If someone were to ask you about the part of your body that you personally think you neglect the most, what would you say? For me, it wasn’t until I became intentional and proactive about taking care of my scalp that I realized that it’s easily in my top three (check out “10 Things Your Scalp Has BEEN Waiting For You To Do”).
The main thing that got me into the mindset of pampering my scalp more was that, when I got serious about growing longer hair, I realized that I couldn’t really accomplish that goal unless the foundation of my locks — my scalp — was in pristine condition. And y’all, that doesn’t “just happen” — quite a bit of effort has to go into having a clean, healthy, and thriving one.
Something that helps you to achieve that goal is learning as many facts about your scalp as you possibly can. And if it trips you out to know that your scalp ages six times faster than your face does, you are not alone, chile. I felt the same way when I first found that out.
So, now that your eyes are staring wide-eyed at your screen let’s learn more about why our scalp has a tendency to age in the way that it does, along with some hacks for how to slow down the aging process…for our overall hair and hair goal’s sake.
What Causes Your Scalp to Age? What Speeds Up the Process?
GiphyOkay, so when you get a sec, check out Verywell Mind’s article, “Your Body Gets Much Older at These Two Ages, Study Shows.” If you’re at work and skimming this, I’ll give you the ages off the rip: 44 and 60. I’m not anywhere close to 60; however, I am definitely past 44, and so, when I read this, I thought about if I recalled experiencing noticeable changes back then, as far as my scalp was concerned.
Honestly, it’s been over the past two years or so that it seems to be drier than usual, which has resulted in me having to purify it more (there are serums out here for that; scalp exfoliation can help with this, too) so that it doesn’t get so irritated. And yep, both of these are indications of a scalp that is sho ‘nuf aging.
See, because a lot of us tend to not provide our scalp with the consistent TLC that it needs, the neglect, along with the drop in collagen production and natural sebum that comes from our scalp and hair follicles — these are the things that play a direct role in our scalp becoming dehydrated at a faster pace than usual.
Not to mention the fact that if we’re still using chemicals on our hair, applying plenty of heat, and already dealing with other scalp-related issues like dry scalp, dandruff, or eczema — well, there you go: the perfect scalp aging storm.
If anything, keeping all of this in mind can actually serve as a PSA to ease up on some of your styling techniques, use a moisturizing shampoo, and apply a leave-in conditioner to slow down the aging process. Okay, but I’m getting a little ahead of myself. I’ll circle back to this part, in more detail, towards the end of this.
How an Aging Scalp Affects Your Hair
GiphyEven though I’m sure you get that your scalp is indeed the foundation of your hair, I do wonder if more of us took the time to really let that sink in, would we actually be better about taking good care of our scalp? For instance, did you realize that when your scalp is dryer or older, both your scalp and hair end up experiencing oxidative stress (which can cause your hair to gray faster), weaker hair follicles (which can lead to excessive hair shedding and hair loss) along with dull, thin and frizzy hair too?
So yes, you definitely should care about what state your scalp is in and do what you can to keep it from aging — especially prematurely aging — as much as possible.
5 Tips to Keep Some Youth in Your Scalp for Years to Come
GiphyNow that you know why an aging scalp is such a big deal if you’re ready to create the kind of scalp regimen that can help you to maintain a younger one for a longer period of time, here are some easy and practical things that you can do.
1. Take a multivitamin.
Since vitamin deficiencies are pretty prevalent in this country, it can never hurt to take a multivitamin as a nutrient supplement, especially since vitamin A helps your scalp to produce sebum, vitamin C helps your scalp to produce collagen, and zinc helps to strengthen your hair follicles. By taking a multivitamin, you can get all of these nutrients into your system with the help of one capsule or pill.
2. Use gentle products (most of the time).
A misconception that is easy to have is that if you use hair products a lot, you always need to use a hair-clarifying shampoo — you know, one that contains sulfates. The problem with that is sulfates are basically like a detergent for your hair. This means that, over time, they can strip moisture from your scalp, which can lead to dry scalp and brittle hair as well.
To prevent this from happening, it’s best to use a mild shampoo and a clarifying one no more than once every third wash day (at the most if you shampoo and condition your hair every 2-3 weeks) and definitely not on the days when you are planning to do a protein treatment (because those can dry out your hair too). The rest of the time, a milder shampoo that also contains softening ingredients like keratin, shea butter, amino acids, panthenol, and/or glycerin is going to be a much better bet.
