Can a Scalp Scrub Help You Fight Aging? Here Are the Facts

One day you look in the mirror and realize time really doesn’t stop for anyone. This fact can be shown in a variety of ways—fine lines on the forehead, thinning hair, or even greying hair. And like most people, we will try anything we can to stop it or at least slow it down.

Pulling your hair into a ponytail and discovering that batch of hair in your hand feels smaller than it did a few years ago isn’t a fun realization. If anything, it can be a rigid reminder that there are no exceptions to the passage of time. So, what do you do to combat thinning hair? What about greying or brittle hair? Well, we’re here to tell you that there is a way to combat these newfound signs of aging—a scalp scrub!

Scalp scrubs may seem too easy of an answer to this unnerving situation of being a victim of time, but that’s what is so great about them. It’s easy to use and magnificently efficient! The exfoliation properties of scalp scrubs boast many benefits that all result in a happy, healthy scalp and fresh, luscious hair. Keep reading if you have any desire to learn about these anti-aging benefits obtained from using a scalp scrub! 

What Are Scalp Scrubs Used For?

Similar to a body scrub, scalp scrubs are specifically designed and formulated for your scalp. This design is specific to the scalp in order to encourage healthy hair and a healthy scalp rather than negate that by using ingredients that would otherwise damage the hair follicles and irritate the skin on the scalp.

A scalp scrub exfoliates the scalp and successfully removes dead skin cells, product buildup, and natural buildups like oil and sweat. This allows for the prevention of blockages in the hair follicles, improved blood circulation, and effective circulation of nutrients and antioxidants to the hair. These factors all combat aging signs like thin hair, brittle hair, or greying hair. In fact, with the usage of a scalp scrub that efficiently exfoliates the scalp, hair health and production can drastically improve for fully healthy, luscious hair. 

Scalp Scrubs We Love

The Importance of Exfoliation

We’ve all heard it more than a few times before and the importance of it relating to our skincare routine.

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells that would otherwise block and clog the skin and its pores. This process allows new skin cells to be revealed, allowing for moisturizing products to penetrate effectively into the skin for healthy skin and a fresher appearance.

Skin naturally sheds to allow room for new skin cells every 30 days or so. Without exfoliation, the skin will steadily accumulate a buildup of dead skin cells which will inevitably result in clogged pores, an uneven skin tone, and dry, dull skin. With exfoliation, the aging process is challenged by the consistent and effective rejuvenation of the skin along with the reduction of negative influences that can lead to an increase in the aging process, like free radicals or blockages in the pores. 

Anti-Aging Powers of Scalp Scrubs

Other than wrinkles, there are other notable signs of aging that include hair loss, hair thinning, and greying of hair. There are many benefits of using scalp scrubs, a few of them being stimulation to the scalp that encourages healthy hair growth. The rejuvenation instigates the flow of supplemental nutrients and a surplus of blood circulation for the hair follicles that the scalp absorbs and uses to produce shiny and healthy hair. 

Dandruff Control

Dandruff is those icky flakes of skin that we find around our roots and sometimes even on our shoulders (hence the famous brand name Head & Shoulders dedicated to dandruff control). There are many causes of dandruff, including Malassezia and seborrheic dermatitis. 

Malassezia, previously known as Pityrosproum, is a fungus that feeds on the oil that is meant to coat and protect our hair and skin. As it feeds, Malassezia produces oleic acid. More than 50% of the entire world is sensitive to this byproduct of Malassezia, causing inevitable irritation of the skin. With the release of oleic acid on the scalp, the human body rapidly increases the turnover rate of the renewal of skin cells in order to remove the irritant, the oleic acid. The end result is dandruff. 

Reduces Oxidative Stress 

Oxidative stress is the imbalance of free radicals, which are reactive oxygen species, and antioxidants that are needed to defend against them.

There is solid evidence that shows how this imbalance contributes to hair loss and the greying of hair. When there is oxidative stress, concerning the scalp, oftentimes this prevents the hair from growing out of the hair follicle, resulting in premature hair loss. This is due to the reactive oxygen species tipping the scales to overpower the body’s biological system and its ability to repair the damage that results from oxidative damage. 

