Hair care when your scalp is sore.
Gentle on the lengths, hands off the skin.

Your lengths still need their own care

A sore scalp doesn’t mean your hair stops tangling. Work on small sections, away from the roots that hurt, and keep the lengths loose while you wash. Caring for the hair is one job. Picking at the skin isn’t part of it.

Make the routine easy to follow

Keep your everyday wash products and your treatment directions in one place, so you’re not hunting for either in the shower. Note which products rinse out and which stay on. Then slot your familiar steps around the treatment without moving its timing.

Flakes or scale catch on the comb

• Leave attached scale where it is rather than picking at it or forcing a comb underneath.
• Hold the hair above the tangle and loosen the ends first.
• If a movement hurts, stop.
• Detangling the lengths should never mean scraping the scalp.

The lengths feel dry while you’re treating the scalp

• Condition the lengths wherever your directions allow it.
• Keep the treatment’s placement and timing exactly as they are.
• Work through small sections, rinse the conditioner out, and don’t scratch or try anything new on the affected skin.

Styling makes your scalp sore

• Let tight styles out and keep heat and rubbing away from the tender spots.
• Loose hair or a soft, relaxed tie is kinder, and you can move the tie away from the sore area.
• Skip any style that needs re-pulling through the day to stay put.

Wash with what your plan allows

Use the cleansing your care plan allows. A stronger shampoo isn’t a stand-in for the treatment you’ve been given, and leaving anything on longer than its directions say is a guess, not a boost.

Browse cleansing products. Your current shampoo, wash schedule and past treatments help guide a personal recommendation.

Let conditioner do the detangling

Choose a conditioner for the lengths that tangle and keep it off the affected skin unless your directions say otherwise. Use enough that the comb slides through without pulling, then rinse as the bottle says.

Browse rinse-out conditioners. The consultation uses your hair details and treatment history to compare conditioner options.

1. Wash gently, where you’re allowed to

Follow your care instructions for the scalp and use the pads of your fingers, never your nails.

2. Rinse out what’s meant to come out

Rinse the cosmetic steps fully, and leave any leave-on treatment exactly where it’s meant to stay.

3. Condition the lengths

Keep conditioner to the mids and ends, and don’t put anything unfamiliar on the affected skin.

4. Comb away from the sore spots

Hold the lengths so the pull never reaches a painful root, and stop rather than tug.

Signs that need more than routine care

• If your scalp is getting worse rather than settling, with spreading redness, weeping, more pain or a new patch where hair is missing, see a medical professional sooner rather than later. If you already have a care plan, tell whoever gave it to you when the treatment is hard to use or you’re unsure what’s safe on the affected skin, before you change anything.