The “Skin-Ification” Of Hair

The scalp has less barrier functions, more lipids and sweat glands which is why one should create a super soothing hair care routine.

- Bryan Goh

The scalp: skin and tissue covering one’s head or the most commonly ignored part during one’s grooming routine. A quick massage with shampoo is typically considered a done deal. Any form of itching can be soothed with fingernails. Dandruff? A quick fix of a shirt color will solve it till the problem goes from a light snowfall to snow in.

“Our scalp is an incredibly complex ecosystem of hair, skin, oil, and natural flora. It’s also the critical starting point for every hair we grow. Although the skin structure on your face and scalp are pretty much the same, the skin on your scalp is thicker. The scalp also has more sebaceous glands (i.e. lipid and sweat) than any other part of the body. In addition, the scalp has a lower barrier function, so it is not as good at replenishing hydration compared to the skin found in other places,” says Melisse Shaban of Virtue Labs, an American hair care brand that uses pure, human keratin in its products.

The scalp itches badly as compared to one’s face or body and it flakes even more excessively. Not to be confused with dandruff (the latter is actually dead skin cells), this is just the first sign of an unhealthy scalp. The receding of hair on the temples and crowns of the head is the next sign that can trigger an early rite towards manhood.