Elle Woods was right when she told us, “The rules of hair care are simple and finite,” but her infamous soundbite left something very important out—the scalp! You know, that thing covering our brain that our hair grows from? There are a million TikTok tutorials and words of advice on taking care of our tresses, but scalp care has been neglected like an influencer past their prime.
Caring for your scalp isn’t just important for overall cleanliness. It’s necessary for vanity, too. Robby LaRiviere is a hair expert and stylist with 15 years of experience who currently performs bespoke scalp and hair treatments at Biologique Recherche in Los Angeles. He adamantly states, “A healthy scalp = healthy hair. Your scalp is the foundation for your hair health.”
In addition to keeping your scalp clean and moisturized, there’s a financial incentive to keep it in tip-top shape. “[It] allows your styles to last longer. We pay top dollar for a blowout, but if your scalp is oily, you will be washing your hair the next day,” Robby says.
Below, he shares his ultimate tips for taking scalp care as seriously as skin care.
1. Get in there with a scalp massage.
People with fine hair or who struggle with hair loss have tight scalps that do not get any blood flow. You need to get in there and get the blood flowing. When you wash your hair, give your scalp a nice massage for a few minutes. This will get the blood and oxygen flowing.
2. Just say no … to conditioner on the scalp.
Do not put conditioner on your scalp. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp, so a thorough washing is most important. Then, follow up with conditioner on the ends only.
3. Fight flakes with tea tree oil.
Using tea tree oil to reduce dandruff and soothe dry scalps is especially helpful during cold weather. When we crank the heat in our homes, it dries out the air, our skin, and our scalps.
When brushing your hair, make sure to stroke from the scalp to the ends. A nice boar bristle paddle brush feels lovely and is non-abrasive to the scalp. It also spreads the natural oils from your scalp to the tips for healthier hair.
For Robby, adding a scalp care routine is nonnegotiable. But you don’t need to worry that it will impede your already busy life. “We should be tending to our scalps once a week with treatments such as tea tree oil or leave-in conditioner,” he says. “In between, you should give your head a massage every time you wash your hair.” Talk about a fast happy ending.
Below, check out some of our favorite scalp-salvaging products.
Lotion P50 Capillaire
Price: $134
Biologique Recherche
According to Robby, this apple cider vinegar-based product “prevents dandruff and oxygenates and balances your scalp’s pH, which in turn supports hair growth.”
The Scalp Power-Duo
Price: $44
Ceremonia
Elevate your scalp massage. This kit contains Aceite de Moska to nourish hair and a scalp massager that will make you ooh and ahh with pleasure while it exfoliates the scalp to boost health and shine.
Plump ‘N Thick Leave-In Thickening Crème Conditioner
Price: $56
Nick Chavez Beverly Hills
Grab a bottle of Robby’s favorite leave-in conditioner. In addition to providing the scalp with moisture and nourishment, “it smells incredible,” he says.
Tea Tree Hair Oil
Price: $19
Allpa Botanicals
Hydrate your scalp with this organic, cold-pressed product that hails from Australia. It promotes strong and healthy hair growth, balances oil production, and soothes an itchy, inflamed scalp.
Boar Bristle Hair Brush
Price: $20
Beauty by Earth
Getting the paddle is a good thing in the case of Robby’s last pick. This brush works on all hair types and detangles as it restores your scalp to health and vibrance.
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