Understanding the disparities between a healthy and unhealthy scalp is crucial to prevent hair loss. In this informative article, we'll delve into three key distinctions, shedding light on the importance of scalp health.
An unhealthy scalp has excessive sebum production which leads to clogged pores, nutrient flow disruption, and conditions like dandruff and hair loss, while a healthy scalp maintains a clean and balanced condition.
Unhealthy hair follicles are weak and hold hair strands loosely, while healthy hair follicles securely anchor hair strands.
Unhealthy scalps have fewer hair strands per follicle, leading to lower hair counts, while healthy scalps can have up to four strands per follicle, resulting in thick, luscious hair.
Many of us dedicate significant effort to hair care, but we often overlook the importance of scalp health and don't pay enough attention to the skin on our heads. Yet, maintaining a healthy scalp is crucial for achieving glossy, camera-ready hair. So, how do you tell if your scalp is healthy?
3 Differences Between A Healthy And Unhealthy Scalp
Scalp Buildup
Hair products, oil, sweat, and dead skin cells can build up on the scalp and then flake off. Scalp buildup occurs when an oily secretion called sebum accumulates alongside sweat, hair products, and dead skin cells on the scalp. Sebum is a sticky, oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands, which sit in the middle layers of the skin, near hair follicles. Sebum helps moisturize and protect the scalp, and travels through the follicular duct that connects the sebaceous gland to the hair follicle. The growing hair pulls the sebum up and onto the surface of the skin.
An unhealthy scalp can overproduce sebum, resulting in excessive oiliness. This surplus of sebum may clog your scalp pores, hinder the flow of nutrients from the blood to your hair follicles, and create an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal growth, potentially causing dandruff, hair loss, and various scalp conditions. On the contrary, a healthy scalp remains clean, maintaining an appropriate oil balance. According to board-certified trichologist and licensed cosmetologist, Dr. Kari Williams, “A healthy scalp is free of flakes, pimples and dry patches—the scalp will look clean, smooth and moisturized with no breaks or cuts in the surface.”
Condition Of Hair Follicles
A hair follicle, a crucial element in the hair growth process, is essentially a tube-like structure (pore) that encases and supports the hair root and strand. These hair follicles are primarily situated in the top two layers of your skin. Remarkably, each individual is endowed with an impressive array of over one million hair follicles on their scalp from birth.
In the context of hair health, it's pivotal to distinguish between unhealthy and healthy hair follicles. Unhealthy hair follicles tend to be weaker and hold hair strands loosely, resulting in easy hair loss. Conversely, the hallmark of healthy hair follicles is their ability to securely anchor hair strands in one place, holding hair strands tightly.
Number Of Hair Strands In A Hair Follicle
The average human scalp boasts an impressive range of 100,000 to 140,000 hair follicles. These follicles are organized into follicular units, small clusters containing 1–4 hair strands in each unit. In total, the human scalp typically hosts around 50,000–60,000 of these follicular units. This fact may come as a revelation if you've previously assumed that each hair follicle opening accommodates only a single hair. In fact, less than 20% contain only a single hair.
The hair follicles of an unhealthy scalp have one strand of hair or less, resulting in lower overall hair count. In contrast, the hair follicles of a healthy scalp can have up to four strands of hair, which gives you the desirable thick and luscious hair.
How To Determine If Your Scalp Is Healthy?
To assess the condition of your scalp and the health of your hair follicles accurately, it's essential to undergo a comprehensive scalp analysis, typically conducted through a scalp scan – you can’t see it with the naked eye unless it’s severe. Find out whether you have a healthy or unhealthy scalp by scheduling a scalp analysis with our experts at Ooosh! today.
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