How to Deep Clean Your Scalp and Hair

Once every so often, an imperfect hair day is inevitable. During the time between washes, a fluffy bounce can require more effort to achieve as the roots become weighed down and strands lose some life. When this happens, a simple hair care routine can usually bring your hair back to life in no time. But what if the heaviness won’t go away and your silky locks don’t come back? If washing and conditioning aren’t doing the trick, it’s time to learn how to deep clean your scalp. Scalp-care is something that is often overlooked but plays a fundamental part in maintaining healthy, nourished hair. Discover how to deep clean the scalp for purified roots and hair.

Taking care of your scalp is essential for promoting healthy hair growth. A healthy scalp improves blood circulation, which stimulates hair follicles and accelerates hair growth. Additionally, maintaining a well-cared-for scalp helps reduce the buildup of residues, such as dead skin cells and hair products, which can clog pores and prevent hair from growing freely and which can also cause tingling sensations, irritation and dandruff. By following a proper care routine, you create an optimal environment for stronger, healthy hair.

What is buildup in hair?

Buildup in the hair is unavoidable after some time. It is the accumulation of hair products, natural oils, impurities and pollution in the scalp and strands. How regularly this buildup occurs can depend on the hair's porosity.

Curly, coily, and wavy hair types usually have a high porosity, meaning the hair absorbs moisture and product well but also finds it difficult to retain. These hair types work well with shampoos and conditioners with nourishing, thick ingredients such as kokum butter to lock nourishment into the strands. However, every so often the scalp needs to be refreshed from any excess from these hydrating, luscious ingredients.

On the other hand, low porosity hair is usually straight, and buildup can occur quite easily. This is because it is more difficult for products to penetrate the hair follicle, so the majority can end up sitting on the surface.

Therefore, no matter what the hair types, it’s important to deeply clean the scalp every so often to start anew. A healthy scalp is essential for achieving beautiful hair and stimulating hair growth.

What does hair buildup look like?

What hair buildup looks like can differ from person to person, but there are three common signs that your scalp needs refreshing.

• Dull, Dry Strands – Your hair’s natural shine and moisture come from sebum, which is produced by the follicles. When these follicles become blocked, the sebum gets trapped, leaving your hair looking dull and dry instead of silky and glossy. To make matters worse, shine-enhancing products can’t absorb properly, making them ineffective.

• Flakes and Irritation – A red, irritated scalp can be a sign of product buildup. You may also notice white flakes around the affected area, adding to the discomfort.

• Sticky Texture – If your hair still feels oily even after washing, the culprit may not be your natural oils but a buildup of excess product and debris that needs a deep cleanse.

How to remove buildup on hair and scalp

Luckily, there are some ways on how to deep clean the scalp and hair to remove buildup.

Before Washing Use a Purifying Scalp Mask

The first step to remove buildup on the scalp and restore healthy, fresh hair is to draw out the buildup of impurities and pollution before washing. This can be done using a purifying scalp mask. Particularly one with mineral rich ingredients such as Thermal Mud which works to balance the scalp and relieve that oily-root sensation.

Christophe Robin's Purifying Mask contains not only Thermal Mud, but also Spirulina, which supports the scalp’s barrier function to help protect it from pollution and shield against external aggressors. The result from this scalp mask is healthier-looking hair, increased moisture content and a comfortably fresh scalp.