Tips from Homni on Sic Mulher: How to find a balance in the health of the scalp for beautiful, resistant hair?
This tip was presented in Avani Professional’s monthly feature on Sic Mulher’s What’s UP program, broadcast on November 25th.
If you want to see the full report, you can do so on What’s UP TV at this link: Watch Report
SCALP HEALTH
The health of the scalp determines the health of the hair. Making an analogy, the scalp represents the soil of a plantation and the plants the hair. If the soil is poor, it will affect the healthy growth of the plants. In the same way, any factor that causes an imbalance in the scalp can be detrimental to healthy hair growth.
To have healthy hair, it’s essential to have a balanced scalp, but the question to ask right away is: what does it mean to have a balanced scalp?
This question is very important when it comes to hair health because there are many doubts surrounding this issue.
When the scalp is balanced, it doesn’t show signs of excess oil or appear extremely dry. It is free of conditions such as flakes, irritation or redness, and any signs of infection or skin breakdown on the scalp.
To achieve a balanced scalp, it’s important to pay attention to 3 factors: external factors; skin conditions which are dermatological conditions (seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and malassezia fungus); and the level of oiliness.
1. External factors affecting the balance of the scalp
External factors are related to weather conditions, lifestyle and procedures carried out on the hair, so they depend on personal decisions that are up to each person, although we recommend that you take into account the impact that these factors can have on the hair. For example, there are very aggressive chemical procedures for the scalp and hair that have a very significant impact on their health, and there is often no awareness of this.
2. Skin conditions on the scalp
When you detect skin conditions like the ones we’ve mentioned, it’s a good idea to go to a dermatologist who can help you identify them better. However, if you follow the recommendations in this tip, they may help to control some of these conditions. In many situations, even with skin conditions, the applications we recommend balance the scalp and bring about visible improvements.
3. Oil level
The level of oil on the scalp is the most common factor behind the vast majority of problems we encounter (excess oil or extremely dry scalp), and this factor is extremely important for the general health of the hair.
Oiliness (sebum) is not necessarily bad for the scalp.
Its purpose is to permanently protect its surface and the hair shaft. This means that the existence of sebum (a fatty substance) in balance is essential for the good health of the scalp and hair. Its fluctuations – whether in excess or deficiency – can lead to imbalances. When the rate of sebum production is higher than average, we are talking about hyper seborrhea, which means an extremely oily scalp. At the other extreme, when the scalp is deficient in sebum production or dehydrated, this leads to an extremely dry scalp.
Just to give you an idea, a scalp can be characterized by a level of sebum expression:
Dry scalp: less than 120mg/cm2
Normal scalp: from 120 to 190ml/cm2
Oily scalp: above 190ml/cm2
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR SCALP IS OILY OR DRY
First and foremost, the best way to find out exactly how oily your scalp is is to have a professional hair analysis. Avani Professional offers this type of analysis with a detailed report free of charge and without any obligation. If you are interested, you can book an appointment at our Avani Professional Institute.
(Note: If you can’t make it to our physical location in Lisbon, you can schedule a video call with us – free of charge).
If you already have another place you trust where you can do this analysis, we advise you to do so.
There’s also a little trick that can help define whether you have an oily or dry scalp: rub a bit of tissue paper on your scalp two or three days after the last wash, and check whether the paper has left a translucent oil stain. If so, this means that you already have a significant level of oiliness in your hair and you should pay some attention to it.
Other ways of identifying a dry or oily scalp are as follows:
HAIR THICKNESS: From the outset, hair thickness is a very indicative factor for identifying the level of oil on the scalp. In most cases, thick hair is not prone to accumulating excess oil on the scalp because it tends to absorb grease due to its thickness. If you have thin hair, on the other hand, your scalp is more likely to accumulate excess oil.
WASHING FREQUENCY: The frequency with which you need to wash your hair can also be an indicator of whether you have an extremely oily or dry scalp. Oily hair needs to be washed more frequently (it could be every other day, for example) so that it doesn’t accumulate grease, while hair with a balanced scalp can go several days without showing any grease accumulated on the scalp (usually 3 to 5 days).
SENSITIZED HAIR: A possible indicator of a very dry scalp will be signs of irritation and loose flakes (dry dandruff). In this case, the skin may be noticeably reddened with irritation, itching and a burning sensation.
DRY SKIN: If you have extremely dry skin on other parts of your body, it may also be an indication that you have a very dry scalp.
DRY DANDRUFF AND OILY DANDRUFF
When the scalp has dandruff (flaking), there is often doubt as to whether the scalp is dry or oily, since dandruff can occur in both situations. The easiest way to tell if your scalp is dry or oily is to identify whether it is dry or oily dandruff.
DRY DANDRUP: the most common form of dandruff is dry dandruff. The films are thin and whitish, visible on the surface of the scalp and around the ends of the hair. The films do not adhere to the scalp, come off easily and can be easily seen on darker clothing.
OILY DANDRUFF: Oily dandruff is manifested by yellowish films (larger than dry dandruff) that adhere to the scalp. It is always associated with excess sebum. The scalp can also become irritated.
In most cases, in both conditions, the scalp may show signs of itching.
HOLD FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS OR WASH?
There are many doubts about the frequency of hair washing. This question is directly linked to the level of sebum expression (fatty substance) present on the scalp, and the number of washes depends on the level of oiliness.
