We often neglect our scalps, but make no mistake: a healthy scalp supports healthy hair. The scalp deserves a place in every healthcare routine to maximize wellness and beauty. Discover the top seven ways to keep a healthy scalp and give your hair the perfect environment to flourish.

When you’re getting ready to go out, let’s face it: Your hair is the main attraction. You wash, color, and style it to look your best. But you may be ignoring the root of a healthy hair routine: your scalp. A healthy scalp leads to beautiful hair. Read on to learn the causes of thinning hair and seven tips for a healthy scalp.

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Top 7 Healthy Scalp Tips for Amazing Hair is an original (HealthXWire) article.

What causes thinning hair?

Hereditary hair loss is common, especially among men, but women going through menopause can also suffer from thinning hair. There are several other reasons we see hairlines receding, including:

• A vitamin deficiency: Your diet may lack the essential riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 required for a healthy scalp.
• A poor diet: Proper nutrition is essential for hair growth. Certain foods, such as eggs, salmon, and spinach, contain the necessary vitamins to restore a healthy scalp and thick head of hair.
• Alopecia areata: This cause of hair loss occurs when the body’s immune system attack hair follicles on the scalp, leading to bald patches. Viruses, such as influenza, often trigger it. There is no cure, but it can be treated with topical scalp ointments.
• Hormonal imbalance: A decrease in estrogen, often caused by menopause or childbirth, can lead to thinning hair in women. Fortunately, this can be corrected. Additionally, a dihydrotestosterone imbalance (DHT) can cause hair follicles to shrink, so your body isn’t replacing hairs that fall out with new growth.
• Thyroid problems: Thyroid disorders are a common culprit of thinning hair. Medications that treat hyperthyroidism can reverse the problem. Still, it may take some time for the body to heal and develop a healthy scalp.
• Certain medications: It’s not always age that causes hair loss, but the drugs we use as we age. Some anticoagulants, mood stabilizers, blood pressure medicines, and medications used to treat arthritis could upset your natural hormonal balance and lead to hair loss. Again, a healthy scalp could counteract this damage.
• Stress and anxiety: Stressful situations can lead to alopecia areata, or even worse – trichotillomania – which leads some people to pull out their hair.

Top 7 healthy scalp tips

You don’t have to live with dry, damaged, thinning hair. Instead of spending so much time worrying about your hair, get to the root of the problem by taking care of your scalp with these simple tips.

1. Choose the right hair care products: Avoid shampoos with alcohol, sulfates, or fragrances that can strip your hair and scalp of natural oils. The American Academy of Dermatology found these chemicals can exacerbate eczema and rosacea.
2. Don’t over-shampoo: Washing your hair too often can interfere with your scalp’s microbiome, which can cause bacteria to build up, leading to an inflamed scalp. It can also rob a once-healthy scalp of essential oils.
3. Exfoliate: Your scalp is an extension of your face. You need to remove dead skin and anything else that blocks the hair follicles for new skin cells to grow.
4. Use a topical to prevent DHT and balance the hormones on your scalp: You can choose a prescription like minoxidil or finasteride to combat DHT. However, the FDA warns they come with side effects and are not recommended for long-term use. It may be better to look for a plant-based topical without the side effects.
5. Add antioxidants to your diet and hair care: Food like apples, avocados, and berries prevent the buildup of free radicals, which disrupt the body’s natural metabolic hair cycle. A recent study also found shampoos containing antioxidants lead to a healthy scalp and thicker hair.
6. Take probiotics: Whether taken orally or added to your hair care treatment, probiotic bacteria can alleviate an itchy scalp, reduce inflammation, and lead to a healthier head of hair.
7. Avoid excessive heat: Hair dryers, curling irons, and flat irons can lead to cuticle damage in your hair, burns, and a dry scalp. Researchers recommend letting your hair air dry as much as possible and then, if you must use a blow dryer, use the lowest setting possible.

Finding a hair care regimen for a healthy scalp   

There’s no shortage of hair restoration products on the market, but it can be tough to find treatments that target scalp care. We found More Hair Naturally has developed a product to repair your scalp to stimulate new hair growth. Their Hair & Scalp Synergy combines multi-complex enzymes with proteins and plant stem cells to create a healthy scalp microbiome. It comes in a spray you massage on your scalp to promote collagen growth.

More Hair Naturally’s Hair & Scalp Synergy is available online and at many salons. Still, founder and CEO Mahryah Shain prefers you call the company and speak to a live consultant when placing your order. “We want to set everyone up to succeed,” says Shain. “ If a woman is going through postpartum hair loss, she’s not going to need to buy a whole year program. She might just need a good 3 to 6-month program, and she’s done.” He admits it may take a few months to see results. However, the company aims to restore your body’s ability to grow hair, not create a lifelong customer.

A healthy scalp produces healthy hair

There are no shortcuts to a healthy scalp. Proper nutrition and scalp care are crucial for amazing hair. However, when thinning hair has you scratching your head, maybe it’s time to look for a natural solution to promote scalp health. You have nothing to lose, and you could gain a more luxurious head of hair.

Further reading for additional reference:

National Library of Medicine – Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress

MedicalNewsToday – What medications cause hair loss?

American Academy of Dermatology Association: EVERYDAY SCALP CARE

Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.

Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.