When I first saw all the scalp care products flooding my social feeds, I thought: “Wait, we need to be taking care of our scalps? I thought that’s what the shampoo was for?” But caring for your scalp is so much more than just working up a lather in the shower.
Hair expert Cam Craig (aka Colour x Cam, aka my favourite hairdresser) says scalp care has always been a thing we should be doing (oops) but social media has made it seem new and cool.
“Back in college, we were always taught healthy scalp healthy hair, so we definitely need to treat the scalp,” he explains.
“The scalp is the foundation for really healthy hair growth and a well-maintained scalp ensures that the hair follicles receive proper nourishment and can produce strong, healthy hair.”
And honestly, who among us can say we don’t want strong, healthy hair? Not me! Cam says there are a plethora of benefits to making sure you pay attention to your scalp in your haircare routine. “Firstly it reduces hair loss, as you’re caring for your follicles,” he says. “Also a well cared for scalp will produce stronger, shinier hair that’s less prone to breakage. Lastly, a happy scalp means enhanced hair growth as you’re maintaining an optimum environment for the follicles to thrive.”
But if scalp care is more than just lather, rinse, repeat, what should we be doing to care for our domes? “Regular cleansing,” Cam says. “No matter what people think, there is actually no rule about how many times a week you should shampoo your hair; if it feels dirty, wash it!”
He continues: “If you have a specific scalp concern, be it excess oiliness, dandruff or irritation, use a shampoo that specifically targets that issue.
“If you shampoo your hair daily, use a gentle shampoo that is formulated for daily use. The general rule of thumb is that your shampoo treats your scalp, your conditioner treats your hair,” he explains.
Another tip that I am DEFINITELY on board with is scalp massages. “We know as hairdressers that the head massage is usually your favourite part of having your hair done, but did you know we’re not doing this just because it feels nice?
“Massaging the scalp increases blood flow to the hair follicles to promote healthy hair growth.”
And it feels, like, really nice. For at home, I love those little scalp scrubber tools in the shower… you know the ones you’ve seen in Mecca or Sephora but didn’t quite know what they were for? Well THIS is it… for a great scalp massage while working that shampoo right into the root. I am a big fan of the one from Vegamour, below, because it is super ergonomic (and super cute)
Another mistake Cam says we could be making is relying too heavily on dry shampoo. Sure, it’s OK once in a while but overuse can mess with the scalp. Look, he knows we love our dry shampoos (and you’ll have to pry mine out of my cold, dead hand) but says there are ways to use them in a way that’s not bad for your scalp. “Leaving dry shampoo on your scalp for days—especially if you like them super powdery—is like going to bed with your makeup on at night; you’ll clog up the scalp which can cause irritation,” he says.
I feel attacked but since I would never go to sleep with makeup on I SUPPOSE I will stop going three or four (or maybe five in dire circumstances) days with dry shampoo.
Another thing that Cam says you gotta be paying attention to is sun exposure. “Your scalp is exposed to the sun a lot, especially if your hair is fine” he says. Cam says he’s seen first-hand the devastation that melanoma on the scalp can cause, “so please please please be aware of sun exposure and if you have any little spots on your scalp, please get them checked.”
So how often exactly should we be caring for our scalps? “We are subconsciously performing scalp care every time we wash our hair—or at least we should be.” He emphasises that lather, rinse repeat IS actually what we should be doing. “When shampooing, cleanse twice!” he says. “The first will remove most of the dirt, sweat, oil and product buildup from the hair and scalp, and the second will remove the remainder whilst also treating the scalp and hair.
“And remember to give your scalp a good scrub when you’re shampooing, a gentle rub doesn’t cut it.”
There are lots of scalp scrubs that you can use if you need more intensive treatment, but Cam urges us to choose our shampoo with our scalp in mind if we don’t want a specialised product.
He is a big fan of the milk_shake range and suggests a couple of products when taking care of our crowns. “For dandruff I like the Purifying Blend shampoo from milk_shake. For excess oiliness the Normalizing Blend shampoo is amazing. And for hair loss the Energizing Blend range is perfect. This has a shampoo, conditioner, and scalp treatment designed to anchor hair into the follicle to prevent hair fall and encourages thickness. I’ve been recommending this to pregnant guests to help with postpartum hair loss, with amazing results.”
One thing to keep in mind though: only use products that are designed to be used on your scalp. “Using pure essential oils on your scalp has become trendy but it will cause irritation,” Cam says. “Rosemary oil has become a thing recently for hair growth, but find a shampoo that includes it in the formula (such as the Energising Blend from milk_shake) rather than risking putting a concentrated version right on your delicate scalp.”
ColourxCam, Fifth Avenue Lifestyle, Studio 11, 2 Harbour Road, Hamilton. p. 0406 705 606
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
