Have you been getting your hair routine wrong by not applying conditioner to your scalp? The answer may surprise you

If there’s one rule to keep when it comes to conditioning your hair in the shower, it would be to slather conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends of the hair, right? Right. Either that or the no-brainer rule of applying conditioner after shampooing for softer, more hydrated strands.

But, with haircare getting greater focus in our wind-down rituals, we’re also seeing a bunch of never-heard-before haircare tips that are turning our worlds upside down even as they give us fresh ways to ramp up the radiance on our tresses (case in point: TikTok’s viral “reverse hair washing” hack).

Now, while the mid-lengths-to-ends golden rule for hair conditioners still holds, their newer counterpart, scalp conditioners are telling us something else altogether: it’s time to start applying conditioners to our scalps too.

Since a comfier, healthier scalp (cue yet another haircare decree) paves the way for healthier tresses, we’re going to tell you why you need to add scalp conditioners to your haircare, ASAP.

What is a scalp conditioner?

The reason we don’t apply conditioner to the hair near our roots is this: hair conditioners are formulated with oils, emollients, and silicones designed to coat the hair cuticles for greater shine.

When applied at the hair’s roots, these heavy hair products can cause scalp build-up – a waxy accumulation of hair product alongside other impurities like natural sebum, dead skin cells, and dirt. These “suffocate” the scalp and can cause itchiness, flaking, and oiliness too.

When we talk about conditioning the scalp, however, we aren’t suggesting that you ditch the mid-lengths-to-ends rule or slather all over your roots when using a hair conditioner.

Instead, we’re referring to using special conditioners formulated to moisturise the scalp, soothe the scalp, and strengthen the scalp’s moisture barrier.

Why do our scalps need moisture?

We’re in the season of imagining our haircare in skincare terms, so think of your scalp as skin and a scalp conditioner as a moisturiser. Just as our parched skin is quenched with the help of a hydrating layer of moisturiser day and night, our scalps (heads up, they’re skin also) can be too.

Dry scalps, in particular, are most in need of a scalp conditioning step in an in-shower haircare routine. They’re the result of anything from sun exposure and air pollution to overly-frequent hair washing – and they can cause everything from the scalp’s tightness, itchiness, and flaking, to oiliness.

Similar to the skin on our faces, our scalps often compensate for a lack of moisture by producing sebum in overdrive – all for the sake of rehydrating the scalp. This can lead to your scalp feeling dry and tight right after washing your hair, but quickly oily by afternoon.

The simple solution to a dry scalp problem? Hydration. And the simple way to get it? Scalp conditioners. It’s why conditioning our scalps is a step we’re adding to our in-shower routine.

How to add a scalp conditioner to your haircare routine?

Typically, scalp conditioning comes after you’ve finished shampooing your hair and before you apply hair conditioner. After you’ve shampooed and rinsed, you should apply the scalp conditioner directly to your damp scalp.

To save time in the shower, apply your hair conditioner from mid-lengths to the ends of your hair, even as the scalp conditioner sits. It’s best that you wait for both products to sit for about three to five minutes before rinsing them out.

Review: This scalp conditioner moisturises and nourishes the scalp

Since 2000, Bee Choo Origin has been a household name when it comes to natural herbal treatments for common scalp issues like hair loss, itchiness, and oiliness.

More recently, however, the brand has also developed take-home formulations that help customers to target their scalp concerns on a regular at-home basis, paving the way for a comfier scalp and healthier hair.

The brand’s newest launch is none other than a scalp conditioner, the Scalp Moisture Lotion, which is ideal for use on dry, tight or itchy scalps.

Formulated with nourishing ceramide and fortifying Scutellaria Alpina extract, the product works effectively to strengthen the scalp’s moisture barrier, hydrate, and condition the scalp.

It’s also made with millet seed extract, which not only has powerful anti-inflammatory properties but also provides the hair follicles with essential nutrients for hair growth.

As a scalp conditioner is a rather new product on the shelf, we had to try it for ourselves to see how it checks out. Daily Vanity’s Stephanie has a dry scalp and oily hair, which is why we got her to do the honours with Bee Choo Origin Scalp Moisture Lotion over a week!

“I typically wash my hair every night because my hair gets very oily by the end of the day. Unfortunately, washing my hair this frequently also causes my scalp to become dryer than it already is, which sometimes makes my scalp itchy too.”

Trying the Scalp Moisture Lotion for the first time

“To test the Bee Choo Origin Scalp Moisture Lotion, I did my regular shampoo and then conditioner routine first, before conditioning my scalp in the next step. After rinsing out my hair conditioner, I pumped a small amount of the product onto my damp scalp and massaged it in.

To my surprise, I felt a minty, cooling sensation that quickly helped to soothe my scalp and relieve it of its itchiness.

The product’s texture wasn’t lightweight or watery like I expected it to be, rather it had a rich, creamy texture that was similar to a lotion. Even so, I enjoyed that the product did not feel heavy on my scalp, instead, it felt moisturising and washed off easily.

Just a little bit of product was enough to cover my entire scalp and it was an easy step to add to my normal shower routine!”

Verdict after one week of using the Scalp Moisture Lotion

“Since a scalp conditioner shouldn’t be used every day, I used the Bee Choo Origin Scalp Moisture Lotion three times spread out over one week. By the end of the week, my scalp not only felt much more hydrated, but my hair was also much less oily at the end of the day.

I was worried, at first, that the scalp conditioner would weigh down my oily hair even more, but the Bee Choo Origin Scalp Moisture Lotion didn’t do that. Instead, it left my scalp feeling replenished without being greasy over a long period of time before my next wash.

I’ve tried using scalp serums to control the excessive oil that accumulates on my scalp throughout the day, but no product really made a difference. Bee Choo Origin Scalp Moisture Lotion let me feel the difference in my scalp and hair after just one use!”

So, have we been getting our hair routine wrong by not applying conditioner to our scalps? Probably.

Get 10% off Bee Choo Origin Scalp Moisture Lotion when you apply the promo code “DV23Feb10%” at checkout – no minimum spending is required. This deal is only valid in the month of February (2023), so snag this deal here while you can!

Featured image credit: @yourbesthair, @anneli.bv/TikTok

This article is brought to you by Bee Choo Origin.