How to Have a Healthy Scalp and a Radiant Head of Hair

It's a fact of life that our hair is at the mercy of many things. We can't control how much sun it gets exposed to, what products we use on it, or when we wash it – yet all these factors impact its overall health. The health of our locks and the scalp that grows them is important to us, and yet we don't always know the best way to take care of them. 

Of course, we want strong locks without weighing them down or greasing up too much with product build-up, which can be a challenge if you're trying new haircare products out very often, as most of us do. So – if you're looking for help with this seemingly endless cycle, then take some time to read about hair and scalp care!

What Defines a Healthy Scalp?

A healthy scalp is free from harmful bacteria and fungi, which also means it’s characterized by things like being pH-balanced with no oily build-up. 

In addition, you should not have tiny flakes, dryness, itchiness, irritation or redness if your scalp is healthy either. Plus, it should be free of infection and skin disruptions, and you shouldn’t feel any burning sensations, tightness or pain. 

With a healthy scalp, things will look clean, smooth and moisturized with no breaks or cuts on the skin’s surface. And – although you can't really see it, a healthy scalp will also have good circulation and a good blood supply.

Assessing the Health of Your Scalp

If you have a dry or oily scalp, then your hair can get weighed down, so you'll want to make sure the environment of your scalp stays balanced – not too dry but not overly greasy either.

Aside from the surface of your scalp, you can also assess its health by looking at how it feels to touch. Meanwhile, if there are tangles or clumps in your hair, this is a sign that the moisture balance on your scalp is off and could lead to dryness. This effect might also cause those tiny flakes we mentioned earlier– a tell-tale sign that you have dandruff. 

Other things you can watch out for include excessive hair loss, acne and cysts. Any bumps, redness or scabs are signs of inflammation, and if the scalp isn’t treated they can cause permanent hair loss. 

What Can Cause an Unhealthy Scalp? 

Different factors can cause your scalp to become unwell. For one thing, the scalp needs to be slightly acidic to inhibit an overgrowth of bacteria and fungi. If pH levels get out of balance and lean more toward the neutral or basic side, it can cause the skin on your head to become infected with bacteria or fungi that cause dandruff and other scalp conditions.

Therefore, if you notice excessive flaking on your hair and skin, it could be caused by an unbalanced scalp. Not only can this lead to unattractive flakes, but it can also give you bone dry scalp and hair. This is because the yeast or fungus eats away at keratin – a protein that's found naturally in our skin and hair. 

Lastly, another cause of an unhealthy scalp is sun damage, which we will touch on briefly later. 

What Causes Product Build-Up? 

Product build-up is another common reason for an unhealthy scalp. Hard water is often the culprit here since it can interfere with how well the surfactants in shampoos clean your hair and scalp. When that happens, it can lead to a yucky build-up. 

A clarifying shampoo like Mounia Rinse is good to use to remove build-up and keep your scalp at its healthiest. Rinse utilizes Ionic Cleansing to gently remove build-up. The Ionic Cleansing technology in Rinse works by using the natural magnetic attraction of positively charged Rhassoul Clay to remove negatively charged dirt and impurities.

The Best Shampoo for a Healthy Scalp 

Now that we know about what an unhealthy scalp looks and acts like, it’s time to learn how to have a healthy scalp. That starts with a healthy scalp shampoo, and the best ones should have organic ingredients and be free of silicone, parabens, sulfates, paraffin, phthalates, synthetic dyes, and artificial fragrances. 

These harsh ingredients can strip the scalp of its natural oils and cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people. 

A good healthy scalp shampoo should also be effective at cleansing and moisturizing your scalp without drying it out. By using Mounia haircare products, you can nourish, balance and detox your scalp without stripping away the natural oils it produces – resulting in a healthy and happy head of hair. 

In addition, these ingredients are gentle enough to be used daily while still effectively removing dirt and oil build-up from your scalp. 

What Foods Are Good for a Healthy Scalp? 

Purchasing the right healthy scalp shampoo is a great place to start if you want healthy hair and scalp, but it's not enough by itself – you must take care of your hair on the inside with proper nutrition, too! 

Eating right and taking nutritional supplements can help your scalp and provide healthy hair growth. For example, omega-rich foods like fish oil can help nourish your scalp. Supplements you can take that promote healthy hair growth include biotin, MSM, and zinc. 

On the other hand, studies show a lack of protein in the diet promotes hair loss, so if you're vegan, you should consider adding plant-based proteins such as flaxseed and iron to your diet.  

Nourish Sun Damage with Protein

Once sun damage is done, we want to stress that only a dermatologist can reverse or improve it in some cases. That said, the best thing you can do for a sun-damaged scalp is to prevent it from happening in the first place. 

Unfortunately, your scalp is often neglected when adding sunscreen, so make sure you add a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 50 to the parts in your hair or anywhere the skin on your head is exposed to the sun. 

And – while you can't fix a sun-damaged scalp, you can treat it with conditioners that contain protein such as flaxseed oil. Mounia Condition is a good one to try since it has organic flaxseed oils to restore moisture and hydration while also soothing dry scalp and locking in moisture. 

What’s more? Superhero ingredients in Mounia Condition, such as biotin, also replenish essential nutrients for long-term hair health.

Rejuvenate Your Scalp with Mounia Haircare Products

You don't have to get expensive treatments or visit a salon to rejuvenate your scalp – simply use Mounia Haircare products! We've designed a new natural hair care routine with natural ingredients like aloe, argan & prickly pear oil and fig tree extracts to promote a pH-balanced, clean scalp and healthy hair growth. Mounia haircare products are also cruelty-free, vegan, color-safe and made from organic ingredients.