Your scalp: your questions answered
The scalp is a delicate, complex ecosystem. Harsh hair products, health conditions, ongoing stress and pollution can all upset its balance and cause real discomfort. That is why la Bonne Brosse is committed to helping you find the haircare routine that best suits your needs.
1. How can I tell if my scalp is healthy?
A healthy scalp has no redness, irritation or itching. It should be well moisturised, without excess oil, to maintain a good balance. Your hair can also offer a clue: if it looks fuller, shinier and more vibrant, your scalp is likely in good condition.
To maintain this balance, choose suitable haircare products that soothe, moisturise and protect, while avoiding excessive use of products that could disrupt it.
2. Does stress affect the health of my scalp?
Absolutely. Stress can cause the scalp to produce too much oil or, conversely, become dry, leading to concerns such as dandruff, irritation and hair loss. It can also disrupt blood flow in the scalp, which may weaken the follicles and affect hair growth.
To help keep your scalp balanced, make time to relax as part of your care routine. You might massage your scalp with a boar bristle and nylon hairbrush or take a soothing bath. Gentle, moisturising haircare can also help soothe your scalp and strengthen your hair, while easing the effects of stress on its overall condition.
3. How can you care for a dry, irritated scalp?
To care for your scalp and restore comfort, choose products suited to its needs and rich in skincare ingredients. Deep hydration helps soothe irritation and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. Adding ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to your haircare routine helps maximise hydration: it can absorb and hold a large amount of water, providing lasting moisture.
The scalp is often overlooked, yet it deserves particular attention, especially as hair is 60% water. Moisturising products are therefore essential to maintaining its health and shine. One way to make your haircare routine more effective? Gently massage your scalp before shampooing. This stimulates microcirculation, helps active ingredients absorb and immediately soothes feelings of tightness.
For a complete solution, our Cair Fortifying Scalp Serum is an ideal choice. Enriched with hyaluronic acid, it provides intense hydration, supports cell cohesion and helps maintain scalp firmness while strengthening your hair. Add it to your haircare routine for a soothed scalp and revitalised hair.
4. How can you tell temporary hair shedding from alopecia?
Hair loss can happen for many reasons, so it is important to distinguish temporary shedding from more serious alopecia.
Seasonal changes, stress, hormonal imbalances and even nutritional deficiencies can cause temporary hair loss. Often called telogen effluvium, this type of shedding is generally reversible. Hair usually grows back within a few weeks to a few months once the underlying cause has been identified and addressed.
Alopecia, by contrast, involves more substantial, persistent and often localised hair loss, which may appear as thinning areas or patches. Common forms include androgenetic alopecia, which is often hereditary, and alopecia areata, which results from an autoimmune response. In these cases, hair loss may be permanent if it is not addressed promptly.
If you notice thinning areas, prolonged shedding or changes in your hair’s texture, it is important to speak to a specialist, such as a dermatologist or trichologist. They can assess your hair loss, possibly with blood tests, to identify its cause and recommend suitable options, whether topical treatments, medical therapies or lifestyle changes.
5. How can you tell scalp psoriasis from dandruff?
Dandruff and scalp psoriasis are different conditions, but their similar symptoms can make them easy to confuse. Here are a few ways to tell them apart.
Dandruff appears as small white or yellowish flakes that come away easily. It is usually accompanied by mild itching, which tends to clear up quickly with suitable care, such as a sulphate-free shampoo or a boar-bristle hairbrush. Although dandruff is often harmless, regular care is needed to help prevent it returning.
Scalp psoriasis, on the other hand, appears as thick red patches covered with silvery scales. Itching is generally more intense, and the skin may show signs of irritation. In this case, it is advisable to see a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that often requires a more involved approach, which may include topical treatments, light therapy or systemic treatments, depending on its severity.
If you are unsure what is causing your symptoms, or if they persist, it is always best to speak to a healthcare professional for a diagnosis and care suited to you.
6. Which products are best for getting rid of dandruff?
To remove dandruff effectively while being gentle on your scalp, choose mild, sulphate-free products. Sulphate-free formulas are particularly suitable because they cleanse thoroughly without being harsh, helping to rebalance the scalp and avoid irritation.