The causes of oxidative stress are vast and some factors can increase long-term oxidative stress including:

• Pollution

• A Diet High In Processed Foods, Fat, And Sugar

• Obesity

• Alcohol Consumption

• Smoking Tobacco Products

It is essential to have a healthy balanced diet rich in antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress as the first step. The next step is using a scalp scrub to encourage the circulation of these antioxidants to be released in the hair follicles to prevent premature hair loss and other consequences of oxidative stress like greying hair. Preventing oxidative stress can have a major effect on the reversal or prevention of greying hair and hair loss. 

Improved Blood Circulation

Hair thinning out is a common sign of aging, but there’s a way to stop it!

A scalp scrub promotes new hair growth by stimulating blood circulation to the scalp. In fact, the act of increasing blood flow to the scalp has been proven to stave off baldness. When there is a steady and effective flow of blood to the hair follicles, it empowers an effectively longer anagen phase. 

The anagen phase is an active phase of hair where new hair is created and pops out of the follicle to continue growing. The promotion of this phase drastically improves hair density while also reducing the shedding of hair. 

With the improvement of blood circulation, while using a scalp scrub, there also comes the headway of more oxygen and nutrients that are essential for healthy hair. It was discovered through studies on alopecia that hair follicles are surprisingly sensitive to the fluctuations of oxygen levels provided to them; so much so that it was shown to influence the hair cycle and the regulation of hair growth. The same goes for nutrients that hair follicles require for healthy hair growth and maintenance. 

Nutrient deficiency and lack of proper blood circulation can lead to a blockage of nutrient flow to the hair. If hair follicles are undernourished, there is an increased risk of hair loss or weak, brittle hair. Using a scalp scrub can improve blood circulation and prevent blockages preventing nutrients from consistently circulating to the hair. 

All in all, blood circulation is essential for a consistent supply of blood flow to the hair follicles. The blood delivers crucial oxygen and strengthening nutrients that promote a longer anagen phase, thus boasting luscious and youthful hair and a reduction of hair loss. 

Scalp Scrubs We Love

Eliminates Buildup on the Scalp

Buildup on the scalp refers to sebum accumulation that sticks to hair products, sweat, and dead skin cells on the scalp. Sebum is a waxy, oily substance that is produced by the sebaceous glands, an exocrine gland that opens into a hair follicle. This substance, sebum, protects the skin by coating and moisturizing it. 

When there is any buildup on the scalp, there can be symptoms that relate to other conditions such as scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and eczema. These symptoms can look like flakes on the hair or scalp, redness, itchiness, oiliness, or crustiness of the skin. This buildup of one or more substances, like sebum and styling creams, for example, accumulates over time which can cause irritation to the scalp and skin, as well as blockages to hair follicles. 

There can be negative occurrences caused by buildup on the scalp. With the buildup of different substances comes an enticing environment for bacteria to thrive in. The combination of bacteria and buildup results in irritation to the hair follicles, causing them to become inflamed. This can lead to the development of folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles. Folliculitis can be caused by a fungal or bacterial infection. It may appear as white-headed pimples or small red bumps around the hair follicles. If folliculitis is not treated, it can cause sores that may never completely heal. This results in scabs that cause hair loss.

The utilization of a scalp scrub is a prime method of breaking up the inevitable buildup on the scalp. It can help to prevent blockages of nutrients to the hair as well as irritation to the scalp. The possibility of buildup transitioning into a more serious issue of folliculitis can easily be averted. And all in all, using a scalp scrub can eliminate buildup on the scalp to leave a pathway for hair follicles to grow for a thick, healthy head of hair! 

Protects Against Environmental Causations

Many environmental factors stimulate the creation of free radicals. These include pollution, dust, exposure to ultraviolet rays, cigarette smoke, and many other toxic chemicals. When a person comes into contact with these environmental instigators, like air pollution, for example, the production of free radicals drastically increases. This then leads to an overpowering of the body’s defense structure and active mechanisms, leading to an increase of damage done to cellular structures of the scalp and hair and resulting in inevitable hair loss.

Future Science Research Centre, in connection with Coreana Cosmetic, a Korean cosmetics company, presented research that correlated the link between hair loss and the exposure to air pollutants like dust and carbon monoxide. The research exposes the drastic effects common air pollutants have in the causation of hair loss, especially when the level of the pollutant increases the greater the decrease in proteins in hair, proteins that are essential for hair growth. 

