Your Scalp Changes With the Seasons: Your Haircare Should Too

Treat Your Scalp Like Skin Care

The number one advice this trichologist gave us is to treat our haircare routine (specifically our scalp) like we do our skincare.

“Oftentimes we’ll stick with one shampoo, one conditioner, and we use that all the way through. But when you think about skincare, you might exfoliate once a week. And sometimes you’ll use these products for a few days and then switch to these and go back. You’re balancing everything,” Tompkins told E!. 

Use the same philosophy for your scalp. It goes through ebbs and flows, just like our skin. The goal is to get it balanced. Maybe during the summer, your scalp is more oily, and during the winter, it’s drier. Change your shampoos and conditioners according to what your scalp needs, not what your lifelong diagnosed type is. 

Still, there are certain ingredients that your scalp might always need that should be part of your haircare routine. According to Tompkins, these serums are exactly that. 

Hair Products to Use If You Have an Oily Scalp:

For people with an oily scalp, it’s important that your shampoo truly cleanses your hair. Not just from the dirt and product buildup, but from the overproduction of oil as well. Just don’t completely strip your scalp, either. That’s why your shampoo should have at least some nourishing and hydrating ingredients. 

“Oily people still need to hydrate their scalp. If your scalp has no hydration in there, it’s going to produce more sebum, more oil,” Tompkins told E!. “That’s why it’s called balance, because it is giving it the hydration it needs, so that those follicles aren’t so thirsty and dried out that they’re like, ‘Oh, we need to produce more.’ Because your body tends to produce what it needs.”

Hair Products to Use If You Have a Dry Scalp:

For a dry scalp, use a rich shampoo that still cleanses but gives some hydration back to your scalp. Note that just because your strands are dry or damaged, that doesn’t mean your scalp is necessarily dry. Notice how your scalp acts: does it feel tight after washing it, do you get big flakes, or do you suffer from psoriasis or eczema? 

“If their scalp is dry, but then they need hydration on their strands. They’re going for what their strands need instead of their scalp. And so, they’re really messing it up,” Tompkins told E!. 

Hair Products to Use If You Have a Combination Scalp:

Arguably the hardest shampoo to get just right. A “normal” or combination scalp can be oily in hotter months and drier in the winter. It could also be normal during the spring and fall. This balanced scalp is the end goal of a good haircare routine. 

But the trick is that, in my experience trying (way) too many shampoos, it’s the hardest formula to get right. It has to cleanse, so it can’t be too hydrating. But it also has to moisturize, so it can’t be too drying. In general, stick to shampoos that are marketed as “signature” shampoos for the brand. 

Base Your Conditioner on Your Hair Type: 

Once you have your scalp figured out, find out what your hair type is and find a conditioner that works for your strands. After all, that’s where conditioner should go to begin with. You might already know your hair type, but if you don’t, we recommend asking your stylist next time you’re at the salon. 

Luckily, Nutrire has a conditioner for every hair type—from fine to damaged. 

Looking for more expert advice? Learn how to do a romantic updo this fall, according to a celebrity hairstylist!