Prioritising self-care is never easy and wrongly carries a sense of guilt for most of us, but is it time to look beyond that? The beauty with self-care is that there is no strict definition – it might be taking a moment of stillness, tuning in to self-love, or creating daily rituals that ground you and help you seize the day, every day. Here, on the HB beauty desk we’re carving out some self-care time to pay more attention to our scalps. Yes, you read that correctly! Here’s why…
The importance of scalp care
Think of your scalp like you do your skin, or as an extension of your complexion. Regardless of where it is on the body, all skin is made up of 3 key layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. Although structurally the same, the skin on the scalp is unique in that there are more hair follicles, more oil glands, faster cell renewal and the scalp is thinner and more fragile than other skin – meaning it needs to be treated with care. If you visited a trichologist about any hair issue you may be experiencing, the scalp is the first place they would investigate.
The most common scalp concerns
Lifestyle factors, environmental factors, stress, hormones, genetics are just some of things that are at play when it comes to scalp health. Oiliness, sensitivity, dry scalps, hair fall, and dandruff are some of the most frequently experienced scalp concerns. With scalps being a sensitive site, constantly exposed to different stressors, it is likely that we will all experience different scalp concerns at different phases of our life. The most common is of course dandruff, but what actually is it? Dandruff is a very common scalp condition caused by a yeast called Malassezia that sit on the surface of our scalp. These yeasts feed off the natural oils on our scalp and release an acid which in some people can cause increased skin cell turnover and flaking. The appearance and severity of the dandruff can differ; however, the typical signs are large, coarse flakes on the surface of the scalp which can be slightly yellow in colour and greasy to touch.
The key ingredients to look out for
Whilst dandruff is not a curable condition, there are ways to treat the symptoms with both lifestyle changes and switching up your scalp care regime. Look out for active ingredients that reduce the amount of yeast on your scalp whilst removing excess oil and creating a healthy scalp environment.
The three hero ingredients are:
1. Salicylic Acid – the benchmark ingredient best known in skincare for exfoliation – in scalp care, this ingredient works to instantly peel dead cells and dandruff away.
2. Piroctone Olamine – known to help reduce the Malassezia yeasts present on the scalp and slow down cell renewal speed.
3. Bifidus – known creating a healthy scalp eco-system as well as working to strengthen the scalp skin barrier.
The scalp care products that work
Let us introduce you to the new Kérastase Symbiose range, specifically designed with scalp care and dandruff in mind. Whatever your hair type, Symbiose targets every hair type that is prone to dandruff and helps repair scalp health. The products help to remove visible flakes immediately and has up to three weeks anti-dandruff efficacy, all thanks to its formulation of skincare inspired actives (Salicylic Acid, Piroctone Olamine and Bifidus). Unlike the old-school anti-dandruff haircare products we know, these hardworking ingredients are infused in super-deluxe formulations that makes them both enjoyable, luxe, and indulgent to use. Who said scalp care couldn’t be self-care?
Our scalp care hair essentials
Symbiose Micro-Exfoliating Cellular Treatment, £35.50 – a purifying gel exfoliator enriched with micro-peeling acid and plant-based bead and smells divine.
Symbiose Purifying Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, £27.15 – a gentle and breathable foaming formula that removes dandruff while preventing oil build up.
Symbiose Moisturizing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, £27.15 – a moisturising formula that instantly exfoliates the scalp, removes visible dandruff without stripping the scalp.
Symbiose Detangling Soothing Conditioner, £35.50 – a hydrating, lightweight and balm-like texture that is super luxe to use and smell.
Symbiose Intensive Anti-Dandruff Cellular Night Serum, £45.80 – this non-sticky, non-greasy milky serum soothes scalp irritations and any discomfort on your scalp while you grab some shuteye.
Symbiose Intense Revitalizing Mask, £45.80 – the multi-tasking hero. This rich, creamy mask soothes discomfort, preserves the scalp barrier, detangles hair, adds moisture, and brings intense nourishment. A multi-tasking
created in partnership with kerastase
