As for how much moisture the scalp needs, that depends on the individual. Each of us scalps has a unique ideal sebum balance—the scalp’s natural moisture, says Hill. And actually, the sebaceous glands connected to the hair follicles are regulated by hormones. “We can’t address the moisture of the scalp without connecting our inner health and wellness,” she says. “When this gets out of balance, it creates an environment that overproduces unwanted bacteria, causing inflammation, flaking, a tight scalp, which affects the health of the hair follicles.”
You might think that scalp moisture is determined by your hair type—I think so—but it’s based on a number of factors: lifestyle, genetics, diet, stressors, medications men, etc. “Hair type plays a role in determining moisture but rather our product type and styling habits are based on our hair type and texture,” explains Hill. “For example, if you have curly hair and you blow-dry your hair often, then blow-drying will affect the moisture, not the frizz. And vice versa if you have nice straight hair and you wash it a lot. times a day. It is the effect of regular shampooing, not smooth straight hair, that will cause unwanted dryness.”
And board-certified dermatologist and founder of Medical Ziering Craig Ziering, DO, says you have to memorize how you care for your particular hair type and its effect on the scalp. “Hair length and texture play an important role in managing sebum production,” he says. “People with curly hair need more time between washes than people with straight hair, because the oil needs to travel along the spiral hairs to moisturize all the way to the ends.”
So, what are some signs that your scalp is not moisturized enough? Well, maybe you will noticed some scabs. “Dry scalp can manifest in many ways but is often pink, flaky and itchy,” says Ellis. “Dry scalp scales tend to be white and powder-like, while oily scalp scales tend to be larger, thicker, and sometimes yellowish.” You may also notice brittle dry strands, a tight scalp, and dry looking hair.
