Scalp Treatments for Long & Healthy Hair - The Best Homemade Cosmetics

The right scalp care is essential for successful hair care. We are becoming aware that a shampoo or conditioner is not all it takes to get a gorgeous healthy hairdo. We also need to make use of vegetable and herbal extracts strengthening hair from the very roots. Discover the best scalp treatments, create your own home herbal hair therapy and enjoy enviable, long, strong hair.

A scalp treatment or conditioner is a type of product which boasts about long years of history. Already our great grandmas used them and now they are making a comeback. What are they actually, what do they make best choice for and how to use them properly?

What is a scalp treatment?

Simply put, a scalp treatment is an exceptional liquid conditioner you apply also (or mostly) to scalp.

Scalp treatments have a watery consistency so using atomiser or dropper bottles is the best form of application. Apart from the consistency, the formula matters a lot - most scalp treatments are the blends of herbs and plant extracts, sometimes enhanced by natural oils.

When it comes to the usage, you spread it across the skin on the head and thoroughly rub in, gently massaging it to increase blood flow, nourish, regulate the functioning of sebum glands, stimulate growth and hold back hair loss. Each and every type of herb has a slightly different hair benefits but they all have one goal: reinforcement of hair bulbs and scalp care.

Scalp treatments are meant to:

• nourish skin on the head: nourished scalp equals healthier and stronger hair
• balance the production of oil - too much sebum is a common hair problem which keeps the dream of lovely healthy hair unrealised and tends to prevent its growth
• speed up hair growth and prevent it from falling out - ingredients in scalp treatments stimulate bulbs and thus make hair grow faster, deliver oxygen to hair matrix and scalp
• intensify the effect of other products - a massage while applying a scalp treatment lets the ingredients of other products penetrate more deeply, which upgrades the effectiveness of every product you use
• moisturize the scalp - thanks to the treatment, you get rid of dry, itchy, flaky scalp
• soothe minor inflammation, prevent the appearance of scalp acne
• lift hair roots - scalp treatments add volume and density to hair and keep your hairdo fresh-looking for a long time

Why should you use scalp treatments?

The answer is very simple: these are one of the few products you can apply to scalp, not just to hair. This way the product reaches the bulbs which are actually the life source of your hair. The bulbs are the most important part of hair - the root which keeps hair healthy.

How to choose scalp treatments?

Too bad, some commercially-available scalp treatments are unsuitable for use. A scalp treatment should contain neither silicones nor heavy alcohols. The ready-made ones often have controversial ingredients so always check the INCI before purchase.

Scalp oil treatments are best to use as pre-washing conditioners or when your scalp is very dry. Remember that some cosmetic alcohols are not that bad and they actually promote the transfer of nutrients to bulbs and additionally warm up skin and stimulate blood flow - the treatment is more likely to work more quickly and effectively.

Scalp treatment - how and when to use it?

There are 3 ways to use scalp treatments. The choice depends on your preferences or the type of the product and instructions in the leaflet.

1. Pre-wash - apply the treatment to unwashed hair and scalp, leave in for around 2 hours, shampoo. This method is recommended while applying scalp treatments which contain vegetable oils. Applying it to dry hair after washing is likely to leave your hair weighed down and greasy.

2. After a wash on damp hair - apply a scalp treatment to slightly-damp, towel-dried hair. Leave-in scalp conditioners are milder and have a lightweight runny consistency. You don't need to rinse it.

3. After a wash on dry hair - applied this way, the treatment protects hair from damage and nourishes scalp. It also pumps up volume and increases roots so apply it every day to dry skin on the head. It works like a brilliant styler which boosts the looks of your hair.

How to use scalp treatments?

Applying it directly to scalp using a spray or pump bottle is usually a recommended method. At the same time, it is the comfiest way. If your scalp treatment doesn't come with an atomiser or other special doser, use an old washed and scalded packaging of a cosmetic you've already used up. 

Apply the treatment to the parting first. Gently massage it in skin with your fingertips. Remember that it is extremely important to massage the scalp - this enables ingredients to penetrate deeper hair layers (bulbs) and scalp. The massage doesn't have to be long - a few minutes will do to increase blood flow.

Scalp treatments - how long to use it & when can you expect the effects to come?

How long you should use your scalp treatment depends on your needs and mostly on the condition of your hair. Damaged hair needs longer therapy.

Still, remember that you should use a scalp treatment for 3-4 weeks. Let's not deceive ourselves - a scalp treatment giving results after the first use doesn’t exist because the product and its ingredients need time to start working.

Obviously, some effects might be visible sooner. If your hair isn't strongly damaged, you're likely to see hindered hair loss after 2-3 weeks of systematic application. First baby hair will be visible after around 4 weeks.

When you go for a scalp treatment, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions. If the leaflet says the therapy should take 3 weeks tops, take a break. The treatment can often be renewed after around 7 days.

The best scalp treatment for hair growth & nourishment

There aren't any defined rules which let us create an effective one-fits-all scalp treatment. It is also an individual choice. There are various factors which will make a given ingredient work on your hair or not.

