We’re experiencing the “skinification” of the scalp, says Desmond Tobin, professor of dermatological science at University College Dublin. After decades of consumer obsession with improving the quality of facial skin, attention is now being turned to our heads.
A wave of products have launched – from scalp scrubs and acid exfoliants to deep-cleaning shampoos – claiming to “detox” the scalp and promising everything from shinier hair to boosted growth.
“It’s obviously a business opportunity,” says Tobin. “If brands have something that works on skin, they might be able to roll it over. It goes quickly and cheaply into another product range.”
Tobin says he’d never use the word “detox”, because the process these products are helping does not remove anything toxic in the dangerous sense. But an occasional scalp cleanse can be useful for some of us, he says.
“Some people throw so much product on their hair that some of it is likely to build up, not only on the hair, but also on the scalp. This could clog the hair follicle openings and interfere with optimal hair growth. It’s quite possible that a quick shower in the morning might not remove everything.”
This is especially possible in hard water areas where minerals in the water can react with products to form a sticky residue. Tobin adds that people who live in highly polluted urban areas could also have deposits of traffic-associated chemicals on their scalps.
Tobin says you may not need to buy an expensive product to deep clean your scalp. He advises people in hard water areas to use “a sulfate-free high-lather shampoo or to double-shampoo to break down mineral and product buildup”
