Chances are you have a multi-step skin care routine, but when it comes to the skin under your hair (that would be your scalp), you may not do a single thing. But your scalp is simply an extension of your facial skin, notes Justina Mejia-Montane, Vice President, Global Product Development at Aveda. And just like your face, your scalp needs cleansing, balancing, and protecting.

“Consider your scalp the soil from which your hair grows,” says Justina. Once you think of it that way, it shouldn’t be hard to understand why you might need to be giving it a little extra care.

Fortunately, Aveda’s new Pramāsana™ line, which is composed of an Exfoliating Scalp Brush, Purifying Scalp Cleanser, and Protective Scalp Concentrate (as well as a Nourishing Scalp Masque, available as an Aveda in-salon treatment only), builds the foundation to healthy hair—namely, a clean, healthy scalp. Quite literally, Pramāsana™ combines two Sanskrit words: Prama (or “foundation”) and asana (“position”), because we believe that a clean, healthy scalp is the foundation on which your hair is positioned to achieve its greatest beauty. To that end, we’ve paired ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and modern science to create products and rituals that help you cleanse and care for your scalp, helping your hair to reach its fullest potential.

To get the most out of the line—which was designed for dry, oily, and normal scalps alike—start with the Exfoliating Scalp Brush. “You’ll want to work in little circles,” says Justina. “The brush loosens up debris and buildup and stimulates microcirculation. Plus, it feels great!” It can be used both in and out of the shower.

Second, you’ll use the Purifying Scalp Cleanser, which can be applied to a wet or dry scalp. The product deeply, yet gently cleanses with plant-derived cleansing agents from babassu and coconut, which help balance your sebum levels, while salicylic acid, derived from wintergreen, exfoliates the scalp. Once you’ve cleansed your scalp, you can shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would.

Last, you’ll apply the Protective Scalp Concentrate to a clean scalp (hair may be damp or dry) with a dropper and massage it in. This lightweight leave-in treatment, formulated with Tamanu oil, a known antioxidant, penetrates the surface layers of the scalp to help defend it from pollution and free radicals. The treatment also includes a patented ferment which helps preserve the scalp’s natural protective barrier.  The scalp is left feeling comfortable all day.

While Justina recommends using the brush daily, the other products need only be used when you wash your hair—whether that’s daily or three times a week.

As with all of our home rituals, we encourage setting the mood before indulging for an enhanced experience. This means carving out some time so you don’t feel rushed, and perhaps make yourself a cup of Aveda Comforting Tea before getting started. While massaging the scalp, take deep breaths in and out to the count of five. When you’re done, you’ll find that you not only look fabulous, but you feel that way, too.

Lead image courtesy of Maki Kaneko @mtmmaki

ARE YOU READY TO AWAKEN YOUR SCALP?

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