You may have heard that you should treat the scalp the way you would your skin as it is an extension of your face. However, you should actually treat the scalp better than your face. Here’s why: Unlike skin covering your face, the scalp is thicker and carries more blood than the rest of your skin.

It has more sebaceous glands in order to produce sebum to protect hair. And with more sebaceous glands, it’s especially important to cleanse your scalp thoroughly. If sebum builds up on top of dead skin cells and dirt, hair follicles become clogged and can lead to hair thinning, hair loss and dandruff. To take good care of your scalp, include a pre-shampoo for the scalp in your cleansing routine. 

This moisturising deep cleanser uses a fruit enzyme to exfoliate the scalp, remove excess sebum without drying the scalp. 

When you don’t wash your hair, sebum buildup on the scalp not only clogs hair follicles, it starts to coat strands and causes your hair to look flat. And if you’re out and about, pollutants in the air from exhaust gas, cigarette smoke, dust and odours stick onto the hair surface. That’s why you should wash your hair before heading to bed. 

Use a pre-shampoo on the hair before your usual shampoo to reduce damage and smooth the hair cuticles before hair gets wet. If your hair is fairly healthy, you can skip a pre-shampoo and use a lightweight conditioner over dry hair (without touching the scalp) before your usual shampoo. However, if you have chemically damaged hair or naturally dry, frizzy hair, a dedicated pre-shampoo would protect hair before it gets wet to help leave hair smoother and more well hydrated. 

Ideal for coloured hair, this is infused with Red Love apple, an antioxidant, to protect hair from external aggressors, and other botanical extracts to smooth cuticles and form a protective barrier around hair. Apply this lightweight gel-in-oil texture from roots to tips and leave it on for one to two minutes before washing hair with your regular shampoo.

READ MORE: Hair Awards 2018: The Best Hair-Restoring Masks And Pre-Wash Treatments

Contrary to popular belief, you should start using a scalp tonic before hair loss starts. Like how you would apply an anti-ageing serum for your face every night, you should also apply a hair tonic every night on clean scalp to protect it from external aggressors that can accelerate hair loss.

This scalp tonic is rich in antioxidants, amino acids and minerals to promote blood circulation, hydrate hair follicles and strengthen hair roots. 

READ MORE: 15 Products To Try If You’re Worried About Hair Loss

A weekly deep cleanse helps remove scalp buildup, i.e. remnant residue of styling products. Replace your regular shampoo with a deep cleansing shampoo once a week to remove impurities, control oiliness and unclog hair follicles.

READ MORE: 9 Deep-Cleansing Hair Products For Your Healthiest Hair And Scalp Ever

This sulphate-free, colour-safe cooling scrub gets rid of dead skin cells and product build-up on the scalp with apple cidar vinegar and helps hydrates scalp with walnut oil.

The cure-all for hair overly exposed to the sun, chemically-processed hair, and excessive use of heat-styling hair tools, a hair mask is topically infused with botanical oils and butters to give your hair a deep-conditioning treat. Here are our top hair masks of 2018 for every hair type and concern. 

Made with four botanical oils rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals, this light and creamy mask promises to rebuild the hair structure, soothe irritation, and hydrate and nourish the scalp and hair to leave your locks soft and shiny.

If you tend to use heat-styling tools every day, change your hair colour every month, perm your hair, or simply have very dry hair, this would transform brittle hair with its blend of avocado oil, lemon extract and olive fruit oil to moisturise and strengthen hair for shiny, healthy looking hair.

Whether your scalp is dry or oily, a monthly scalp treatment works to balance the scalp condition, boost blood circulation, promote nutrient absorption, reduce any inflammation and itching, and maintain scalp health for healthy hair growth. Check out our list of best salon treatments in Singapore here. 

This scalp-rejuvenating treatment is said to help hair growth through the use of the Infra Red Healing Brush to stimulate the scalp and a hair steamer to help product penetration. The head, neck and shoulders massages boosts blood circulation, relieves tension, and were incredibly relaxing. You’ll also appreciate the tea menu, snack and fluffy robes, too. After the treatment, your scalp would feel fresher and your hair softer for the next few days.

READ MORE:
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Hair Awards 2018: The Best Conditioners For Smoother, More Manageable Hair
Hair Awards 2018: The Best Shampoos For Your Hair Type, From Dry And Frizzy To Oily And Limp

Text: Simone Wu
Photo: J’s Salon