Why Should You Master Scalp Care This Summer?
Your scalp is possibly the most neglected part of your wellness routines. While you may be following proper skin and hair care, scalp care is just as crucial and relevant, especially in summer. If you’ve ever dealt with a summer itchy scalp, dryness, or excess oil, it’s your sign to switch gears and prioritise scalp care.
Why is scalp care important in summers?
- Scalp care is crucial for everyone, especially in summer, when heat, sweat, and pollution can cause greasiness, irritation, and dandruff.
- A consistent routine with clarifying shampoos, anti-dandruff treatments, and hydration can help maintain scalp health.
- Healthy scalp care promotes stronger hair growth and prevents clogged follicles and itchiness.
- Think of scalp care as skincare for your roots to preserve your long-term hair health.
Summer and Scalp: What's Really Happening?
Your scalp is an extension of your skin, just with more follicles, more sweat glands, and more exposure to the elements. Which means that it is just as vulnerable to the summer heat. Scorching heat, UV rays, pollution, sweat, and constant exposure to the sun, all of these impact your scalp more directly than you realise. Here’s what typically happens in summer:
- Sweat and sebum build-up lead to greasy roots and clogged hair follicles.
- Sun exposure can cause dryness, flakiness, excessive oil production, and even oxidative stress.
- Humidity creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungal overgrowth, resulting in a summer itchy scalp with dandruff.
- Frequent washing may strip the scalp of its natural barrier, leaving it dry and irritated
Why Scalp Care Matters More Than Ever
Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp. Just like good skin care improves your complexion, a consistent scalp care routine promotes stronger, smoother, and manageable hair. Here are all the benefits of following a scalp care routine, especially in summer and monsoon.
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Prevents Greasiness
A proper scalp care routine with oil-control shampoos helps regulate sebum levels on the scalp, ensuring just the right amount of natural oil is produced. A balanced scalp keeps your hair from feeling greasy too quickly, giving you fresher hair for longer between washes.
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Reduced Irritation
Sweat, heat, and product build-up can often leave you with an itchy, irritated scalp. Your scalp care routine helps calm any inflammation and keeps you in comfort, even in humid or high-temperature conditions.
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Healthy Hair Growth
Scalp care routines with oiling and massages help you get improved blood flow to the scalp, which means more oxygen and nutrients are delivered straight to your hair follicles. This increased circulation gives you stronger, more consistent hair growth.
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Unclogs Follicles
Over time, dirt, oil, and residue can clog follicles and take a toll on your healthy hair growth. Bonding care deeply cleanses the scalp, unclogging follicles so that your new hair can emerge freely and thrive.
Tips to Build Your Summer-Ready Scalp Care Routine
Now that you know why it matters, here’s how to upgrade your scalp care routine for summer to maintain a healthy, flowing mane.
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Start with a Clarifying Shampoo (Weekly)
Use a gentle clarifying shampoo once a week to remove build-up from sweat, sebum, and styling products. Look for ingredients like salicylic acid to cleanse your scalp without stripping all the oils. You can alternate this with an oil-control shampoo.
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Use an Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
If you have been experiencing dandruff or a flaky scalp, it’s time to invest in a medicated dandruff control shampoo. Look for ingredients like piroctone olamine to keep all dandruff-causing bacteria under control.
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Avoid Over-Washing
Yes, your scalp can feel weighed down and sweaty, but overwashing can strip its natural oils and worsen dryness. Stick to 2 or 3 washes per week, depending on your hair type, and refresh your roots with a dry shampoo in between washes.
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Hydrate from Within
Hydration plays a huge role in skin and scalp health. Make sure you’re drinking enough water and eating hydrating, antioxidant-rich foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and leafy greens.
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See Your Dermatologist
At times, an itchy scalp may hint towards a larger concern. Occasional itchiness is normal during summers, but it persists despite proper scalp care, then you can ask your dermatologist if it is seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, or fungal infections.
If your hair isn’t feeling its best, the real issue may be where it all begins: the scalp. By adopting a simple, consistent scalp care routine, you can keep that summer itchy scalp under control while promoting long-term hair health. Think of it as skincare, but for your roots. For all products, hair care, hair color, and hair styling, browse through Redken.