Does your scalp feel like it’s falling off during winter? You are not alone.
There are several factors that lead to a super dry, flaky scalp during the colder months, even if you’re someone who has never suffered from dandruff.
And while you may be tempted to wash your hair even more regularly or see a professional, there are plenty of steps you can take at home to rehydrate your scalp.
FEMAIL spoke to trichologists (hair and scalp specialists), scientists and hair care experts to find out how you can revive your itchy, flaky scalp this winter.
FEMAIL spoke to trichologists, scientists and hair care experts to find out how you can revive your itchy, flaky scalp this winter with behavioral changes (stock images)
Angela Onuoha regularly goes viral on TikTok for her extensive knowledge on combating any type of scalp problem
Trichologist and Her pride expert Angela Onuoha has gone viral on social media for her extensive knowledge on combating every type of scalp problem.
The cosmetic chemist told DailyMail.com: ‘The scalp becomes susceptible to dryness in winter due to environmental and weather changes and the use of central heating, which can drop indoor humidity, leading to drier air.’
According to Angela, these factors “can lead to damage to the scalp’s protective layer, which removes its natural moisture and oils, leaving your scalp lacking hydration and becoming dry, itchy and irritated, evidenced by areas of white spots or flakes.’
“When the scalp is dry, the hair can also look and feel dry because the scalp’s natural oils help condition the hair,” Angela warned. If your hair starts to feel dry, no more washing is the solution, as Angela advised’dries out the scalp, causing more sebum to be produced.’
Instead, she recommended “using a moisturizing shampoo that does not contain sulfates, as this can strip the hair of its natural oils, causing your scalp to dry out and produce too much oil.”
Angela also suggested ‘put effort into cleansing your scalp and hair and invest in the right shampoo that moisturizes and soothes, but also removes the build-up of sweat, pollution and dead skin cells, all of which cause a dry scalp.
“Leave your shampoo on for a few minutes to allow the dirt to draw off the scalp,” Angela said, explaining, “Shampoos contain surfactants that lift dirt off the scalp like a magnet,” but that doesn’t happen right away.
“If you want to cleanse properly, it’s important to give your shampoo time to really do its work,” Angela said, adding, “Take the time to really massage it in with a scalp brush.” She also suggested getting a scalp brush, which ‘give the shampoo more time to lift the dirt and gently exfoliate while massaging.’
Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa offers intensive scalp treatments, including a treatment with Biologique Recherce products
Creative director, master stylist and colorist Paul Labrecque with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa in Manhattan rounded up the biggest causes of dry scalp, including chlorine, sun damage, use of hot tools and too many chemicals like color, perms and keratin.
Paul says the key to combating a super dry scalp is to condition, “avoid heat styling as much as possible,” and let your hair air dry after washing.
And if you go on a tropical vacation in the winter, swimming can also be one of the leading causes of dehydration, as the chlorine dries out your hair and scalp.
If you’re taking a dip, Paul recommends wetting your hair with plain water and applying a thick conditioner before protecting your locks with a shower cap, so ‘Chlorine and salt cannot penetrate your locks.’
Paul’s salon (and many like it) also offer intensive scalp treatmentswhere the product is professionally massaged to ensure a healthier head and shinier locks.
If you suffer from scalp problems, it may be best to cut back on washing your hair (stock images)
San Francisco, California-based scientist Dr. Rafal Pielak is the founder and compiler of Soteria line of skin care and scalp products that help with dry skin and eczema, an inflammatory skin condition.
Dr. Pielak explained that in winter, the “low humidity environment can lead to depletion of moisture from the skin, including the scalp, causing dehydration.”
Dr. Rafal Pielak is the founder and formulator of Soteri, a line of skin and scalp products
It doesn’t help that, according to the scientist, “during the colder months, the body produces less sebum, the natural oil crucial for skin hydration,” which can “make the scalp more susceptible to dryness.”
Low temperatures “can also affect the pH balance of the scalp, leading to adverse effects on the skin microbiome and disrupting the natural process of lipid production,” warned Dr. Pielak.
And those super hot showers when you come in from the cold aren’t doing you any good, because Dr. Pielak said it can “strip the skin and scalp of natural oils, worsening dryness.” All these factors weaken the protective skin barriers.
Dr. Pielak said it may be better to wash your hair less if you live somewhere cold, opting for every two to three days to preserve the scalp’s natural oils. Instead, use scalp treatments to ‘nourish, hydrate the scalp and maintain the scalp’s optimal pH level’.
However, if your scalp remains flaky and dry after washing less, taking showers a little colder, and trying treatments like scalp serum, it’s time to see a dermatologist or trichologist.
‘If the scalp remains dry and flaky after several weeks of using moisturizing and hydrating products, it may be time to seek professional advice,’ advised Dr. Pielak.