If you notice that your hair is very oily, we recommend washing it, even if you have to do it every few days. Those with more balanced scalps are naturally able to wash more frequently, every 3 to 5 days for example.
1. TREATMENT FOR EXTREMELY OILY SCALP
This treatment is based on our Cold effect range. This range is very special to us because it was the first to be launched and we really wanted to start with the scalp. This is a base range that should be used in combination with other products because it was designed just for the scalp. It gives a cool but comfortable sensation. It contains the ingredients witch hazel, menthol and camphor, which is considered in Ayurvedic medicine to be a special herb that balances the kapha and pitta Doshas. Just out of curiosity, the doshas in Hindu philosophy symbolize the physical manifestation of the 5 elements present in our bodies: water, fire, earth, air and ether. The balance of the doshas means the harmony of the scalp.
This treatment includes: Indian Hair Vitamin Shampoo, Cold effect Shampoo, Cold effect Purifying Cream, Indian Hair Vitamin Conditioner, Indian Hair Vitamin Tonic and Pure Melaleuca Oil.
How are these products applied?
1
Aplicar os dois Shampoos na mesma lavagem alternadamente. Iniciar o procedimento da lavagem com o Shampoo Cold effect e a segunda lavagem com o Shampoo Indian Hair Vitaminado. Este procedimento é importante porque o Shampoo Cold Effect é purificante e combate o excesso de oleosidade e a caspa oleosa (descamação). A segunda lavagem com Shampoo Indian Hair Vitaminado é importante porque este shampoo é um excelente hidratante que ajuda a equilibrar o couro cabeludo evitando que fique extremamente seco apenas com a lavagem do shampoo purificante Cold Effect. Como nota, quando se utiliza um apenas um shampoo purificante este pode reduzir de forma drástica a oleosidade e a hidratação naturais do couro cabeludo. Quando isso acontece o nosso organismo tem tendência de produzir essa oleosidade em excesso para ele próprio tentar compensar. Isso pode dar origem a um couro cabeludo extremamente oleoso.
2
Após a lavagem, aplicar o Creme Purificante Cold Effect no couro cabeludo. Recomendamos a sua utilização uma ou duas vezes por semana (dependendo do nível de oleosidade). Este creme funciona como uma máscara especifica para o couro cabeludo porque vai actuar diretamente no seu equilíbrio, hidratando e acalmando. Para além disso, pode ainda ajudar com outros possíveis problemas do couro cabeludo como caspa seca ou oleosa, entre outros.
3
O Condicionador Indian Hair Vitaminado deve ser aplicado após a lavagem do cabelo com os shampoos sendo essencial para a selagem da cutícula evitando a quebra dos fios. Nos dias em que seja aplicado o Creme Purificante Cold Effect (uma ou duas vezes por semana) deve fazer os dois em simultâneo, para desta forma tratar as pontas e a raiz dos cabelos. Nota: O Condicionador não deixa o cabelo pastoso. Mesmo tendo um couro cabeludo extremamente oleoso, é importante hidratar os meios e pontas para evitar o problema da raiz oleosa e pontas secas, um problema muito recorrente.
4
Após o banho aplicar Tónico Capilar Indian Hair Vitaminado que para além de combater a queda ajuda a resolver o excesso de oleosidade. É muito rico em ingredientes que vão ajudar na saude geral do cabelo.
5
Óleo Pure Melaleuca: Este óleo deve ser misturado com os ambos os shampoos, no creme purificante e no tónico. Nos shampoos e no tónico pode ser colocado com umas gotas na própria embalagem agitando bem de seguida. No Creme Purificante deve ser misturado, com uma gota, no momento da aplicação. Este óleo é reconhecido pelas suas propriedades antibacterianas naturais e é importante para este procedimento porque ajuda a combater algumas infeções ou inflamações causadas por bactérias, que são muitas vezes responsáveis por problemas como a caspa ou a irritação.
2. TREATMENT OF EXTREMELY DRY SCALP
In this situation, the scalp is extremely dry and malnourished, which is why we recommend the Indian Hair Nutrition Range, made up of Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask, which will restore nutrition and moisture (hydration) to the scalp and hair. It also includes Cold effect Purifying Cream that will act on dry dandruff and moisturize the scalp; and the oils: Pure Melaleuca natural antibacterial; nourishing Cure de Ricino and regenerating Cure de Rosa Mosqueta.
How are these products applied?
1
Antes da lavagem com a gama Indian Hair Nutrition, recomendamos a massagem hair oiling no couro cabeludo com os seguintes óleos naturais uma a duas vezes por semana: Óleo de Ricino nutritivo, Óleo Cure de Rosa Mosqueta regenerador e Óleo melaleuca antibacteriano natural. Basta misturar uma pequena quantidade dos 3 numa taça e aplicar no couro cabeludo massajando bem em toda a sua extensão.
2
Aplicar a Gama Indian Nutrition completa na lavagem começando pelo shampoo, depois a máscara e por fim o condicionador.
3
O Creme purificante Cold effect deve ser aplicado uma vez por semana, após a lavagem com o shampoo, em simultâneo com a aplicação da máscara.
For hair that needs a more in-depth treatment, a professional and personalized hair diagnosis is recommended – visit our space in Lisbon or call 917864111 for an appointment.
Alternatively, send a private message to schedule a hair analysis to be carried out online via video-call.
