The Essential Scalp Care Guide

Hair may be your crowning glory but what you really need to be focusing on is the quality of what’s at the base; your scalp. For most people your scalp will never cause you any issues, for some, it becomes the bane of your existence, with low level irritation that never seems to resolve itself no matter what you do. That was definitely the case for me.

Having tried numerous shampoos with little improvement I eventually lined them up to play ingredient bingo, and found that Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB) is my personal enemy. Cue a switch to Philip Kingsley’s Itchy Flaky Scalp shampoo; one of the few that doesn’t contain it and the change was palpable.

But what if a simple switch doesn’t solve everything? What if the low level irritation goes on for months? Much like you would see a dermatologist for your skin,  seeing a trichologist for your scalp – an expert who deals purely in the science of hair and scalp issues – is a non-negotiable must for those with any scalp issues.

I spoke to trichologist David Felstead who heads up the Hair + Scalp Clinic at Marylebone salon, Daniel Galvin, as well as Founder Mary Simmons of East London’s Wild Beauty to get a better understanding of what exactly we should and shouldn’t be doing to our scalps.

First up I met with David Felstead who gave me an overview of what to look out for in our every day routines.

DF: “It’s important to keep your scalp clean so that your follicles can be working at their maximum capacity. Massage will help stimulate blood flow and increase blood supply to your hair follicles, and this is key to keeping your hair and scalp healthy.  Also consider your water temperature as your scalp is like your skin, if the shower is boiling hot it will open up the hair follicles and your scalp isn’t going to like it. Your fingers will do just fine for massage but to elevate the experience you could introduce a massage tool such as Dimple Amani’s Copper Hair and Scalp Comb which feels great and looks beautiful.”

DF: “So many shampoos have silicone in them without you knowing. You get a build up which in itself is not a problem, but in the long run it can make it difficult for your hair to shed enough skin and oil, which can cause irritation and issues. Look at the back of the bottle and learn the ingredients. For example if a brand has no parabens, find out what the replacement is and work out what works for you as some are more aggressive than others. I think one of the biggest issues is people use too much product on their hair and often aren’t rinsing it out correctly.”

Scalp conditions can also be caused by stress which is one of the main reason’s salon Founder Mary Simmons of East London’s Wild Beauty introduced the Japanese Head Spa treatment to the salon.

MS: “A holistic approach has always been part of my ethos and the treatment felt like the natural next step; a way to care for scalp health whilst also offering a moment of mindfulness and tension release. Using intentional massage techniques focusing on pressure points to aid relaxation and stimulate the blood flow, is what our follicles so desperately need to function at their utmost.”

MS: “I use steeped herbs including chamomile and marshmallow root as part of the head spa experience with clients reporting psoriasis being soothed and dryness relieved, providing a second layer of nourishment, carefully selected for each person’s needs.”

Now having mostly solved my sensitive scalp issues I still find myself straying from time to time, trying new products and often having to deal with the unfortunate itchy / sore / inflamed consequences. So I’ve rounded-up the products that really restore the scalp back to its optimum self, so you don’t have to go through the same trial and error!