Does your scalp need a facial? - 3 steps to a cleaner head

As the winter months approach it's time to treat your scalp to a facial...

head, scalp
(Image credit: Alamy)

When it comes to looking after our skin, we're pretty good at booking in for a professional facial or doing our own beauty masks at home. But when was the last time you really cleaned the skin on your head?

Now I'm not just talking about a gently scrub of your scalp while applying shampoo and conditioner from a beauty advent calendar.

Dead skin forms everywhere - even on your head so it's important that you take steps to get rid of it like you would on your feet.

"Our scalps are faced with sweat, pollution and various styling products on a daily basis," said CENTRED Creative Director Kieran Tudor. "Good scalp health is crucial for strong, healthy, beautiful hair, yet it's often overlooked when it comes to hair care regimes."

READ MORE:Scalp care is the key to aiding hair loss, according to an expert

Kieran continued, "If you're guilty of neglecting your scalp, it might be time to consider a scalp facial...to help remove dead skin and product build up from the hair follicles, unclog pores, stimulate blood flow and nourish the skin for a healthier, more balanced scalp and fortified hair."

Here's how to give your scalp a much-needed facial:

Step 1:SLS Free Cleanse

Start off by gently cleansing the hair and scalp using a natural shampoo, free from Sodium Lauryl Sulphates (SLS) as these detergents can easily strip the hair and scalp of its natural oils leaving it dry and dehydrated over time.

shampoo

(Image credit: Alamy)

Step 2: Treat

Essential oils aren't just for use in the home with an electronic diffuser. Choose the best treatment for what results you want to achieve.

  • A deeply nourishing blend ofOlive, ArganandHemp Oilsreplenish moisture to dry brittle hair,whilstexfoliating the scalp from product build up and dead skin cells
  • A blend ofRosemaryandPeppermint Essential Oils stimulates blood flow to the hair follicles maximising hair growth potential
  • Tea Tree Essential Oilprovides powerful anti fungal and antiseptic properties to deeply cleanse
  • Apply directly to a dry scalp and leave on your head for anything from 20 minutes to two hours, before rinsing off.

Alternatively you could use a weekly, targeted treatment for your scalp like our nourishing, exfoliating, and stimulating CENTRED.En-Root Scalp Treatment (£36/100ml)

Step 3: Massage

A scalp massage provides a light exfoliation, stimulates blood flow and relieves tension.

  • Start at the neck area and use the palms and finger tips to apply pressure and slow circles as you work up the head to the forehead, down the sides to the temples and then back around the ears to the neck area again.
  • Keep the tempo slow with a decent amount of pressure.
  • Repeat the pattern three or more times, it should last a minimum of five minutes to gain the benefits.

And voila - you should have stronger, healthier looking hair...

Selina Maycock

Selina is a Senior Entertainment Writer with more than 15 years of experience in newspapers and magazines. She has covered all things Entertainment for GoodtoKnow, Woman&Home and My Imperfect Life. Before joining Future Publishing, Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism. She is fully NCTJ and NCE qualified and has 100wpm shorthand.