Quarantine Hair: How Lockdown Can Sabotage Your Scalp Health

1. The Stress Pandemic

We’re living in a horribly stressful time. Whether you’re worried about your income, caring for a sick loved one, trapped inside with the kids, or simply going stir crazy, we’re all feeling the stress effects.

Stress, of course, is linked to an almost endless range of health problems - including hair and scalp issues like breakage, frizz, and split ends. While it may not cause dandruff outright, stress can be a major contributor to flakes and itching. It can also mess with your immune system, which may aggravate conditions that cause dandruff, such as eczema or seborrheic dermatitis.

It’s true that many of our favorite de-stressing activities are off-limits right now (going to the gym, eating out, hanging with friends). But there are still many ways you can help yourself decompress.  Write in a journal, find an indoor workout routine you enjoy, dance to your favorite music, or try hosting a virtual happy hour. At the very least, you’ll have an excuse to avoid looking at the news for a little while. 

2. Skipping Self-Care

With no one else around, the temptation can be enormous to skip your shower today. And tomorrow. And the day after. (Hey, you can always just throw on a hat for your Zoom meeting, right?)

We get it. But remember, your scalp is a delicate ecosystem. Letting oil and grime build up can cascade into deeper problems that don’t go away when you finally get around to showering. This is a special concern if you’re dealing with dandruff. Dandruff shampoos only works if you use them regularly. Plus, letting your hair collect grease, dust, and other grime can cause irritation that exacerbates dandruff further. 

That’s why it’s crucial to stay in a healthy daily hygiene habit. Skincare is self care. Shower every day, use a Zinc Pyrithione based dandruff shampoo, and brush your scalp to help remove excess dead skin cells. This daily self-care routine isn’t just good for your hair - it can actually lower your stress, too. Regardless of your hair type, taking care of your tresses with a regular hair routine will help protect your hair follicles and boost your mood. Do a hair mask, invest in your favorite hair products, or use a leave-in conditioner. These little things that help you feel good in your body and relax your mind are more important than ever right now.

3. Eating Poorly

While a perfect diet won’t cure your dandruff, eating a lot of junk food can make things worse for your scalp and skin.

We know keeping a healthy diet can be tough these days. Even simple things like shopping for groceries have gotten a lot more difficult. When junk food is what’s easily available, the temptation can be much greater to rely on it for more of your daily calories. Of course, we aren’t saying you shouldn’t treat yourself. Just understand that there is a connection between your diet and your hair health.

Don’t forget that many restaurants are offering take out and delivery, which can help you get a nutritious meal (and a break from the kitchen). You can order freshly cooked meals with plenty of vegetables and healthy fats, or find a restaurant that’s selling produce and other groceries. Many of them even have toilet paper available and are happy to deliver right to your door.

4. A Change of Atmosphere

5. DIY Hair Care Experiments

The sudden abundance of free time at home has led to many interesting trends - like the massive upsurge in jigsaw puzzles and stress-baking. And while it may seem like the perfect time to let your inner homesteader shine and whip up a batch of DIY shampoo (or perhaps even go “no poo” if you’re feeling dangerous), here’s a word of advice: don’t. 

Haircare is a science best left to chemists. Yes, things like coconut oil, olive oil, vitamin C, and essential oils can work wonders for an itchy, flaky scalp - but only if they’re used properly. These safe-seeming natural recipes can actually make things worse if you don’t have the balance right. DIY treatments can disrupt your scalp's natural microbiome and leave your hair dry or greasy, both of which will aggravate dandruff problems.

Plus, these DIY haircare ingredients can end up being surprisingly expensive when you buy them individually - much more costly than buying a properly formulated shampoo that actually works. This also is not the time to pick up new styling tools and straighteners, try DIY bleach or hair color, or blow-dry every day. Lockdown has not made us all professional hairdressers, so while this may feel like the perfect time to experiment with blonde hair, cut a funky new hairstyle, or try to make your own conditioner from scratch, it's probably best to stick with your natural hair until you can get back to your hairstylist. So leave hair care products to the experts and your hair shaft and scalp will thank you later.

The Bottom Line

Does it seem trivial to worry about your scalp health in the midst of a global pandemic? It’s not. Other people are dealing with the same worries and issues. So please, give yourself permission to pay a little extra attention to your hair. 

Those small acts of self-care are incredibly important in an era when so many people are stressed and struggling. And if you take the time to find a scalp care routine you really love, you just might find that it becomes an important part of your overall hair and scalp health - during and after these difficult times. Learn more about the very best in scalp care here.