Raise your hand if you have dry skin…

When elbows and hands become dry in winter months, it’s an easy fix with lotion. But what about our scalp? Wearing dark colors can show the flaky substance that can coat our scalp when it is dry. Here are the best tips I’ve learned to avoid dry scalp during winter.

1) Use shampoo that doesn’t have a bunch of ingredients that can irritate your scalp.

Most scalp issues are brought on by an imbalance of the scalp — either too much oil (or even wax) left behind in the shampoo formula; or products that are left behind when we rinse.

One of the main reasons why drug store shampoo’s are not a good idea is that they are filled with plastic that coat the scalp. This can create a scalp issue by clogging our pores and even causing hair loss. Flip the back of your favorite shampoo bottle over. Do you see ingredients that list a wax product in the ingredient list?

Chances are you will find one listed. It’s an inexpensive way to make hair feel soft. As an alternative, salon formula shampoos don’t contain wax or fillers that coat the scalp. And instead offer a blend that helps to balance and address moisture.

2) Get in there to remove build up.

It’s a normal part of the process to have skin that can shed from our scalp. The best way to get rid of dry skin on our scalp is to give our hair a thorough brushing before shampooing. Another thing I love to use in the shower is a scalp brush.

Buy on Amazon for $6.99. This tool helps to lather our shampoo while also removing harmful build up. I use this once a week to keep my scalp feeling its best.

3) When you don’t wash often enough.

Over the past few years, it’s been a big thing to avoid shampooing on a daily basis. While this is a good idea for helping to preserve hair color, it can be irritating to scalps dealing with imbalance. The typical wash cycle should be ever 2-4 days to keep our scalps clean and flake free.

Talking about dry scalp isn’t sexy. I know that. But it’s often a thing that people are embarrassed to ask a professional about. Feel free to use any of these suggestions and let me know how they help you!

Jacqueline Weesner is a licensed hairstylist in Montrose, Colorado. Her specialties include women’s hair color, balayage and grey coverage. Her salon in Montrose, CO uses all natural hair color that heals the hair. Contact Jacqueline here.