Last Updated May 30, 2025

In the age of 12-step skincare routines that aim to cleanse, tone, tighten, treat and moisturize (psst…we have a better way!), most of us are entirely focused on our faces, and maybe our necks and décolletages if we’re the forward-thinking type. Guess what’s being woefully ignored? Your scalp! While you’re probably on the ball about regular shampoos and deep conditioning and the occasional hair mask, all of the energy goes to our hair strands—not the scalp from which they sprout. But just like the skin barrier on your face, the one on your scalp is entirely deserving of some attention. And the sooner you understand that the scalp barrier is absolutely fundamental to hair health, the sooner you’ll realize that treating your scalp like your face really is the future of haircare.

Meet Your Scalp Skin Barrier

Here at Shimmer Chef, we spend a lot of time talking about your skin barrier, for good reason! It’s the first line of defense against environmental aggressors, chemicals, pollutants and other junk, so keeping it in tip-top shape is of the utmost importance. But your scalp skin barrier is special.

• It has more hair follicles and more oil glands. Surprise, surprise—your scalp has way more hair follicles and sebaceous glands than your face, which is why it’s a little oilier and much more prone to buildup. 

• It’s constantly covered. Unless you’re proudly sporting a chrome dome, your scalp is completely covered with hair. That means a higher likelihood of trapped sweat, oil and bacteria if you aren’t properly cleansing.

• The skin is actually thicker. Your scalp’s primary job is to anchor down all that hair—there are up to 100,000 hair follicles on the average head. That requires thicker, denser, more resilient skin for more structural protection (but don’t be fooled—it’s still sensitive!).

• It has its very own microbiome. Yep, there are millions of microorganisms camped out on your head, with more yeast species than you’ll find on the face.

Why does any of this matter? Understanding your scalp barrier is the first step to addressing its unique needs, and taking a cue from your skincare routine is a great start.

Signs Your Scalp Needs A Little TLC

Bad hair days, especially when they’re pretty much ongoing, can very often be traced back to a scalp barrier that’s crying out for help. Dull strands prone to breakage? An itchy, irritated head? Hair loss that seems a little too excessive? All of these issues stem from an inflamed scalp that’s choked with product build up (and possibly dried out from overwashing or the wrong products). Let’s run through the symptoms.

• Your scalp feels tight and dry and it may even be prone to flaking.

• Your scalp gets really oily really fast.

• Your scalp is itchy, red and sore.

• Your hair takes forever to grow and you shed like a Labrador.

Just like the skin barrier on your face, the one on your scalp does best with an approach that supports its natural pH level and maintains its microbiome. But what exactly does that look like? We’re so glad you asked!

Skincare As Haircare: The Routine Your Scalp Needs (And Wants)

When the goal is treating your scalp like your face, take a cue from your skincare routine—but keep it simple. A gentle cleanser, very occasional exfoliation if you use a lot of hair products, and ingredients that protect the barrier is really all you need. You might want to start from square one with a scalp detox if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above. Here’s the general approach:

Cleanse, But Make It Gentle

Your scalp needs regular cleansing to clear away buildup, oil and dirt, but proceed with caution. Shampoos loaded with sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are especially common) may lather nicely, but they can make a bad situation worse. That’s because they strip the natural oils that protect and hydrate your scalp, which disrupts the barrier and microbiome. Pro tip: Anything that leaves your scalp feeling squeaky clean is probably too harsh.

An Occasional Scrub

A little exfoliation goes a long way in helping to prevent clogged follicles. Plus, a fresh scalp paves the way for healthy hair growth and can even improve product absorption. The trick is how you do it and how frequently. Once a week is ideal if you have an oily scalp, but you can and should stretch that to once every two to three weeks if your scalp veers dry or sensitive. Too much exfoliation will backfire, so tread carefully! We love apple cider vinegar for its pH balancing and antibacterial properties, especially with a little manual stimulation from a scalp brush.

Focus On Feeding And Hydrating

Shimmer Chef’s entire collection of plasters and balms is designed to feed the skin the nutrients it needs to do its job. Our hair and scalp plasters, the Hibiscus Rosemary Compote Hair & Scalp Fortifier and our Citrus Cider Whip Hair Plaster, are loaded with antioxidants, prebiotics and probiotics for a happy scalp microbiome and fortified scalp barrier. It’s all thanks to organic superfoods and botanicals and the magic of fermentation, with no synthetic ingredients to be found. Really, it’s everything you need and nothing you don’t for a healthy scalp.

Barrier Friendly, Always

Whether it’s on your head or your face, skin is skin and taking a barrier-friendly approach is the best way to keep it balanced and healthy. That means being mindful of barrier-supporting ingredients (Prebiotics! Probiotics! Aloe vera! Argan oil! Avocados!), avoiding overwashing, using warm water instead of hot and chemical treatments. Trust us, your scalp and hair will thank you.

The Bottom Line

It’s easy to forget that the scalp is living, breathing skin that deserves the same kind of attention we reserve for our faces. But treating the scalp like your face, with gentle cleansing, microbiome support and barrier-loving ingredients, is the best way to better hair days. The truth is, great hair starts with great scalp care and at Shimmer Chef, we make the whole process simple and, dare we say, enjoyable.

Chef Jennifer Sanford, the visionary behind Shimmer Chef, fuses her talents as a Health Supportive Culinary Arts Chef and licensed esthetician to develop formulas that radically transform your skin, scalp and hair. Jennifer brings a holistic approach to beauty and wellness, drawing on the wisdom of Mexican Folk Medicine passed down through her family, as well as studies of the ancient art of Ayurveda through her yoga and meditation certifications.