Is Your Scalp The Root To All Of Your Hair Problems?

"Good scalp health is essential to help maximise both hair growth potential and hair condition," Says Glenn Lyons, Clinical Director at The Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic. According to statistics millennials are suffering from thinning hair and a dry scalp which can be caused by numerous factors from stress, pollution, to a poor diet. We all yearn for healthy, lustrous hair, and many in this pursuit abandon the scalp. Chinese women are known to replicate their skincare routine with their scalp through cleansing, masking, and head massaging. Why? Because hair is composed of dead proteins whereas the scalp consists of renewing cells, consequently it is the most important anchor for hair vitality. One of the top tips for healthy is to give your scalp the same TLC as your 3-step skincare routine (10-step for some), like the skin it is prone to ageing and dryness and needs to be cleansed and exfoliated. Studies have found elements commonly used in skincare such as amino acids and peptides will encourage hair growth, so when applied to the scalp the hair follicle that produces will fight against free radicals and appear healthier.

The following is a step-to-step guide on how to treat your scalp so you can finally have the locks you have been yearning for.

1. Pre-shampoo Oil Scalp Massage

Oil scalp massage is a popular tradition in the east and one of the top tips for healthy hair. A tradition followed by my mother, who at 74 years of age has her hair envied by other pensioners. Oils such as rosemary, sage, and eucalyptus, tea tree, and spearmint will increase circulation, balance PH levels, and stimulate hair growth. If you can't afford the luxury of one at Mandarin Oriental attempt one yourself by spending a few minutes targeting the pressure points on the head. This will this encourage hair follicles to grow and it will have a hormone balancing effect. This will make your hair more manageable whilst improving resiliency over time. Try: Phyto Phytopolleine Universal Scalp Elixir £24.50.

2. Cleanse

A scalp cleansing shampoo will remove excess oils from your scalp massage, silicone residue from styling, and clogged hair follicles from pollution. Top online beauty buy: Kerastase Specifque Dermo-Calm Shampoo £14.90, a calming and cleansing shampoo for the scalp to treat irritation and itching. Aveda Scalp Benefits Shampoo £54, will also work to effectively remove excess sebum.

3. Exfoliate

A gentle non-abrasive scrub is recommended for those who suffer from a flaky scalp and will also treat blocked oil glands (add a few drops of tea tree oil to fight dandruff). Top online beauty buy: A gentle non-abrasive scrub such as The Gommage by Kerastase £24.50, uses fine micro-beads to exfoliate the scalp hair fibers pre-shampoo. Alternatively try [Kiehl's] !(http://www.mybeautymatches.com/brand/kiehl-s) Deep Micro-Exfoliating Scalp Treatment £20, formulated with micronised Argan exfoliators to loosen dead skin cells. Philip Kingsley Stimulating Scalp Mask £8, is mineral and Vitamin rich designed by leading trichologists to improve hair texture from scalp down.

4. Moisturise

One of the top tips for healthy hair is a post-exfoliation treatment to add shine and nourish the scalp to achieve thicker and fuller hair resistant to breakage. It will also fight against "Hygral Fatigue" the damage which occurs when your hair goes through the different stages of wet to dry leading to splits in the hair shaft. Coconut and Almond oil unlike no other mineral oil have been shown to penetrate the hair shaft. Top online beauty buy: L'Occitane Body & Strength Scalp Essence £22, made with amino acids and essential oils is a leave-in essence that will purify and stimulate circulation.

Other product recommendation for your 4-step scalp routine are a large mug of tea and a Sex & The City box-set, now get scalp massaging. This is nothing to be flaky about.

For more tips for healthy hair click here. For more top online beauty buys click here.