{"id":26669,"date":"2022-12-07T14:49:28","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T19:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prose.com\/?p=26669"},"modified":"2025-06-18T12:28:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T16:28:15","slug":"winter-scalp-care-routine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prose.com\/blog\/winter-scalp-care-routine","title":{"rendered":"Winter Scalp Care Routine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Winter Scalp Care Tips<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Take Shorter, Cooler Showers<\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the first pieces of advice that Koberling gives her patients is to turn down the shower temperature and cut back on the time you spend in the shower. \u201cI know hot showers are tempting during the colder months but they can cause dryness to the skin,\u201d she says. And last we checked, the scalp is covered in skin underneath all of that hair. (The steamy showers are no good for those strands, either!) \u201cIt\u2019s best to use lukewarm-to-warm water,\u201d she adds. As for the shampoo process, she\u2019s got advice on that, too\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Use Caution with Clarifying Cleansers<\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In winter, more than ever, it\u2019s important to use a gentle and hydrating shampoo<\/a>, even if you\u2019re accustomed to more \u201cclarifying\/detoxifying\u201d options in other months of the year. Those deepest, strongest cleansers strip the most moisture away from strands and scalp, which will accelerate (or initiate) problems like itching, flaking, and inflammation. If you tend to accumulate buildup on the scalp through styling products or sebum production, then try shampooing slightly more frequently than usual\u2014but using a gentler shampoo than usual, too. That being said, each person has a threshold for how much they can wash without \u201cover shampooing\u201d, so pay close attention to your scalp\u2019s daily state. If every-other-day washing with a gentle shampoo seems to be going fine, then stay the course. (We trust you\u2019re following each wash with a conditioner<\/a>, anyhow.) As for preceding the washes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Do a Weekly Scalp Mask<\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a week (or more often, if need be), apply a nourishing scalp mask<\/a> prior to shampooing. These masks use hydrating and gentle exfoliating ingredients to keep your scalp nourished, balanced, and in optimal condition for comfort and for fortified hair growth. Take, for example, Prose\u2019s own pre-shampoo scalp mask<\/a>, with a customizable formula that changes for each person, based on their individual needs. (After all, someone with a traditionally dry scalp shouldn\u2019t have the same recipe as someone with an oily scalp.) Ingredients range from detoxifying bamboo charcoal to sebum-balancing kale extract. Koberling\u2019s favorite ingredients for any scalp regimen are nourishing oils thanks to their deeply moisturizing properties; many are also anti-inflammatory. (Prose\u2019s formulas often include eucalyptus oil for this very reason.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Audit Leave-In Products<\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residue and product buildup are perhaps the most common problem Koberling notices in her patients with scalp concerns. That is why you need to be mindful of the products you apply to your hair and scalp, and to be mindful of how long those products might sit atop the skin or suffocate strands. \u201cProduct buildup can really wreak havoc on the scalp,\u201d Koberling says. \u201cProducts like dry shampoo and root lifts, while not inherently bad for the scalp, can cause irritation when not thoroughly cleansed often enough.\u201d If you are someone who uses a lot of leave-in products, then you may have to use a clarifying shampoo from time to time (going against the second tip in this list). If so, be sure to prioritize hydrating, restorative products before and after the matter (like a pre-shampoo mask, nourishing rinse-away conditioner, or a recovery serum that soaks entirely into the skin). \u201cFor those who are feeling dry and irritated due to product buildup, it may be beneficial to either increase the frequency of washing with a hydrating shampoo, or alternatively to add a clarifying wash once a month being careful not to overdo it,\u201d Koberling stresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Consider Active Ingredients, Too<\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from emollient oils mentioned above\u2014Koberling\u2019s favorite of which is argan oil, by the way)\u2014it is also important to add active ingredients into your scalp care regimen. The key word here is active<\/i>, since these ingredients take charge of things: Consider salicylic acid (for oil balance and gentle exfoliation), tea tree oil (for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties), and apple cider vinegar (in careful, light doses for its shine-boosting and residue-removing abilities). Look for these ingredients across the board, be it shampoos, conditioners, serums, masks, and even some hair stylers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Put a Humidifier in Your Bedroom<\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best things you can do for your scalp, hair, throat, and skin is to sleep with a humidifier in the room, year-round. That\u2019s because when the air is dry around us, we experience something called transepidermal water loss, or TEWL, explains Koberling. This is why the air around us starts extracting moisture from wherever it can be found, including your cells. (This explains why we experience chapped lips and cracked knuckles so much quicker in winter.) \u201cBy adding water (humidity) back into the air we can prevent this from happening,\u201d Koberling explains. And thus, after a night of sleeping in a properly hydrated room, you can wake up looking much more refreshed\u2014and feeling as much, too. (Remember to be mindful of how intensely you rely on air conditioners in summer, too, as they can also accelerate TEWL.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Don\u2019t Copy Your Friend\u2019s Regimen<\/h3><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scalp care is personal, Koberling says. \u201cWhat works for a friend may not work for you. A personalized approach is the best approach and it may take some trial and error to find what works best for you.\u201d Using customized formulas is a terrific place to start, but if your scalp\u2019s dryness, flaking, or inflammation isn\u2019t improving after a while, she says to contact your dermatologist or trichologist. \u201cThis will rule out other causes that may need a more tailored treatment,\u201d Koberling adds.Head to the Prose consultation<\/a> to get your customized routine of Pre-Shampoo Scalp Masks, Shampoos, Conditioners, Curl Creams, and much more!\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Say goodbye to a dry scalp!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":26684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,17],"tags":[436,47,479,367,461,42,420],"class_list":["post-26669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-category-hair-health","category-scalp-care","tag-coily-hair","tag-curly-hair","tag-new","tag-scalp","tag-scalp-care","tag-straight-hair","tag-wavy-hair"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCombat an Itchy, Dry Scalp in Winter With Scalp Care | Prose<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A dry, itchy scalp can be hard to deal with, especially come winter. 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