How to Cleanse the Scalp

Proper scalp cleaning reduces itchiness.

The health of your scalp directly affects the health and appearance of your hair. Unfortunately, cleaning your scalp thoroughly can be tricky. Hair products, dead skin, excess oil, perspiration and environmental stressors accumulate on your scalp. Your hair traps the substances on your scalp and also makes it hard for water and shampoo to reach your scalp when you lather up. By exercising concentrated scalp-care techniques, you can wash the area effectively, reduce irritation, eliminate greasy hair and improve your overall hair health.

Things You'll Need

• Brush
• Clarifying or detoxifying shampoo
• Apple cider vinegar
• Hair dryer

Instructions

1. Remove all hair pins or elastics from your hair before you take a shower. Brush your hair thoroughly to remove tangles so that water and cleansers have ample opportunity to reach your scalp.

2. Set the shower head to the highest level of water pressure you can withstand. Water pressure is one of the most critical elements in cleaning your scalp. It helps lift dirt, oil and dead skin off your scalp and out of your hair.

3. Squeeze the recommended amount of a clarifying or detoxifying shampoo into your hands. These products have a relatively thin consistency and are also translucent, not thick and creamy. Clarifying shampoos strip product buildup off your scalp, in addition to removing oil and dead skin. Manufacturers formulate them to dissolve and rinse easily, which is helpful if you have low water pressure.

4. Apply the shampoo vigorously. Scratch your scalp with your fingernails as you lather the shampoo. The abrasion helps remove dead skin.

5. Rinse out the shampoo under a continuous, high-pressure stream of water immediately after you finish lathering. Angle your head various ways to ensure water hits every part of your head directly. Run your fingers through your hair as you rinse to separate the hair and let water in, closer to your scalp.

6. Move your head out of the water. Slowly pour one cup of apple cider vinegar onto your scalp. Run your fingers through your hair to expose as much of your scalp as you can. Pour the vinegar onto every part of your scalp. Apple cider vinegar detoxifies your scalp and is much safer for you and the environment than a harsh chemical dandruff treatment.

7. Rinse your hair to remove excess vinegar.

8. Allow your hair to air-dry for several minutes after your shower until it is no longer dripping wet. Dry your hair with a blow dryer instead of letting it air-dry completely. The intense heat rapidly dries the moisture trapped against your scalp. Slow-drying moisture causes your scalp to flake and itch.

9. Apply hair products to the hair itself. Avoid letting the product make contact with your scalp whenever possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Only use harsh, chemical-laden dandruff shampoo when you have a severe, persistent dandruff problem.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Want Shiny, Healthy Hair? Avoid These 9 Hair Mistakes