Give Yourself A Scalp Facial This Festive Season

Haircare has entered its skinification era. Here’s everything you need to know.
 

Everyone loves a good facial — the deep cleanse, nourishing massage and all-around pampering. This festive season, we’re giving our scalp all the TLC with a facial tailored for it. After all, your hair needs to be ready for the impending styling routines anchored by curling irons, straightening rods, hairsprays etcetera. Industry experts including Business of Fashion, Allure, and Vogue US have all weighed in on how scalp care is emerging to be a new form of skincare. Additionally, according to Google Trends, the term ‘scalp treatment’ is a popular search keyword all year round.

The scalp takes on a lot more stress than you realise. You may be a frequent dry shampoo user, tackling product build-up from styling your hair often, or spending a lot of time outdoors leading to grime and pollution clogging your roots. Additionally, “if you choose to shampoo your hair infrequently, it can cause a blockage of the hair follicles, which further leads to poor hair growth and limited blood circulation,” explains Mumbai-based hairstylist Aanchal Morwani, popularly known as Hot Hair Balloon on Instagram. In any case, a scalp facial can nurse your scalp back to health. Here’s how you can introduce a weekly pamper session for your crowning glory.

Step One

The first in this 3-step routine begins with identifying your scalp based on your most pressing concerns — flakiness; itchiness; product build-up; or excess sebum production. Pick a scalp treatment that’s the need of the hour, just like you would in the case of your skincare choices. Whether it’s hydration, exfoliation, or overall nourishment you need, just run your fingers through your scalp and you will know what to choose. Each of our recommended formulations address different concerns and it’s important to closely follow the instructions for the specific product. “Make sure you use the scalp treatment on a clean, freshly washed scalp. Never on a dirty one,” says Mumbai- and Hyderabad-based dermatologist Dr Rashmi Shetty. While some treatments may require leaving it on overnight, others only need an application time of 15–30 minutes to get to work. Not only do these treatments care for your scalp, but they also encourage healthy hair growth by treating your follicles. Think of them as the new-age versions of our traditional DIY hair oils and concoctions.

Step Two 

After you’ve thoroughly applied the treatment, it’s time to massage it in. Find a comfortable spot to sit and use just the tips of your fingers to work the formulation into your scalp for 15 minutes. “When you’re massaging, use light strokes, don’t go by the traditional Indian champi because it can damage your hair follicles and cause an infection,” suggests Dr Rashmi. This does two things: soothes the scalp and promotes blood circulation to it. It’s these moments of mindful beauty practices that make self-care more enjoyable.

Step Three 

Once you’ve allowed the product to sit as long as it needs to, use a clarifying shampoo to thoroughly cleanse your scalp to reset it for the week ahead. This will remove all kinds of product build-up, dirt, grime, and any residue from the hair follicles, without causing any irritation or drying it out. After you cleanse, go ahead and use your trusted hair conditioner and serum through your lengths of your hair to end your treatment.

The More You Know 

“If you are dealing with pre-existing scalp conditions like eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis, treat your scalp with the help of a dermatologist before trying any treatments at home,” advises Dr Rashmi. In addition, Aanchal suggests taking a gentle approach to the entire routine, so you don’t damage your scalp in the process — “If you are too aggressive with your scalp facial, you can end up with excessive flaking because of vigorous cleansing. This can lead to unnecessary removal of natural oils that are good for your scalp and help protect it.” Apart from the weekly or fortnightly (depending on how often your scalp needs the treatment) routine, Aanchal recommends always having a creamy shampoo, a clarifying shampoo, a light conditioner and a deep conditioning mask in your bathroom. You can then choose the right products to use based on how your hair and scalp feel when you go in for a shower, improving overall scalp and hair health.