time to change that. Giving your scalp some extra love and attention will go a long way in enhancing the overall appearance of your tresses!

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