When you think about your average skincare routine and where you apply your products, you probably think about areas like your cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. Maybe you even go the extra mile and bring your products down your neck and chest. Maybe you're a body care connoisseur and never skip an exfoliation day. No matter how dedicated you think you are, there's usually one area that tends to get forgotten: your scalp and hairline.
Your scalp is skin too, and it can be easy to forget how exposed to oil, sweat, makeup, hair and skincare products it gets! When all of those factors continue to build up, it can lead straight to clogged pores, irritation, and those super annoying breakouts that show up around your forehead and temples.
Adding just a few simple targeted steps to your scalp skincare routine can help keep it feeling clean, hydrated and cared for without adding a ton of extra work to your routine!
Why Does the Scalp Get Left Out of Most Skincare Routines?
Most of us have been taught that skincare and haircare are two completely different categories. Shampoo and conditioner are used in your hair, while cleansers and serums are applied to your face. But, what about your scalp?
Just like the skin on your face, your scalp produces oil, sheds dead skin cells, and is exposed to sweat and product buildup. Since our scalps are covered with our hair, it makes caring for it easier to forget about.
Think about everything that ends up sitting on or around your scalp throughout the week: dry shampoo, styling creams, oils, hairspray, leave-in conditioner, sweat, and maybe even leftover shampoo or conditioner that hasn't been completely rinsed away.
Learning how to care for your scalp doesn't mean you need to create a 10 step regimen for your head. It starts by being more intentional with cleansing, preventing buildup, and being informed about the products that come into contact with your skin.
How Do Hair Products Cause Breakouts Along the Hairline?
If you consistently notice clogged pores or new breakouts around your forehead and temples, take a look at your hair products before blaming your skincare routine.
Hair products like oils, pomades, leave-in conditioners, dry shampoos, and styling creams can migrate from the hair to the skin without being noticeable. Some formulas contain heavy, more occlusive ingredients like rich oils, butters, waxes that can contribute to breakouts for acne prone skin.
And it doesn't only happen while you're styling your hair! Product can transfer onto your pillowcase while sleeping and then make its way onto your face. When showering, product can liquify and drip down the forehead causing breakouts if not fully rinsed. This is why I always wash my face LAST in the shower! Sweat can also cause products to move down from your scalp toward your forehead, especially after working out.
If you think hair products are causing acne, don't throw away all of your hair products just yet! A super simple way to check if a product contains pore clogging ingredients is to copy and paste the product ingredient list into any online non-comedogenic ingredient checker! You can copy and paste any ingredient list from makeup, skincare, haircare and even food ingredient lists. Doing this will highlight any pore clogging ingredients within the product, giving you a better idea of what exactly may be causing the breakouts.
In your routine, it's important to pay close attention to where you're applying your hair care products. Keep heavier products away from the roots and hairline when possible, and always wash your hands before touching your face after styling your hair.
Getting into the habit of frequently washing things that touch both your hair and skin, like pillowcases, hats, and headbands can also help minimize buildup and future breakouts.
Which Cleansing Steps Keep the Hairline Clear?
One of the easiest ways to prevent hairline breakouts is to simply include your hairline when cleansing your face.
It sounds obvious, but it is an easy area to miss! We often stop our cleanser just before it reaches our hair because we don't want to get it wet. Over time, that tiny spot of skin that gets missed can collect makeup, sunscreen, oil, sweat, and of course hair products.
When cleansing, gently work your cleanser all the way up through the hairline and around the temples. Then make sure you rinse thoroughly! Leftover cleanser can be just as irritating to the skin as leftover hair products.
This is also a great place to add a cleansing device into your routine to elevate your everyday face wash! The PMD Clean can help give your cleanse some extra attention to areas that are easy to miss, like the hairline and temples. If breakouts are already popping up, the Clean Acne adds FDA-cleared blue light into your routine to soothe active breakouts and kill acne causing bacteria. The Clean Redvolution pairs cleansing with FDA-cleared red light and NIR light to treat uneven skin tone, fine lines and hyperpigmentation in your everyday routine.
The order of your shower routine can also make a difference. If it's a hair wash day, make sure to rinse your shampoo and conditioner completely before cleansing your face and body. This gives you a chance to fully remove any conditioner or hair product that may have run down onto your skin.
After workouts or especially sweaty days, you don't always need to immediately cleanse your face and apply your skincare. Bonus points if you do, though! Just remember that allowing a mixture of sweat, oil, and hair products to sit along the hairline can contribute to congestion. Even just simply rinsing the area with water can help prevent congestion.
How Should Exfoliation Change at the Hairline and Temples?
Exfoliation is always helpful for removing dead skin and buildup, but the hairline isn't necessarily the place we want to be overly aggressive.
The skin around your temples and hairline already experience plenty of friction from everyday things like brushing your hair, wearing hats or headbands, styling, and even pulling your hair back.
When exfoliating the hairline, ensure you start gently. If you're using a physical exfoliation method, use light pressure and avoid repeatedly going over the same area. Don't think that you need to scrub harder just because there's buildup!
That exact same idea applies to chemical exfoliants. If you're already using acids or other active ingredients on your face, you may be able to carefully extend them toward your hairline rather than introducing a new exfoliating product.
Pay attention to what your skin is telling you! Redness, burning, new unusual sensitivity, or flaking can all be signs that your skin needs to slow down and reset. Healthy exfoliation should support your skin barrier and never leave the area feeling raw.
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What Does a Simple Weekly Scalp Routine Look Like?
The best part about scalp care for healthy skin is that it really doesn't need to get complicated! Consistency will always be more important than having a shelf full of products specifically curated for your scalp.
Start with a regular cleansing routine based on your hair type, lifestyle, and how much product you use in your hair. If you're a dry shampoo lover or tend to use a lot of styling products, you'll probably need an occasional deeper cleanse to help remove stubborn buildup.
Once a week, take a little extra time to pay attention to your scalp. Give it a gentle massage while shampooing to help loosen buildup, making sure to use your fingertips rather than scratching with your nails. Thoroughly rinse your shampoo and conditioner, especially double checking around the hairline and behind the ears.
You can also take this time to check in with how your scalp feels. Does it feel unusually dry? Oily? Itchy? Are you noticing new buildup or irritation? Are you noticing any improvements in your scalp health overall? Your routine doesn't need to stay exactly the same year round either. Changes in weather, workouts, hair styling habits, and the products you're using can all change what your scalp needs!
And don't forget the things that touch your scalp throughout the week. Regularly cleaning your hairbrushes, changing and washing your pillowcases, and washing everyday hats or headbands are small steps that can make a big difference.
Your Scalp Is Skin Too
Your skincare routine doesn't have to stop exactly where your hair begins.
Being intentional about caring for your scalp and hairline can help keep pores around the hairline clear, prevent product buildup and support healthier-looking skin overall. And luckily, you don't need another complicated routine to make it happen!
Start by cleansing all the way up to your hairline, ensure hair products get rinsed thoroughly, exfoliate gently when needed, and pay attention to the products and accessories that regularly touch your scalp.
A good scalp skincare routine should really just be an extension of habits you already use to take care of your face! Once you start to treat your scalp like skin, giving it a little extra attention should feel like a pretty natural part of your routine!
