Scalp or hair: Which is more important?

Hey everyone!

I have wondered a couple of times about the topic I'm about to address. It especially comes to mind when I'm doing the 'wash' part of my hair care regimen. There's always one small voice saying to me - "Focus on cleaning your hair strands - your scalp needs only secondary attention. If you wash it, you'll take off the sebum." And there's another voice saying - "No! Make sure your scalp is clean first, then you can face your hair. If you don't have a clean scalp, your hair won't be healthy." Even when you go to salons here in Nigeria, most stylists would rather scrub your scalp and seemingly not pay attention to the hair. So, the question of which has superior importance raises itself. The answer? The SCALP is more important. In my humble opinion, if your scalp is NOT healthy, you can be sure that it will show negatively in your hair strands. Now, this does not mean that you should neglect your actual hair. It simply means that your healthy hair journey starts with a healthy SCALP but continues with good HAIR care practices.

SCALP CARE

1. Be sure to make sure that your scalp is clean. While washing, gently rub your scalp with your finger tips NOT NAILS to ensure it's being cleaned properly. 
2. Don't use harsh shampoos that will strip your scalp of its natural oils. You don't want a scalp that is too dry as this can cause dandruff and flakes in your scalp. 
3. At the same time, you do need a shampoo or cleanser that will remove just enough oils to ensure your scalp is not a haven for bacteria. 
4. Massage your scalp daily or a few days a week, as this improves blood flow and has been said to aid in hair growth!
5. Keep your scalp moisturized - remember moisture is water, NOT oils. You can use your spray bottle mix on your scalp. If you have scalp issues (dry or itchy), some oils are recommended to keep the scalp free of bacteria (Tea tree, peppermint, cedarwood, rosemary, jojoba, etc).
6. I've also read of other products with Apple Cider Vinegar or Aloe Vera Juice to promote a healthy pH level (4.5 to 5.5). With these 2 products, I would say that you should be careful and test with only a small section over time. I have had negative effects of ACV (tiny bumps all over my face), and AN has had negative effects of Aloe Vera. They both work wonderfully for others though, so figure out what works best for you.
7. Don't pull hair tight in order to achieve hair styles like braids, cornrows, buns, etc. Pulling too tightly can cause open sores on your scalp.
   

HAIR CARE

1. Keep hair clean and free of product build up, by washing with gentle shampoos or conditioners. Again, you don't want to strip your hair dry.
2. Keep hair moisturized. Water + oils + leave-in-conditioner is my preferred spray bottle mix. I have a mini spray bottle and I keep it with me most of the time, so I can moisturize on the go.
3. Make sure that your hair is detangled properly to avoid knots. You can detangle with your fingers, wide tooth comb or a denman or paddle brush - it's your choice.
4. If you notice split ends, snip snip snip away. The thing with split ends is that if you don't cut the hair strand, the split will most likely grow downwards to the root of that strand, causing an even more unhealthy situation.  
5. Sleep with a satin scarf, bonnet or pillow case. 

And there you have it! Have a nice weekend, and make sure your scalp and hair get some love from you :)

Berry Dakara.