You should also remember that herbal hair care isn't fit for all. Herbs may have too harsh cleaning effect on fine, fragile or color-treated hair. As a consequence, hair loses shine instead of getting it. Strands are dull whereas hair color fades more quickly. In this case, you should reach for an alternative, that is hair oil treatment. Customized blends of natural oils, enhanced by special ingredients, will reinforce bulbs and stimulate processes in the hair matrix as well as guarantee brilliant hair and scalp care: nourish, beautify and bring back shine and vitality. If you look for effective repair, try one of Nanoil hair oils. You apply them to hair lengths and mostly to scalp to reinforce hair from within and protect it from damage.

DIY - how to make home scalp treatments for growth & hair reinforcement?

Homemade scalp treatments are brilliant for those of you who have sensitive scalp which doesn't tolerate heavy alcohols or synthetics in ready-made products. If you go for a DIY scalp treatment, keep it in the fridge and use up within 3-4 days.

• Fenugreek seed scalp treatment reduces hair loss and gives a beautiful intense shine. It is also an effective remedy for oily scalp or chronic dandruff. Pour a cup of boiling water over a teaspoon of ground fenugreek seeds. After cooling down, drain the seeds and pour the liquid into a special pump or atomizer bottle. It's best to use in the evening and wash hair in the morning - this way you get rid of a characteristic, intense scent of fenugreek.
• Nettle and horsetail scalp treatment - a hit among hair care maniacs. It is rich in copper which is essential for the proper appearance of skin and growth of strong hair. Horsetail and nettle scalp treatment makes hair grow thicker, stronger and upgrades its color yet it mostly calms irritated itchy scalp and reduces oil secretion for longer-lasting freshness and volume. The treatment is easy to make: infuse a spoon each of nettle and horsetail in a cup of boiling water. The scent of these herbs doesn't linger on hair so feel free to use it a few times a day on damaged hair.
• Birch scalp treatment - one of the most popular scalp treatments. It doesn't require any preparations because you can buy a ready-made birch water. Choose certified organic product without artificial substances. After using birch water, hair is soft and luminous. Birch water is suitable for oily as well as extremely dry, over-processed, sensitized and damaged hair.
• Burdock and sweet flag scalp treatment. You can use them separately but they nicely complement each other. Use the mixture to reduce oil secretion and finally get the long-desired faster hair growth. Both plants have been known for their nourishing and anti-bacterial effect for ages. They block hair loss and reduce sebum production, preventing oiliness at the same time. Pour water over a teaspoon each of burdock root and sweet flag flower, cook for 3-5 minutes, strain, cool down, rub in scalp and hair every day.
• Lemon juice scalp treatment - another easy-to-make and extremely effective scalp conditioner which enjoys great popularity among long-haired girls. It excellently freshens up and blocks scalp oiliness. Add a half cup of water to freshly-squeezed, clear lemon juice extracted from half of lemon. Use after a wash, leave in.
• Coffee scalp treatment - excellent, intensively-working hair growth mask. Caffeine increases blood flow to scalp and thus strengthens bulbs, nourishes scalp and promotes hair growth. Make a strong coffee, separate the coffee from the grounds. Rub the coffee in scalp every 2-3 days. Don't throw the grounds away - mix them with a natural unrefined oil and do a scalp scrub once a week.
• Amber scalp treatment has a strengthening and smoothening effect, holds back oiliness and it is a natural sunscreen protecting from the sun damage. Amber stimulates hair growth, improves metabolism, delivers oxygen to bulbs as well as soothes scalp irritation. It keeps hair ends from splitting and protects from the harmful external elements. You need rough amber and make sure it's natural: genuine amber sinks in fresh water and floats in salty water. Take 50g of amber powder and pour it into a glass bottle or a jar. Next, add half liter of spirit (95%). Put it aside in a warm place for at least 10 days, shake the bottle once in a while. Afterwards, your scalp treatment gets a nice golden color. Apply it every day, ideally before sleep, thinning it with water first.
• Aloe vera scalp treatment. Aloe is a flawless conditioner for thinning hair, it soothes irritations and relieves the skin. Most of all, however, it moisturises hair and skin on the head. It strikingly upgrades the condition of dry hair. Mix fine-quality (ideally, organic) Aloe vera juice with water and rub in scalp and hair daily.
• Black radish scalp treatment - a perfect multi-tasking conditioner for dull, volume-less hair. The vegetable is known for its repairing, strengthening and nourishing effect. It blocks excessive sebum secretion, freshens up and holds back hair loss. Mix approx. half of black radish in a juicer. Pour the juice into an atomizer bottle. Spray onto hair and scalp 30 minutes before a hair wash. It's unadvisable to leave it in because of black radish having a very intense scent which isn't very nice. Still, if you want to leave it in longer, apply it before sleep and wash hair in the morning.

Scalp treatment - must-know!

If you want to make the most of scalp treatments and enjoy the best results for your hair and scalp, use it daily, religiously. The same rule applies to hair oil treatment - the time is essential for the products to work. The more frequently you apply the scalp treatment, the sooner you’ll spot the effects. Every-day use is a good idea, so even on the days when you don't wash your hair.