Your Result: Scalp Care

Your scalp could use some attention

Healthy hair grows from a comfortable, balanced scalp. Dryness, flaking, product buildup, oiliness and tight styles are common reasons a scalp feels off. Here is a gentle plan, and a clear guide to when you should get medical help instead.

Your four-week plan

Week 1: Cleanse your scalp, not just your hair. Use your fingertips, never your nails, with a gentle shampoo. Massage in small circles and rinse completely. Buildup is a common cause of itching and flakes.
Week 2: Loosen up. Take down or loosen any style that pulls or hurts. Braids, ponytails and installs should never cause pain or bumps at the roots.
Week 3: Keep products simple. Avoid layering heavy oils, butters and gels directly on a flaky or itchy scalp, since they can trap buildup. Moisturize the lengths of your hair instead.
Week 4: Check in. Are itching, flaking or tenderness better, the same or worse?

How often to wash

Oily scalps often need washing more often. Very dry or coily hair may do well washing about once a week. Everyone is different, but do not stretch washes so far apart that buildup collects.

Shedding versus breakage

Losing some hair every day is normal. Shed hairs usually have a tiny white bulb on one end, because they came out from the root. Broken hairs are short, with no bulb. If you are losing more hair than usual, it can follow stress, illness, childbirth, medication changes, or low iron or other nutrients, and a doctor can check for those.

When to see a doctor or dermatologist

Sudden or patchy hair loss
Thinning at the crown or along the hairline
Scalp pain, burning, sores or pimple-like bumps
Redness or scaling that does not improve after a few weeks of gentle care
Hair loss with smooth, shiny skin on the scalp

Some scalp and hair loss conditions can cause permanent loss if they are not treated, so earlier is better. Constant tension from tight styles can also cause thinning along the hairline that may become permanent, so give your hair a break if you notice it.

Please note: This quiz and page cannot diagnose anything. They are general guidance only.