COCO & EVE BLOG

6 Scalp Care Myths – Busted!

Now that we’ve debunked the most common haircare myths, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Because the truth is, beauties, haircare begins at the scalp! It might seem unimportant as it’s not visible but, believe us – the way you treat your scalp has a major impact on your strands. From root to tip!

So, to ensure your scalp is calm and content and your locks are worth rocking, read on. Here are 6 pesky scalp care myths you should definitely give the brush off – along with those pesky white flakes!

1. Your scalp is best just left alone

We all need a little bit of love to thrive – and your scalp is no different! Like the rest of your skin, your scalp needs regular cleansing, hydrating and exfoliating to live its best life, which is why a scalp scrub is your new BFF.

Sloughing away dead skin cells with coconut shell powder, AHAs from pineapple and salicylic acid, and absorbing excess oil with Balinese volcanic ash, our Like A Virgin Deep Clean Scalp Scrub simultaneously smooths, soothes and stimulates. Eliminating product build up and debris, it sends grease and flakes packing as coconut oil and peppermint oil hydrate and alleviate dryness and itching.

Stimulating the scalp with caffeine, it also promotes healthy hair growth – plus it smells so darn good you’ll want to drink it up! You can use the scalp scrub in combination with our coconut oil hair mask to help improve the hydration of your hair.

2. You should exfoliate your scalp every day

You can sometimes have too much of a good thing, though – even scalp scrubbing! While the ingredients in our scalp scrub are chosen to be super gentle as well as super effective, they’re not designed for daily use.

A thorough scalp exfoliation should be done just once a week, as an intensive pre-shampoo treatment. Use more often and you run the risk of over-stimulating your scalp and causing increased oil production, irritation and even more itching and flakiness. So, as much as you love your scalp scrub, don’t go too (coco)nuts!

3. You should treat all flaky scalps with dandruff shampoo

Believe it or not, not all itchy scalps and flakes are a result of dandruff. And if you use an anti-dandruff shampoo when your snowy shoulders are simply caused by scalp dryness, you’ll only exacerbate the problem.

A flaky, itchy scalp might actually a sign your scalp’s crying out for moisture, and in dire need of exfoliation. If this is the case, a scalp scrub’s the answer! But definitely speak to your doctor or dermatologist if you’re experiencing major irritation or persistent flakes.

4. Your scalp doesn’t need sun protection

Nuh-uh! Just like the rest of the skin on your face and body, with too much sun exposure your scalp can suffer from nasty sunburn, peeling and skin cancers. While the hair does provide some protection, your scalp’s still vulnerable – particularly along your parting.

Sunscreen in the hair can obviously be a little tricky, but there are products formulated specifically for that area. Your best – and most stylish – bet, however, is to wear a hat. Particularly on days where the UV Index is high.

5. Oily roots? You should wash your hair daily

While many people with oily roots feel the need to wash their hair daily, this isn’t always the best idea. By stripping the scalp of its natural oils you can unintentionally rob the hair of moisture and shine, and cause the scalp to compensate by going into oil-producing overdrive.

Instead, make sure you choose a shampoo and conditioner formulated for oily hair, avoid applying conditioner to your roots, and try to stretch out time between washes to retrain your hair.

6. Dry shampoo is an oily scalp’s BFF

Volumising, texturising, oily-root-hiding… Dry shampoos have many benefits, and we love ‘em as much as the next girl! The one thing they don’t do, however, is properly cleanse your hair. Doing nada, zip, zilch to remove build up and dead skin cells, they instead act as a temporary – albeit handy – camouflage.

While they’re great to apply now and then (try getting between an oily haired woman and her dry shampoo!), regular use in place of shampoo isn’t going to do your scalp any favours. Contributing to product build up on your scalp – alongside the oils, skin cells and debris that aren’t being washed away, dry shampoo can lead to scalp irritation, itching and more sinister side effects. So, by all means use – but don’t abuse!