If the dry winter months are screwing up your scalp, here are some scalp moisturizer tips and tricks that can help. Learn some scalp hydrating tips to help your head of hair healthy during the winter season in this article.
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13 Scalp Moisturizer Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Scalp Hydrated This Winter
1. Massage Your Scalp
A simple practice that you should adopt whenever you apply a product to your scalp is to massage it in. A lot of people make the mistake of scratching their heads when using shampoo on their scalp.
Don’t do that.
Instead, what you should do is use the tips of your fingers to rub the products into your scalp. Rubbing it in a circular motion will help stimulate hair growth as well as blood flow.
Plus, it gets the products onto your scalp more effectively.
For the conditioner, remember not to apply it to your scalp. Instead, smooth the product over your hair lengths and tips.
2. Figure out the Root Cause of Your Dry Scalp Before Looking for a Scalp Moisturizer
Before you start looking for scalp moisturizers and applying hydrating tips and tricks, you first have to figure out the cause of your dry scalp. It can differ from case to case, from simple seasonal changes to side effects of hormonal shifts or medications.
Knowing what you’re dealing with will help you choose the products you need to use, and the next step you need to take.
3. Learn The Difference Between Dandruff and a Dry Scalp
Some people mistake dandruff for a dry scalp and vice versa, so which is which? How do you know the difference?
First off, dandruff comes from an overproduction of sebum in the scalp, yeast growth, and other conditions that make the skin cells on the scalp grow faster than the regular rate. For a dry scalp, it’s simply from a lack of moisture.
You can find out which one’s which because a dry scalp will have looser white flakes. On the other hand, dandruff is yellow-ish and sticks to the scalp more.
4. Determine the Right Moisturizer for Seborrheic Dermatitis on the Scalp
Certain skin conditions, like seborrheic dermatitis, might need more specific instructions when it comes to figuring out which products work for them.
Seborrheic Dermatitis Definition: A skin condition that usually happens on the scalp that causes itching, scaly patches, redness, and greasy skin.
Since it’s crucial for people with this condition to moisturize the problem areas, especially during winter, then they should consider using tea tree oil and applying it on their scaly patches.
Aloe vera gel can also be of help. However, it’s best to ask your trusted physician for medicated treatments.
5. Choose the Right Shampoo and Conditioner for Your Hair and Scalp
When you were a child, you likely only used whatever your parents bought for you. As you grow older, it’s time to be more discerning.
There are some shampoos and conditioners that are better for you and some that will make your scalp and hair drier.
For example, silicone in your shampoo and conditioner can be quite drying. Therefore, you should look for products that don’t have harmful ingredients like these.
Silicone-free shampoos are especially important for people with curly hair. They should be more particular about the shampoos and conditioners that they use.
6. A Hair Mask Is the Best Scalp Moisturizer During the Dry Winter Months
According to Dr. Francesca Fusco, a Scalp and Hair Dermatologist, hair masks provide a more intense boost of hydration that you will need during the winter months. If you still don’t include one in your haircare routine yet, then now is the time to consider it.
Since you want hair masks to be moisturizing, you should then look for oil-based hair masks. Some hair-beneficial oils to look out for are coconut oil and argan oil.
Leave the hair mask in your hair for 15 to 20 minutes before you washing out to reap the benefits.
7. Avoid Heat and Chemical Treatments This Season
There’s nothing that will dry up your hair more than heat and chemical treatments, especially during the dry winter season. If you can, consider using the winter months as a time to go a bit more natural so your hair can get a break from the heat and chemical damage.
Since these treatments strip the moisture away from your hair, doing that during the winter season might dry your hair out even more.
Although it’s fine to blowdry your hair a little so that you don’t come out into the cold with sopping wet hair, try and avoid doing too much heat styling.
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8. Use Hair Oil as Another Scalp Moisturizer
Another scalp moisturizer that you should include in your scalp and haircare routine is hair oils. Although your hair produces natural hair oil, it might need a little help during these drier months.
Of course, if you don’t want to look too greasy, then ease up on the amount of hair oil that you apply. Usually, a few drops would do.
Argan oil is a popular hair oil for a lot of people who want their hair to look shiny and healthy.
9. Change Your Diet
Changing your diet is also a big help when it comes to keeping your scalp healthy. Eating well will help keep your everything healthy so there’s no excuse not to change things up.
The winter season makes it a lot more tempting for you to gorge on unhealthy food but try and avoid the temptation. As long as you eat a balanced diet, then you should be fine.
Eat your vegetables and eat some protein, which is good for your hair. Eggs, fish, and nuts are a good source of protein.
10. Don’t Shampoo Daily
During the winter season, you should avoid shampooing daily. Luckily, the colder weather makes it easier to get away with.
Daily shampooing only makes your scalp and hair even more dry. Although some people can get away with it, for people with wavy and curly hair, this is especially true.
Using shampoo every two to three days is fine.
11. Avoid Exfoliating the Scalp With Gritty Scrubs
Since you might be using a lot of moisturizing products on your scalp, you’re inevitably going to start feeling itchy if you don’t deal with the buildup. For that reason, a lot of people invest in abrasive scrubs for their scalps.
However, this isn’t the best course of action. You might end up irritating your skin even more instead.
To address the buildup, you’re free to use exfoliants as long as they have a moisturizing effect as well. For some people, they double cleanse their hair instead with the help of their chosen shampoo or use a clarifying formulation once a week.
12. Don’t Use Too Many Hair Products
Speaking of buildup, try not to use too many hair products as well. Sure, you can add some of the items listed above to your hair care routine, but you should know how and when to hold back.
Also, avoid packing in a lot of styling products on your hair. These can dry up your hair too.
Keep it simple. Shampoo and conditioner every two days, hair mask/deep conditioning product once weekly, and hair oil when you feel you need a boost.
Four products in total. Shouldn’t be too much, right?
13. Seek a Dermatologist’s Help
Sometimes, there are dry scalp concerns that will need the help of more than just a scalp moisturizer. It might need the assistance of a professional as well.
For example, if you’re unsure as to why certain products don’t work, or you’re suffering from unbearably dry scalp, then you might want the advice of a professional instead. Going to your trusted dermatologist will get you the help that you need.
There are several things that you can do to hydrate your scalp during the season when the seasons are harsher. From including more moisturizing products to lifestyle practices, you have plenty of solutions to help you keep your scalp moisturized.
Learn how to combat dry hair, flaky scalp, static, and more in this video from Luxy Hair:
As long as you apply these tips, you’ll have a better chance of surviving the dry winter months with healthy hair and scalp. Good luck!
Which of these scalp moisturizing tips have you tried to help tide you through the winter months? Leave a comment down below to let us know!
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