We live in a world that is so heavily focused on finding every possible anti-ageing product and solution to keep our skin and bodies looking youthful and healthy for years and decades into the future. And although it is so important to protect and take care of our skin, especially from the damaging effects of UV exposure, so often we forget about and neglect our scalps! With our face often being the first thing we see in the mirror, it’s easy to become consumed with the small lines, wrinkles or imperfections on our skin and completely overlook the health and overall ageing process of our scalps. But if our goal is to experience healthy hair for many years to come, we must not forget about our scalp.
Scalp ageing is inevitable, just like any other part of our bodies. Ageing and getting to experience every season of life is a privilege that we should appreciate. But this doesn’t mean we have to neglect our health and accept the not so glamorous effects of ageing on our scalp and hair. We can enjoy graceful ageing while also acknowledging that there are steps we can take now to promote our healthiest scalp and hair for the future. So, let’s dive into why scalp ageing really matters, what are the signs of an ageing scalp and how we can prioritise our scalp and hair for our best results long term.
Our Fastest Ageing Skin
Because the signs of scalp ageing are often not as visible as the changes we tend to notice on our face, you might not realise that our scalp is actually known to age up to 6 times faster than the skin on our face and 12 times faster than our body skin. When we know and understand this fact, we can appreciate the importance of taking care of our scalp because, ultimately, ageing not only affects our scalp, but it also impacts our overall hair health.
There are a number of factors that can influence scalp health, including UV exposure, chemicals in products and hair colouring, and illnesses and various health conditions. This means we need to be aware of what is damaging our scalp health, the signs of ageing and the changes we need to make now in our haircare routines to promote our healthiest scalp and hair.
Signs of Scalp Ageing
As we age, there are changes our bodies experience that we can’t necessarily prevent or reverse but still need to understand in order to care for our scalp and hair in the best way possible. Something that we all experience with ageing is a decrease in sebum (oil) production on our skin, which includes our scalp. Sebum is important for keeping the skin, scalp and hair naturally protected and nourished, which means when our sebum reduces, we are more susceptible to dry scalp irritations, as well as dry, brittle hair.
Collagen production can also decline over time which impacts the elasticity of our scalp. This is important because in order to support and maintain thick, healthy hair follicles, our scalp must provide a strong, healthy environment. Not only is sebum and collagen production impacted by ageing, but blood flow that feeds the follicles can also decrease which, once again, is detrimental to the health of our hair. If our follicles are not receiving the necessary oxygen and nourishment provided by good blood flow and circulation, we are more likely to experience hair thinning, loss and overall poor hair health with time. It’s safe to say we all want to keep our hair as thick and healthy as possible and avoid thinning as best as we can. So, how we care for our scalp and take care of our general health now is most definitely going to impact our scalp and hair health in the future.
Another sign of ageing, that is more obvious, is greying hair. Now, some people love to embrace their naturally greying hair, while others prefer to enjoy coloured hair, and both choices are great. We should all feel free and empowered to choose what suits our personal preferences. But regardless of how you choose to embrace grey hair, it is important to discuss greying as a sign of ageing. Our hair follicles don’t simply turn grey. However, as we age, melanin, the chemical that gives hair colour, production slows, which means we start to grow hair follicles that are grey or white in appearance. Once again, it is a personal preference whether you choose to enjoy grey or coloured hair. However, the health of grey hair is something we all need to take into consideration. Due to the lack of sebum and melanin, grey hair is commonly very frizzy, dry, coarse and brittle. This is why we must ensure we are giving our scalp and hair the proper nourishment and care it needs so we can enjoy ageing hair that is still healthy, strong, hydrated and easy to manage.
How to Support a Healthy Scalp
It may seem obvious that healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. But when we begin to understand the effects and consequences of an ageing scalp, we can truly see how vulnerable our scalp and hair really are. So, if you were to take a moment to stop and think about how you’re caring for your scalp in your haircare routine, are you doing everything you need to maintain your healthiest scalp? There are so many hair habits and mistakes that we all can easily make on a daily basis that we may not truly consider but are, ultimately, detrimental to our scalp health long term. And if we’re not intentional, our scalp will suffer. However, when we consciously commit to small yet effective habits and changes in our haircare routine, we can enjoy naturally healthy hair for many years to come. So, here are some of the most important tips and habits you can adopt for your best results.
- Wash frequently – Commit to a consistent hair washing schedule that meets your specific needs and maintain a clean, healthy scalp. If you have naturally oily hair, are swimming and sweating often or regularly use styling products, don’t be afraid to wash often to remove build up and achieve a scalp that supports healthy hair growth.
- Avoid heavily chemical based styling products like dry shampoo and any leave-in hair products that can dry and irritate the scalp, as well as cause build up.
- Wear sun protection – Protect your scalp and hair from UV damage by wearing hats and sun protection, as well as by using products formulated to help protect against the effects of UV, just like our Sozo Hair Health products.
- Don’t sleep with wet hair – Dry off your hair before going to sleep to prevent bacterial and fungal growth on your pillow which can cause scalp irritations and concerns.
- Massage your scalp – Aim to massage your scalp for at least a couple of minutes every day to improve circulation and blood flow to your hair follicles, which helps to support healthy hair growth and strong follicles.
- Prewash oiling treatments – At least once a week, apply our Sozo Scalp & Hair Health Serum generously to your scalp and hair as a prewash oil treatment, leave to absorb for at least 30 minutes or a few hours, then wash and double shampoo as normal. Our all-natural, silicone free serum is a nourishing hair oil formulated with rosemary oil, jojoba, aloe, beetroot extract, grapeseed oil, macadamia oil and so much more to soothe, condition, reduce inflammation, support healthy hair growth, increase shine, hydrate and strengthen.
- Weekly hair mask treatments – All scalp types, but especially dry scalps, need nourishing, which can be achieved with prewash oiling treatments as well as hair masks. Our Sozo Hair Health Mask is a deeply nourishing and repairing treatment for dry scalps and hair because it targets not only your ends but also your scalp. Formulated with manuka honey, argan oil, aloe vera, green tea and much more, it will strengthen, smooth and repair your ends, as well as soothe and condition problematic scalp concerns. Simply shampoo, then apply our Hair Health Mask in place of conditioner, leaving it to absorb for at least 5 minutes in the shower or up to 30 minutes, before rinsing and enjoying your best hair health results.
Your daily hair habits can have a great impact on your scalp health and how your scalp ages with time. But it is with a complete and consistent natural haircare routine that you can support your healthiest scalp and hair for many years to come. Our Australian made Sozo Hair Health range is formulated to establish a complete routine for all scalp and hair types by nourishing your scalp and hair with scientifically proven natural ingredients. Ingredients such as green tea, finger lime, davidson plum, baobab seed extract and more are all known to target and enhance the scalp, as well as the hair, to support your best results naturally. Our Australian hair products are designed for your long term hair health, unlike many chemical based products that only create quick fix haircare solutions and results but are often detrimental to your hair long term. With regular and consistent use of our natural haircare products, you can enjoy healthy hair both now and for many years to come.
Scalp ageing is so often overlooked but, as we’ve seen, our scalp can suffer greatly as we age if we don’t give it the love, care and attention it requires. With small and intentional habits, as well as a consistent natural haircare routine, you can embrace and enjoy getting older while maintaining healthy hair that is easy to style and manage. You will never regret investing in yourself and investing in your scalp and hair health. So, commit to your best natural haircare routine that supports both your scalp and hair.
Leave a comment