What scalp care for hair growth treatment helps you grow healthy hair?

Scalp care is an emerging field in hair care, and we muse why it takes the industry so long to catch up. The logic is self-evident: in order to grow healthy hair you need to tend to the very foundation of it – the place where it would grow from – your scalp. In many cases, such as chemically treated hair or a recovery from illness, scalp treatments become a non-negotiable cornerstone for healthy hair growth. 

The beauty of scalp care as it's one of the crucial steps for caring for your mane, it gets close to the root of your hair growth issues. Correct scalp treatments would often avoid application to hair length and only be applied to the roots. 

Because the scalp is skin, it has a different composition of cells than that of your hair lengths. Skin is made up of 90% keratinocytes, while hair lengths are made up of keratin, which is one of the final products that can be made by keratinocyte cells.

(Keratinocyte cells make other types of proteins other than keratin but we focus on the two of them for now). As a result, this cellular-level difference will dictate different needs by your scalp – than those by the hair that has already grown.

Scalp treatments and scalp care for hair growth an excellent ways to unwind from a stressful week – this might involve hair oiling, application of serum, scalp massage, derma rolling, and fuelling your hair follicles for healthy hair growth.

Reasons to adopt scalp care for hair growth routine and treatments:

Hair growth and scalp care

It might sound self-evident but growing hair starts from the roots – therefore scalp care is paramount to growing healthy hair. Any treatment that focuses on drawing and improving blood flow to the scalp will benefit your hair growth.

Dandruff

Dandruff is one of the reasons why scalp care should become part of your hair health routine. Dandruff is a condition that causes the scalp to flake although the reasons for that can vary.

Keeping your scalp clean with gentle surfactants can help manage dandruff, however frequent shampooing can exacerbate or worsen the condition. Dandruff is often a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, fungal infection, or psoriasis.

Itchy, flaky, and sensitive scalp

Irritated and sensitive scalp can be another reason why you should turn towards scalp care. Because shampoos can contain ingredients that worsen your condition unless you really don’t wash your scalp frequently – using additional soothing ingredients, certain oils in your scalp routine should become a step in your hair care ritual. 

Growing healthy hair

While hair growth may not be one of your goals, having “healthy” hair might be. Much like dry, desolate, and nutrient-poor soil cannot grow a healthy plant – an unbalanced, irritated scalp cannot grow healthy hair.

And more to that, scalp that isn’t nourished from within – through nutrition and supplementation that supports your body from within – healthy hair becomes an uphill battle and an impossible feat.

Let’s take a look at some of the newer as well as older ingredients and the best scalp treatment for hair growth.

Hair and scalp oiling

Applying certain oils on your scalp can help with dry and flaky scalp – as they help rebuild the lipid barrier around your hair follicles. The needs of your scalp will differ based on the climate you live in and your hair health goals.

For example, if hair growth is the primary goal for your scalp treatment, applying an overnight castor oil mixed with peppermint or rosemary essential oils (in the 1:20 ratio of essential oil to castor oil) will help promote blood flow to the scalp. Tea tree oil is famous for helping treat mild cases of dandruff and fungal infections on the scalp.

You can mix it with a carrier oil or add a few drops to your shampoo and get the best scalp care for hair growth.

Hyaluronic Acid - Hydrating Scalp Therapy for Hair Growth

Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is a clear, gooey substance that is naturally produced by your body in the extracellular matrix, is a three-dimensional network consisting of extracellular macromolecules and minerals, collagen being one of them.

The largest amounts of it are found in your skin, connective tissue, and eyes. Its main function is to retain water to keep your tissues well-lubricated and moist. Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant, which means like a magnet, it draws water from the environment as well as from deep within the skin. 

When applied to hair lengths, hyaluronic acid will attract more moisture to your strands which will temporarily make them appear more plump and moisturised, though that moisture wouldn’t actually penetrate your hair shaft, so this excess moisture will be washed off with your shampoo.

When applied as a scalp treatment, hyaluronic acid acts in the same way: it attracts moisture to the scalp – which may result (again, temporarily) in extra volume. Having said that, some studies refer to hyaluronic acid’s role in angiogenesis – in other words – the formation of blood vessels which is crucial in wound healing.

As blood flow is the cornerstone of hair growth, you can consider having a hyaluronic acid treatment as a way to prompt extra blood supply to your hair follicles. 

Niacinamide does not play a big role in hair care and scalp treatment

Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B-3, an essential nutrient.  Its prominent role is in the treatment of melasma – an excess production of melanocytes in skin and pore reduction abilities.

Although relevant in facial skin care to help achieve a more youthful appearance, niacinamide appears to be less relevant in scalp care.

People suffering from scalp psoriasis should not be using niacinamide due to its potential role in keratinocyte proliferation – meaning that it makes the skin cells multiply, which people suffering from scalp psoriasis actually suffer from.

(Psoriasis is the excess multiplication of skin cells that tends to cause a dry, flaky, red, and itchy scalp).

Salicylic acid for scalp exfoliation

Salicylic Acid is an acid that naturally occurs in plants. It has direct activity as an anti-inflammatory agent. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid may work by helping the skin to shed dead cells from the top layer, by decreasing redness and swelling (inflammation).

In scalp care, salicylic acid can serve as a scalp exfoliator: a procedure that can help unblock hair follicles from dead skin and impurities thus potentially helping with hair growth.

Although not directly involved in promoting blood flow to the scalp, using mild salicylic acid on the scalp will help you rid of the dead skin cells at the roots of your hair. 

Caffeine and Hair Growth Scalp Treatment

Although not exactly “new” caffeine-based scalp treatments play a role in being a common DHT-blocker that in a number of studies had shown elongation and enlargement of a hair follicle and stimulation of hair regrowth.

Applied topically to the scalp it enables direct delivery of the compound to your scalp to stimulate hair follicles to grow hair.

Generally speaking, caffeine shampoos have become very popular amongst the hair loss community as the best scalp care for hair growth. However, in order for caffeine to be effective, it needs to stay on your scalp for longer periods of time.

Scalp Care for Hair Growth: The Key to Healthy and Happy Hair

Scalp treatments for hair growth are paramount for healthy hair, you can treat your hair lengths - but real hair health emanates from the roots. You should consider adopting a scalp treatment at least twice a week to ensure your scalp stays balanced and grows happy and healthy hair!

Sources:

Hyaluronic Acid in Inflammation and Tissue Regeneration, Wounds Journal, (1)

Ceramides and skin function (2)

Topical niacinamide reduces yellowing, wrinkling, red blotchiness, and hyperpigmented spots in aging facial skin, (3)

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