What factors can cause this problem, how to solve it. The best care products for dry scalp: special shampoos, masks, folk recipes. Dry scalp is one of the symptoms of a significant decrease in the activity of the sebaceous glands. This problem is unpleasant both from an aesthetic and psychological point of view. The strands become brittle and take on a dull look, and you constantly want to scratch your head. If the problem is not solved in time, various diseases will begin to develop, the most innocent of which is dandruff. But dryness of the head can also be a prerequisite for the development of serious ailments such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Why is my scalp dry?
However, before moving on to solving the problem, you need to understand the factors that led to its development, this will largely determine the approach to therapy.
Among the most common causes of dry scalp, doctors call:
- Frequent staining … Despite the fact that modern paints demonstrate a gentle approach to curls, they still contain strong substances that can not only change the structure of the hair, but also irritate the scalp. This problem is especially often faced by women who, in order to save money, paint themselves at home, and not in the salon.
- Unhealthy food … An improper diet causes a lot of health problems, including this factor that can lead to a disruption in the activity of the sebaceous glands. Dry skin is primarily provoked by a lack of tocopherol, retinol, B vitamins. Skin problems can also be caused by excessive consumption of salty and spicy foods, as well as coffee. And, of course, dry skin is a natural consequence of insufficient fluid intake. A person should drink at least 1.5 liters of water every day in order to avoid dehydration of the body and the development of certain unpleasant consequences, but few people follow this norm. An additional problem is created by bad habits: excessive drinking and smoking have a negative effect on the circulatory system, as a result of which the blood supply to the skin is disrupted, and it loses its ability to retain moisture.
- The wrong choice of cosmetics … The scalp, like the skin of the face, requires proper care. If your curls are prone to dryness, you should not use products labeled "for all hair types" and it is strictly forbidden to use shampoos and masks for oily hair.
- Aggressive temperature conditions … Both too low and excessively high temperatures have a negative effect on the hair and scalp, and therefore it is imperative to wear a hat in the cold, and in the heat, do not forget about the Panama hat. At the same time, it is worth taking care of the quality of the hats, they must be made of natural materials so that the skin can breathe. And, of course, overdrying the strands can be caused by too frequent and / or improper drying with a hairdryer, the use of various flat pans, etc.
- Poor quality water … If you live in a city, when you wash your hair with tap water, you constantly expose it to chlorine, calcium and magnesium salts, which tend to dry out the skin. To mitigate this effect, you should always use a conditioner balm, and even better, rinse your hair with bottled soft water. It is also worth mentioning that if you go to the pool, always wear a cap - in public pools, the chlorine content of the water is very high.
- Hormonal changes … Hormones have a direct effect on the activity of the sebaceous glands. With hormonal changes that women experience regularly, this activity can be disrupted both up and down. This is why women often notice changes in hair structure during pregnancy.
- Various diseases … Hormonal changes are not the only internal problem that can lead to dry scalp. Disturbances in the normal activity of the sebaceous glands are a symptom of many diseases, but most often the problem lies in disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system, the nervous, and also the endocrine system. It is also worth saying that dry scalp can be a symptom of an allergic reaction or skin disease.
As you can see, there are many reasons that lead to excessive dryness of the scalp, but whatever the factor that provoked the problem, the main thing is to promptly contact a specialized specialist in order to avoid the development of complications in the form of dry scalp seborrhea, dermatitis, psoriasis and others. skin ailments.
How to care for dry scalp
The study of the problem begins with a thorough diagnosis, the results of which determine the treatment regimen; it can include drug therapy, if the situation is provoked by internal disorders, and vitamin therapy, if the cause of dryness lies in improper diet. However, in any case, special hair care will be recommended during the treatment period. Let's look at what tools can help in this matter in the first place.
Masks for dry scalp
Moisturizing masks are one of the main treatments for dry scalp. There are a great many manufacturers and names of such products today, and if you are faced with a choice problem, we hope that our small TOP will help you decide:
- CHI Deep Brilliance Moisture Shine … Intensively moisturizing mask from the American brand of professional cosmetics CHI. Makes curls soft, obedient, reduces fragility. The product is based on a complex of ceramides, which provides quick access of nutrients to the inside of the hair, so that the result is noticeable literally from the first application. It is also worth noting that the mask not only saturates the strands with moisture, but also helps it stay inside.
