by Joan Inong

Created on: August 29, 2009

If you want to have healthy head hair, you have to start from the foundation up. Healthy hair begins with the scalp. If you do not take care of your scalp, you are also neglecting to take care of your hair. Thankfully, you don't need your hair stylist's help when it comes to properly caring for your hair and scalp. As long as you follow a few simple tips, you too can have beautiful, healthy hair.

Let's start with the scalp. Since the scalp is essentially skin, you can take care of it the way that you take care of the rest of your skin. However, take into consideration the fact that your scalp can receive a lot of damaging sun rays, so it can actually be drier than the rest of your body. To fix this, you can do a few things:

- Drink plenty of water. Sufficient hydration is required for healthy skin. If one part of your body is not able to get water from the rest of your body, you can expect it to start pulling water from your scalp and head region. The hair, therefore, suffers first. Drinking plenty of water can prevent this from happening. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day, if not more, depending on how much water (sweat) you expel.

- Use shampoo that is gentle yet cleans effectively. You do not want to use a shampoo that is harsh, because it can strip your scalp of its natural oils, which coats the hair and keeps it healthy and shiny. At the same time, you do not want to use a shampoo that is so gentle that it does not clean your scalp, which can result in flakes (dandruff) and excessive oiliness (which can contribute to clogged follicles). Choosing the right shampoo may require some experimentation between different brands, but try to use shampoos that do not have sulfates or parabens (though some shampoos without sulfates can still be too harsh). If you notice any excessive hair loss, stop using the shampoo.

- Massage your scalp at least three or four times a week to ensure proper blood circulation. Your scalp, without this encouragement from your fingers, receives very little blood, mostly because it is at the very top of your body and because it is quite thin. When you massage your scalp, bend over so that your face is facing towards your feet and the ground. Massage your scalp for at least thirty minutes with only the pads of your fingers. Never use the fingernails, as this can cause damage to your scalp and, consequently, your hair.

Hair is, truthfully, a dead thing. The only part that is alive is located at the base of the hair, on the scalp, called the hair follicle. You cannot really make your hair healthy by using shampoos. Instead, you can only ingest foods or supplements that can help your hair follicles become as healthy as possible. Consult your doctor before you take any vitamin supplements that are intended to make your hair healthier, such as vitamin E or iron.

Caring for your scalp and hair is simple. Always start with the scalp, and you can directly influence the health of your hair.

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