Our sulphate-free shampoo leaves no residue that could weigh down the hair fibre or scalp. The result? Over time, your hair regains its health and beauty while feeling lighter and looking shinier than ever. With a high concentration of active waters, including rice water (40%), organic grape water, bamboo water and fermented raspberry water, this shampoo deeply hydrates, soothes and nourishes. It also strengthens the hair fibre, bringing strength and vitality to your hair.
Enriched with hyaluronic acid, this product helps hair strands retain moisture, preventing dehydration. Plant proteins, natural alternatives to keratin, also penetrate deep into the hair to repair damage from external stressors and provide lasting strength.
If you are looking for a natural, effective way to tackle dandruff, our sulphate-free shampoo is an ideal choice. Its formula, rich in powerful active ingredients, provides intense hydration and complete care for dandruff-free hair that looks stronger and visibly more radiant.
7. How does product build-up affect the scalp?
Excessive product build-up can clog hair follicles, leading to dandruff and thinner hair. A simpler haircare routine is therefore essential: use fewer products while still cleansing and caring for your hair thoroughly. A healthy routine removes residue, leaving your hair light, shiny and revitalised.
The Cair haircare routine is built around three essential steps: "Massage", "Wash" and "Protect". It offers a simple, natural way to cleanse your scalp. This complete approach brings together three exceptional products suited to all hair types: a Fortifying scalp serum, a sulphate-free shampoo and a detangling spray. By making these steps part of your haircare ritual, you will soon see fuller, shinier hair and a healthy scalp.
Cair formulas bring together powerful active ingredients that work in harmony to deliver impressive results in clinical testing, both for hair quality and for renewal of the scalp microbiome. Rich in nutrients, vitamins and beneficial bacteria, biofermented ingredients help this routine protect the scalp’s natural balance.
8. How can you reduce excess oil on the scalp?
To balance an oily scalp without drying it out, use products that absorb excess oil while maintaining natural moisture. Daily brushing, paired with a lightweight, gentle serum, is key to keeping your scalp healthy and balanced.
The Cair Fortifying scalp serum is an excellent option. Working together, lactic acid and phytic acid gently exfoliate to remove impurities without irritating the scalp. The secret lies in our pre-biome complex, which preserves the balance of the scalp microbiome, helping maintain a healthy scalp environment and protect against hair loss. A balanced microbiome is essential to maintaining this bacterial balance over time.
Alongside this, brushing daily with a boar-bristle and/or nylon hairbrush, from roots to ends, helps distribute sebum throughout your hair. This simple gesture nourishes and moisturises the lengths while bringing out your hair’s natural shine. For beautifully balanced hair full of vitality, add our Fortifying scalp serum to your routine.
9. How can you encourage hair growth through scalp care?
To encourage hair growth, massage your scalp regularly with a stimulating serum and a detangling, massaging hairbrush. This ritual improves blood flow and stimulates the follicles, helping hair grow thicker and fuller.
Scalp hydration also plays a crucial role in hair growth. With 35% rice water, our fortifying scalp serum moisturises, replenishes minerals and restores strength and vitality to your scalp, creating an ideal environment for regrowth. The caffeine complex in our formula stimulates and energises the follicles, while improving microcirculation and protecting your hair’s health.
Alongside this, daily brushing with our No. 04 vegan brush gives the scalp a thorough massage and helps stimulate it. This simple yet effective gesture is soothing while encouraging circulation and nourishing the hair bulb, for stronger-feeling, healthy hair. To support regrowth and strengthen your hair, pair this ritual with our stimulating serum as part of your routine.
10. What can you use to massage your scalp?
Our boar-bristle and/or nylon hairbrushes are specially designed to meet your scalp’s needs. They gently stimulate circulation and offer an unparalleled sense of wellbeing, while helping haircare products absorb more effectively. For a deeply revitalising massage, the La Miracle Detangling & Massaging Hairbrush stands out for its quality nylon fibres, which make it both flexible and effective.
The result? Daily massages that feel more soothing than ever, encourage hair regrowth and improve blood flow, for fuller-looking hair and better-nourished hair bulbs.
This detangling hairbrush is designed for all hair types. It is ideal for daily brushing, whether as part of your morning ritual or before bed, and for a scalp massage whenever you wish. We recommend using this vegan brush on dry or slightly damp hair, for example after shampooing or applying other haircare products.
If your scalp feels irritated, choose our N.03 L’Indispensable Douceur boar-bristle hairbrush. Specially designed for sensitive scalps, it offers gentleness, care and hydration.