Should You Shampoo More or Less?

You may WANT to wash your hair every day, after all.
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Chances are, you’ve heard from your hairdresser that you should not be washing your hair every day. 

However, this version of shampooing best practices was originally developed when all shampoos were heavily detergent-based and wreaked havoc on people’s hair and scalp. Nowadays, shampoo formulas have changed, and there are many sulfate-free shampoos and cleansing conditioners on the market. 

So does the old "don't shampoo every day" rule still apply? Well, it depends.

There is a new market trend of paying a lot more attention to the scalp instead of just the hair. In general, a clean scalp is a healthy scalp because it’s the starting point by which you support optimal follicular function. Our scalps are the bedrock of the follicle, which means that you can’t grow your best head of hair if the scalp is covered in oil, sweat and debris all the time. 

There has been a longstanding notion that the natural oils your scalp produces leads to more beautiful, healthier hair. This can still be true, especially for those with curly hair that needs a little more oil to not frizz out. However, much of the dirt and other things that you see come off your face when you wash it at night are also on your hair and scalp.  The scalp has a whole set of needs that are separate from your hair's needs. For optimum hair growth, it is vital to balance the stressors on your skin.

This doesn’t mean it’s necessary to shampoo every day--but washing more often can absolutely contribute to a healthier scalp, especially with the right product. Avoid harsh ingredients and detergents which can be found in many shampoo products. Even if shampooing everyday isn’t for you, adding an extra wash in here and there might actually do you more good than harm. Hey, all the better excuse to allow yourself that splurge on pricy shower products, right? :)

Do you shampoo your hair often, or prefer the less-is-best method? What are your best tips or products for a healthy scalp and hair?

How to Get Rid of that Dry Scalp This Winter

As we continue through the cold months, most if not all of us experience our scalps and hair being zapped and ravaged by the harsh weather. Winter can cause a dry scalp but luckily there are some things you can do at home to counteract the problem:

There are many ways to get rid of that dry winter scalp.
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• Massage your scalp before washing your hair. If you do this with a boar bristle brush before washing, you will remove buildup of oil, hair products and skin cells. The bristles will lift away dirt and distribute your natural oils. Another thing you can do is purchase a hair mask, and apply to your head under a shower cap. Leave the mask on for 45 minutes for a deep moisture soak.

• Try better shampoo. Experiment with different shampoos and find what works for you. Personally, I like moisturizing or detox shampoos like Moroccan Oil “Hydrate.” If your condition continues to worsen, medicated shampoos are also an option.

• Try applying Hand Salve along your hairline. Take Burt’s Bees Hand Salve and use the botanical oils and beeswax in this product to alleviate flare-ups along your hairline.

• Eat more fatty acids. Try and incorporate more things like walnuts and salmon into your diet, and minimize coffee and alcohol to get rid of that dry scalp. Eating kelp, which is high in iodine, can also help support hair growth and scalp healing.

• Definitely commit to drinking more water. Keeping yourself hydrated will be the complete savior of your skin, especially your scalp. Adding that internal hydration will balance out your scalp issues and is effective and inexpensive. Many of us forget to properly hydrate during the winter months, but drinking enough water on a daily basis should be a top priority in your health regimen.