- Carthame Gentle Hydro-Nutritive Mask … Remedy from the French company Rene Furterer. Efficiency is provided by safflower and orange essential oils, as well as vitamins B and F. This complex of components "restores" the hair from the inside, preventing fragility and hair loss. The tool saves even in emergency situations, after 2-3 applications, the condition of the curls noticeably improves, they acquire shine and volume.
- Kerastase Masquintense Irisome Nutritive … Spanish professional mask for nourishing severely injured dry curls. According to the manufacturers, they used an innovative approach to recovery when developing the product. The product contains a complex of lipids, glucides and proteins. These components can penetrate deep into the structure of each hair and actively "heal" it, and the natural extract of iris strands owe antioxidant protection. It should be especially noted that the mask does not weigh down the strands and does not add extra fat - only a healthy shiny look.
- L'Oreal Professionnel Intense Repair Mask … This mask uses the ceramide system, which helps to retain moisture inside the hair, enhanced nutrition and hydration. In addition, the product has a bonus effect - it prevents hair loss.
- Planeta Organica Toscana Hair Mask … The tool was developed in Russia. Its main advantage is natural ingredients, the main of which are olive and grape seed oils. The mask restores well even heavily damaged strands, the result is noticeable from the first application.
- Brelil Numero Nourishing Cream With Shea Butter … Another good remedy based on natural ingredients, however, this time the manufacturer is Spain. Contains shea butter and avocado oils, these oils are recognized as some of the best for restoring curls. Already the first use will give positive changes - the curls will be softer and more pleasant to the touch, and with prolonged use, you can completely get rid of fragility and sectioning of the ends.
- Kallos Cosmetics Chocolate Mask … The mask is especially pleasant to use, since it has a pronounced chocolate aroma, the “fault” is the cocoa extract in its composition. It also contains keratin, proteins and panthenol. This complex provides deep nourishment and hydration. It is noteworthy that the product is suitable not only for dry, but also for normal hair.
- Nature Siberica "Deep moisturizing" … A well-known Russian brand offers a very good mask for restoring dry hair. It is based on a number of natural ingredients - Altai sea buckthorn oil, cedar oil, as well as Siberian hops. The product moisturizes well, nourishes the strands and makes them softer, facilitates combing.
- Wella Professionals SP Hydrate Mask … Finally, there is one more mask worth mentioning. It demonstrates a powerful effect and helps not only moisturize and nourish the hair with missing elements, but also relieves scalp irritation and protects curls from negative environmental influences. So if in hot or cold weather you are accustomed to walking without a headdress and are not going to change this rule, at least use this mask, it will greatly facilitate the "life" of your hair.
The selection of a cosmetic product is a purely individual matter, these masks have many positive reviews, but this does not mean that they will be ideal for you. It is best to carry out the selection together with the attending physician.
Oils for dry scalp
Vegetable and essential oils will also help to care for dry scalp. They can be added to masks, enhancing the healing effect, or they can be used alone or in combination.
The best oils for dry scalp are burdock and castor. They relieve not only dryness, but also from dandruff, peeling and feeling of tightness, and also perfectly strengthen the strands and prevent hair loss.
Sea buckthorn, olive, almond, avocado and peach oils are also good for dry hair; they differ from burdock and castor oils in a lighter texture.
We do not recommend getting hung up on one oil, try different ones. There is an addictive effect in hair care, and as a result of long-term use of the same remedy, which initially worked very well, the effect may come to naught in a couple of months.
Vegetable oils can be enhanced with essential oils in a ratio of 1 drop to 1 tablespoon. For dry scalp, use citrus, jasmine, chamomile, sandalwood, rosewood, myrtle and geranium essential oils. If you are concerned about dandruff, opt for tea tree oil.