Although the goal is to decrease how often you are exposed to the causation of increased free radical production, it can be an almost impossible battle to face without becoming a hermit. A scalp scrub is a great method for combatting free radicals that would otherwise overpower the scalp and hair follicles. With the recommended usage, a scalp scrub can be a preventative measure by aiding to remove free radicals from the scalp before they gang up on the hair follicles. 

How To Use a Scalp Scrub

Scalp scrubs shouldn’t be used daily. Like the face, exfoliating should be done 2-3 times a week rather than every day so as not to damage the protective layer of skin by drying it out with frequent exfoliation.

Ideally, a scalp scrub will be used in the shower and as the first step in your shower routine. It should be used before washing your hair then followed by a purifying shampoo. A purifying shampoo is specially designed and formulated to get rid of any stubborn residue that would not be removed when using an everyday shampoo. 

A common mistake people make when attempting to use a scalp scrub is using it on wet hair. A scalp scrub is meant to be applied on dry roots and hair instead of wet. 

The goal when applying a scrub scalp is to focus on the scalp and roots. This applies to the whole head, back, sides, front, and top of the scalp. The scalp scrub is not meant to be applied to the lengths of the hair as this will only damage the hair without producing any benefits. 

After the scalp scrub has been applied to the scalp and hair roots, it is recommended to scrub in a circular motion that encompasses and moves around the whole head. Once the scrub has been applied, apply water and continue the circular motions to make a lather consistency. Do this for 2-3 minutes, then rinse with water before continuing with your shower routine. 

Try a Hair Scalp Brush

Trying to work your fingers into your hair can feel impossible. Strands of hair get caught on your fingernails or it just doesn’t feel like you’re getting a good enough scrubbing motion to effectively exfoliate your scalp. Frustrating, right?

That’s why the invention of the hair scalp brush, also called scrubber or massager brushes, is such a fun, convenient invention. This tool really aids the scalp exfoliation process when you’re using your scalp scrub, shampoo, or other hair products. The design is gentle on the scalp but effective in achieving the perfect friction needed for exfoliation without tearing your skin off your head. 

The scalp brush is effective in stimulating blood circulation, breaking down buildup, and removing dead skin cells to make room for new skin cells and a happy, healthy scalp. And a happy, healthy scalp speaks for itself with decreased hair loss and youthful hair. The preventative measures of exfoliating with a scalp scrub and a scalp brush are totally worth it! 

How To Use a Scalp Brush

For best results, use your scalp brush with a scalp scrub for increased anti-aging benefits!

Always follow the instructions of the scalp scrub first, and then the scalp brush second for maximum benefits. Some scalp scrubs will recommend applying with dry hair and some with semi-wet hair.

For the scalp brush, it is recommended to use the scalp brush with shampoo or a scalp scrub on wet hair, though as stated previously, we recommend following the instructions of the scalp scrub first. First, apply the scalp scrub. Using the scalp brush either use gentle circular motions or strokes from the nape of the neck to the front of the scalp. Once done applying, rinse with water.

Like a scalp scrub, a scalp brush is only recommended to be used 1-2 times a week. Exfoliating too often will result in an irritated scalp and damaged skin. There are great benefits in exfoliating the scalp like anti-aging, reducing dandruff, and improving hair and scalp health. But like anything in excess, over-exfoliating can be damaging, so it is highly recommended to not go overboard.

Scalp Brushes We Love

It’s Time To Visit The Doctor When…

A scalp scrub can only do so much if your scalp is already incredibly inflamed and irritated. Sometimes starting off with a scalp scrub is too late to break down buildup and improve blood circulation on the scalp. On the occasion of painful inflammation or irritation of the scalp, it is recommended that the person in question should visit a doctor to discuss a treatment plan. 

Conclusion

Who knew a scalp scrub could be such an efficient anti-aging tool? Most don’t, so we don’t blame you if you didn’t either.

Scalps scrubs can deliver effective and efficient benefits when used correctly. From improved blood circulation to improved hair growth, using a scalp scrub can lead to a bountiful and luscious head of hair. Now, it’s time to get scrubbing!