Entering The Scalp-First Era

Scalp care is taking the primary slot when it comes to hair care

- By Sukriti Shahi

For years, men’s hair care discussion has been either around styling products or dealing with premature hair loss or male pattern baldness.

Stronger waxes, volumising sprays, anti-frizz serums, and miracle shampoos promising thicker strands overnight dominated the product aisle, and in-clinic treatments have been about fixing pattern baldness. But a growing shift in grooming culture is changing that conversation as the focus is moving away from styling the hair and fixing the issue to caring for the environment where hair grows-the scalp.

Dermatologists and hair experts are increasingly emphasising that healthy hair is not created in the bottle of a product but in the condition of the scalp itself. Much like skincare evolved from basic cleansing to barrier repair and microbiome balance, hair care is undergoing a similar transformation. The scalp is now being treated as an extension of facial skin which requires cleansing, nourishment, and protection.

The growing attention on scalp health is partly the result of better scientific understanding of hair biology. Hair follicles live within the skin of the scalp, and their ability to produce strong, thick strands depends heavily on the health of this environment. If the scalp is inflamed, clogged, excessively dry, or poorly nourished, the follicles suffer and so does the quality and health of hair. “Scalp care should be an extension of your skincare routine as it is the first step to controlling hair problems like hair loss. An unhealthy scalp can have itchiness, redness, dryness, flaking or excessive oiliness. Sensitivity, tenderness, or a tight feeling can also occur in an unhealthy scalp. When these unhealthy scalp signs are there it can eventually lead to hair thinning or loss,” says Dr Madhuri Agarwal, celebrity dermatologist and founder of Yavana Skin Aesthetics.