Folk remedies for dry scalp
Homemade masks are another way to take care of your hair with dignity. Of course, there are a great many of them, but here are some of the most popular ones:
- Egg mask … Beat the egg and add first 70 ml of water, and then a tablespoon of vodka. Mix all the components thoroughly and apply to the roots, rubbing well into the scalp. It is not necessary to apply the mass along the entire length.
- Oil mask … This remedy is one of the successful combinations of herbal and essential oils. Mix burdock and almond oils in equal proportions, add 1 drop of any citrus essential oil for each tablespoon. The mixture can be applied only to the roots, or it can be applied along the entire length of the strands, but you need to rub it into the skin at the roots especially carefully.
- Onion mask … A very effective remedy, but since its use is accompanied by a not very pleasant smell, many refuse it. The fair sex is scared that it will be difficult to get rid of the smell after the procedure, but this can be avoided by using a decoction of oak or chamomile bark to wash off the mask. The mask itself is very simple: the onion is crushed into gruel in a blender, it is placed in cheesecloth and the juice is squeezed out, and it must be rubbed into the scalp.
- Sour cream and honey mask … To prepare it, mix a tablespoon of sour cream with a tablespoon of melted honey, and also add a teaspoon of aloe juice and two of any vegetable oil. The product is applied to the scalp and strands.
All masks will be more effective if they are heated a little beforehand (this is especially true for oil-based products), and after application, cover the hair with a towel. As for the time of the procedures, all these masks should be worn for at least 15 minutes and no more than an hour. If discomfort develops, wash off the mixture immediately.
Caring for dry scalp with scrubs
We are all accustomed to scrubs for the face and body, but few people know about the existence of scrubs for the scalp, although they are absolutely indispensable in the care of dry skin. They help to remove dead skin cells and, due to the massage effect, improve blood circulation, which contributes to better nourishment of the hairs.
The line of scrubs for dry hair is not so large, but there are good products, including from well-known brands - for example, the sea buckthorn scrub from Nature Siberica and Crystal Purity from Faberlic. Also interesting is the Specifique Kerastase Scrub Shampoo.
Shampoos for dry scalp
Well, and since we are talking about shampoos, of course, I must say that they must also be correctly selected. A small TOP of good shampoos for treating dry scalp will help you:
- Dercos-Micropeel 3-B-1, Vichy … Shampoo with salicylic acid and octopyrox. The first stimulates cell renewal, the second prevents the development of fungal diseases.
- Dercos "Delicate minerals", Vichy … This shampoo gently but cleanses well without destroying the so-called hydrolipid mantle. It contains useful minerals such as iron, magnesium, silicon and calcium, which activate cellular regeneration and protect curls from aggressive environmental influences. Another important advantage of the product is that it does not contain silicones and dyes.
- Kiehl's Anti-Dry Hair Shampoo … The main active ingredients here are olive oil and avocado oil, they return the desired level of moisture and save from moisture loss. Lemon extract makes the strands shine.
- Kiehl's Anti-Dandruff Shampoo … If your scalp is dry and itchy, this remedy will help. It contains zinc, menthol, aloe and rosemary oil. The first plays the role of an antiseptic, the second refreshes the skin, the third is responsible for moisturizing the hair, and the last for nutrition. The result is that the product not only cleanses the scalp well, relieves dandruff and the unpleasant symptoms that accompany it, but also makes the hair healthy.
- Garnier's Legendary Olive … Another olive oil shampoo is affordable, but very effective, it restores hair well along its entire length, strengthens and makes it shiny.
With a dry scalp, it is very important to observe the temperature regime when washing, the water should be comfortable, too hot and too cold will not work. In addition, do not forget to do a light massage at the same time, and when wiping your hair with a towel, be careful, do not rub, but only get wet.
What to do with a dry scalp - watch the video:
Dry scalp is a problem that begins with dull and brittle hair, and continues with serious dermatological diseases, if proper treatment is not started in time. It is imperative to visit a specialized specialist and responsible care: the right shampoo, the use of additional products in the form of oils, scrubs and masks - both purchased and homemade. In addition, it will be good to establish a drinking regimen, give up bad habits and harmful products.
