We treat our faces with care – exfoliating, toning, massaging with a Gua Sha stone, moisturizing, applying sun protection, and layering serums to keep facial skin healthy and glowing. The skincare industry constantly brings forth innovations targeting everything from aging to pores. But what about the scalp? It’s skin too – yet it remains a sneakily forgotten area in skincare, lacking any widely adopted routine.
A dry, itchy, or oily scalp can affect your hair’s health and growth, just like skincare impacts the condition of your skin. So why do we commit to daily facial care but leave the scalp to fend for itself? It’s time to finally acknowledge what’s been right in front of us all along: the scalp deserves the same kind of care we give our faces. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp.
“Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp.”
Here’s how to identify scalp issues early and learn how to treat them
Scalp problems might not be the first thing you see in the mirror – but you’ll feel them. How many of us really understand what’s going on up there?
Recognize the signs – what is your scalp trying to tell you?
- Oily scalp – Excess sebum makes hair look greasy quickly. The cause could be hormonal factors, unsuitable hair products, poor washing routines, or washing too frequently. Sometimes a deep cleanse is all it takes to reset. Four Reasons Original Deep Cleanse Shampoo effectively removes product build-up and impurities, and it’s ideal for oily scalps.
- Dandruff and inflammation – Imbalance in the scalp’s microbiome can lead to inflammation, which often appears as redness, itching, or flaking. Four Reasons Original Scalp products offer help for dryness, dandruff, and itchiness.
- Slow hair growth and thinning – Poor blood circulation and a lack of nutrients in the scalp can slow down hair growth. A deficiency in omega fatty acids, zinc, or vitamin D may even result in thinning hair.
External irritants to avoid – what throws the scalp off balance?
A dry, irritated, or oily scalp can lead to hair loss, flaking, and even inflammation. And the causes? They might surprise you.
Air pollution – Pollutants in the air can accumulate on the scalp, clogging follicles and increasing irritation. And speaking of air – cold temperatures can also dry out the scalp. Winter alert!
Excess heat – Hot water and heat styling tools can dry out the scalp and cause flaking.
Wrong products – Harsh cleansing agents, alcohol, and heavily fragranced products can disturb the scalp’s natural balance or cause irritation. For sensitive scalps, fragrance-free products with the Finnish Allergy, Skin and Asthma Federation’s Allergy Label – like the Four Reasons No Nothing line – are a safe bet.
