WHAT IS A SENSITIVE SCALP ANYWAY?

If you have sensitive skin, there’s a good chance you have a sensitive scalp. Almost anything can seem to aggravate it too, from hair dyes to styling products. Find out if you have a sensitive scalp.

Put simply, skin sensitivity is a measure of how your skin responds to potential irritation, and some people’s skin is more sensitive than others.

It’s the same for your scalp. Many people experience sensitive scalp, so the skin is easily irritated whether it’s by chemicals in hair dyes or styling products or even small, everyday behaviors like having the water in your shower too hot.

What does a sensitive scalp feel like?

If you have a sensitive scalp, you’re likely to experience irritation when your skin comes into contact with certain substances.

It can make the scalp:

dry
itchy
red

If you have the symptoms, it’s likely you’re sensitive to something – now all you need to do is find out what.

Dandruff is actually a form of sensitivity

One of the most common sources of irritation is dandruff – in fact, 50% of the world’s population suffers from it.

It happens as naturally occurring microbes on the scalp produce oleic acid – something billions of people are sensitive to. This causes redness, itching, irritation and, eventually, flakes as your skin cells shed faster than normal.

So, if your scalp is sensitive, it’s a good idea to start using an anti-dandruff shampoo to help prevent dandruff irritation and take care of the signs.

Top tips to care for a sensitive scalp

There are things other than dandruff that can aggravate a sensitive scalp. So, here are a few tips to help you reduce the risk of irritation:

Avoid harsh shampoo products – try our Purely Gentle shampoo – it has no colorings and minimal fragrances to keep it kind to skin. Plus, it’s a pH-balanced formula so you can use it every day.
Wash your hair in warm water but avoid water that’s too hot, as this can irritate the skin on your scalp.
Watch out for hair bleaches and hair dyes– these not only put the hair under a lot of stress but also may contain chemicals that can aggravate a sensitive scalp.
Keep an eye on your styling products– it’s not just shampoos that might contain ingredients that can aggravate your scalp. Hair sprays, gels, waxes and treatments all contain different ingredients, so keep a note of anything that aggravates your scalp and try to give yourself a few days off every now and then to let your hair and scalp go “naked.”

See our sensitive scalp shampoo

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