How to give your sensitive scalp a smile

We understand that you want to make sure that your hair is clean and feeling fresh, but that should never be at the detriment of a happy scalp. Especially if you suffer with sensitivity.

If you are one of the many people battling with a sensitive scalp, we have some great insights to why it happens and what causes it and discover some of the things that you should know about a sensitive scalp.

The symptoms of a sensitive scalp

Scalp tenderness is defined as pain, inflammation, tingling, numbness, irritation, itching, throbbing, or sensitivity of the scalp.

Having a sensitive scalp could mean a variety of things. You could wonder if you’re just suffering from dandruff, or perhaps you’ve just reacted to a shampoo? Did you put a little too much of that wax on? OR is it something more serious, like a skin condition such as psoriasis?

If you’re unsure if you are experiencing a sensitive scalp, there’s few tell-tale signs that all is not well up there. The first is that your scalp will be itchy and irritated, the second is that it will feel dry and cracked too. If you can get a look at your scalp (which isn’t easy to do of course) then you will notice that the skin is red and inflamed.

The chances are these common symptoms are not only affecting how you treat your hair, but potentially your overall feeling of wellbeing too. Whilst it can sometimes be impossible to locate the cause of your sensitive scalp there are a few things we can do to help leaving us less confused and frustrated.

What causes scalp sensitivity?

There are a variety of things that can cause your scalp to be sensitive, the most common are that you are suffering from an allergic reaction, your skin has become dry or damaged or even environmental factors, such as excessive heat or excessive cold can make your scalp unhappy.

You can also find that heat damage, poor diet and hormonal changes can also play a part in whether or not your scalp becomes sensitive and squawks that it needs a little help.

It’s also worth knowing that a sensitive scalp can also be hereditary.

Rarely can you cure a sensitive scalp

… but you can help it to smile a little more often. Giving your scalp some much needed TLC, it is possible to help make it feel (and look) better, reducing the chances of flaring up. Our experts have penned their ‘things to avoid if you have a sensitive scalp’, but the kindest thing you can do is to review your choice of shampoo – choosing something that is effective in cleaning your hair but is also incredibly gentle on your scalp.

Want to make sure that both your hair and your scalp are happy? If you do, then you might want to take a look at our Olsson Haircare collection, which is designed to be gentle on your scalp whilst tough on your hair. It features no parabens, no colourants and is completely fragrance-free. All the things that are going to make sure that your sensitive scalp will smile!

---

Disclaimer: Due to the complex nature of allergies we cannot guarantee that our products will not trigger an allergic reaction. Over 3 years we developed a formula that has been commended by leading scientists and allergy associations who have gone on to provide their badge of approval. However, if you are a sensitive soul, we would always encourage you to examine the ingredients that are carefully itemised on each product listing, review our free-from table, discover our Help & FAQ or ask our experts - but most importantly, undertake a patch test prior to use.