Formulators and consumers alike are increasingly interested in treating and protecting the skin on the scalp, in an effort to improve the health and appearance of hair.
“We shampoo and condition, mask and blow-dry, but throughout the process, our actual scalp usually gets neglected,” writes Hallie Gould for beauty website Byride. “Anyone who’s dealt with an itchy, dry, or flaky scalp can attest to how annoying it is, and honestly, the fact that a healthy scalp is the key to longer, stronger hair is reason enough to start paying it attention.”
The latest product innovation to tackle scalp health and hair health in one go? Exfoliating scalp masks that use glycolic acid to shed off buildup and promote shinier, thicker hair.
Hair-and-Scalp 101
The scalp is made up of three key components that help to regulate health:
- Skin cells
- Sebaceous glands
- Hair follicles
The skin cells on the scalp are similar to the epidermis on the rest of the body. The sebaceous glands on the scalp produce sebum, a natural, waxy substance that protects the body from infection and keeps the skin on the scalp hydrated and moisturized.
Finally, the scalp also contains hair follicles, which anchor the root of a hair strand into the skin. The root of a hair strand is composed of protein cells that are nourished by blood vessels. Eventually, when the hair strand grows out of the skin, it reaches the surface of the scalp, and then continues to grow.
Together, the skin cells, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles all contribute to the health, strength, and appearance of hair – or the lack thereof.
The scalp and hair health connection
The scalp performs many important functions, including protecting the head from UV rays, and blocking the entry of pollutants, bacteria, germs, and irritants.
But, scientific research has shown the scalp has another important function. The health of the scalp is also linked to the health and appearance of the hair.
This relationship between scalp health and hair health is no doubt responsible for the recent onslaught of interest in products like scalp masks, which can improve the scalp and the hair simultaneously.
Scalp buildup
The health of the scalp can become weakened or damaged over time, due to a variety of factors including environmental stressors, irritating products, or aggressive, frequent hot tool styling.
But one of the big stressors to the health of the scalp? Buildup. Scalp health can become compromised when a buildup of dead skin cells, excess sebum, and styling products like gel, mousse, hair spray, and dry shampoo build up on the surface of the scalp.
One of the big stressors to the health of the scalp? Buildup.
Unfortunately for consumers, buildup also frequently means hair that is weakened, thinning, brittle, and prone to breakage. Additionally, scalp buildup can even cause hair loss and uncomfortable issues like folliculitis.
“It is essential that the follicle and the scalp, at point of exit, are clean, clear, healthy and maintained; follicles that are full of sebum or blocked by dead skin, dandruff or infection will have an impact on the quality of hair growth,” explains Bridget March in Harper’s Bazaar.
However, there is a solution that can help reduce scalp buildup and improve the appearance of hair in a single formulation: scalp masks featuring that workhorse exfoliating ingredient, glycolic acid.
Glycolic acid masks to remove buildup
Glycolic acid is a star ingredient for scalp masks focused on reducing and removing buildup because glycolic offers gentle, and highly effective, chemical exfoliation.
“Glycolic acid will benefit all skin and scalp types, and since it helps increase cell turnover, its results will be best observed in anyone older than their mid to late 20s, which is when this process starts to naturally decrease – even for scalps.”
ManeAddicts.com
Once applied to the head, glycolic acid can quickly penetrate the skin cell, thanks to its small size and weight. Then, glycolic acid works to rapidly loosen the glue-like substance that holds dead, damaged skin cells together on the surface of the head. As glycolic acid sloughs away the dead skin cells that can plug hair follicles and harm hair growth and appearance, this effective AHA also loosens and sheds off excess sebum and leftover styling product.
The end result is buildup of all kinds removed fast, and a healthier scalp.
Glycolic acid also performs double time in an exfoliating scalp mask because it spurs new cells to the surface of the skin. New skin cells are less likely to become choked by buildup, as these cells are more likely to naturally exfoliate at regular intervals.
“Glycolic acid will benefit all skin and scalp types, and since it helps increase cell turnover, its results will be best observed in anyone older than their mid to late 20s, which is when this process starts to naturally decrease – even for scalps,” explains the hair styling website ManeAddicts.
The net-net line? Glycolic acid can break down buildup and boost hair growth, especially in the innovative format of an exfoliating scalp mask.
