It's no secret that a healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair, so it's important to make sure you're cleansing your scalp properly. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shampooing curly hair:

1. Use a shampoo that is designed for curly hair. Many shampoos designed for straight hair aim to totally strip the scalp's natural oils to avoid a greasy or oily look. These natural oils are very important for curly/natural hair as it is harder for these oils to coat our strands due to the coils that our strands form. Using a shampoo like the Camille Rose Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse or the Mielle Organics Pomegranate and Honey Shampoo will help to cleanse the scalp without over stripping its natural oils.
2. Shampoo once a week. Weekly cleansing is extremely important for a healthy scalp. It may require doing a bit more work regarding the styling of your hair, but it is important to ensure that the product and oils at your scalp are not building up which can lead to a clogging of the pores, itchiness, flaking and dryness at the scalp. If you have scalp sensitivities, utilize a dry and itchy scalp shampoo such as the As I Am Dry and Itchy Scalp Shampoo or the Taliah Waajid Stimulating Herbal Cleanser.
3. Pay attention to your shampooing technique. When shampooing curly hair, it's important to be very gentle with your scalp. Avoid scrubbing harshly as this can lead to an itchy and irritated scalp. Instead, massage the shampoo into your scalp using your fingertips or a Shampoo Brush in a circular motion. Apply the shampoo to your scalp and allow it to run down your strands in order to not over-strip the strands.
4. Rotate between a co-wash and a shampoo. If you find that using a stronger shampoo weekly is a bit too harsh for your scalp, switch between a co-wash and a shampoo each week to ensure your scalp is not being cleansed too harshly. Co-washes such as The Doux One Love Co-Wash are conditioning cleansers that still cleanse your scalp but do so less intensely. We don't recommend solely using a co-wash, but switching back and forth can be a great way to ensure your scalp is finding a balance.
5. Always follow up with conditioner. Conditioners like the Mielle Organics Babassu and Mint Deep Conditioner are key in replenishing the nutrients and water that may have been stripped from your scalp. Shampooing without following up with conditioner will leave the scalp and hair bare and dry and will lead to itchiness and flaking.