3. Massage your scalp on a weekly basis.
Wanna decrease your stress (including oxidative stress) levels? Massage your scalp. Increase blood circulation to your hair follicles? Massage your scalp. Thicken your hair over time? Massage your scalp. Distribute sebum more evenly throughout your scalp? Massage your scalp.
When you add to this the fact that a scalp massage — even a quick DIY one — can also relieve tension headaches and migraines, whether it’s with your fingertips or an actual scalp massager, you’ll be doing your scalp (and body) good to devote 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a week, to rubbing on your head a bit (tips for how to give yourself a proper scalp massage are here).
4. Apply peppermint or tea tree oil.
Speaking of scalp massages, if you want to keep bacteria off of your scalp so that it remains cleaner and healthier in between wash days, apply a few drops of peppermint or tea tree essential oil to a carrier oil like grapeseed or virgin olive oil to your massaging process.
If you warm up the oil blend first, it will provide an amazingly soothing effect, increase circulation even faster, and also promote healthy hair growth (peppermint oil) and/or prevent dandruff and psoriasis to your scalp (tea tree oil).
5. Try a scalp facial.
Imagine if you really did treat your scalp like you did the rest of your skin. If you did that, you would probablygive your scalp a facial from time to time. What exactly does that consist of? First, you would need to deep-cleanse your scalp (like with a clarifying shampoo). Then, you would need to (gently) exfoliate your scalp to remove any dead skin cells.
Next, you would need to apply the kind of serum that would provide it with lots of hydration to your scalp (there are some exampleshere). Finally, you would need tonourish your scalp with an oil like jojoba, rosemary, avocado, sweet almond, or lavender oil. Then, you’re done.
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There is nothing wrong with aging. Aging is a blessing. However, since our scalp ages so much faster than the rest of our skin, why not do your part to slow down the process — so that it can “age gracefully” and your hair can flourish in the process? Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to making that happen. I can almost guarantee it, sis.
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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I’m not saying that your vagina doesn’t like it. I’m simply saying that it goes through a lot during those moments of copulation — and sometimes, it’s without the pre- (check out “15 Pre-Sex Rituals That Could Make Sex A LOT More Pleasurable”) and post-care that it not only needs but truly deserves.
So, in honor of all that our vagina’s go through during coitus, I wanted to shout out four things that you should do for “her” before you have sex and four other things that you should do once the get down is over — things that will make her (and ultimately you) feel so much better about what transpires…during.
Before Sex Tip #1: Your Vagina Wishes You Wouldn’t Shave
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My waxer and I are going to come to low-key blows in a minute if she doesn’t keep trying to take more and more hair away from my pubic mound. LOL. Me? I’m someone who likes my bikini line to be cleaned up; however, I prefer to not go completely bald. If you’re someone who is on the fence, something that may sway you over to my side of things is the fact that there is plenty of data out here that says pubic hair can help to decrease your chances of contracting an STI/STD.
One reason is that hair (everywhere) helps to protect you. Another is because, if you happen to shave or wax and then have sex 12-24 hours later, and your partner does have an STI/STD, there could be mild abrasions or cuts that could make it easier for what they have to be transmitted to you.
Listen, I’m all about a well-manicured treasure box happening — just make sure that you “handle that” a couple of days before sex…not mere hours before.
Before Sex Tip #2: Your Vagina Wishes You Wouldn’t Avoid Washing Your Hands
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It’s kind of hard to have sex without using your hands. That said, if fingers are gonna be all up and around “her,” they need to be as clean as possible, so that bacteria doesn’t end up pissing her off. This means that if your nails are long, you need to use a nail brush to dig up underneath them. This means that if he goes to the bathroom right before coming into the bedroom, he should wash his hands.
This also means that if you like to be on the adventurous side and bring “sex condiments” into the picture during foreplay (check out “12 'Sex Condiments' That Can Make Coitus Even More...Delicious”), and there is stuff all over your fingers, hands should be washed then too. The main reason for the last one is food has a way of throwing off your vagina’s pH balance — and, whenever that happens, it can lead to an infection. And who the hell wants that, chile?
Before Sex Tip #3: Your Vagina Wishes You Wouldn’t Drink Too Much
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When you get a chance, do your vagina a favor and check out “Turns Out Sober Sex Might Be The Underrated Secret To Better Orgasms.” When you’ve got too much alcohol in your system, not only could it potentially cloud your judgment, but it can also tank your libido, decrease how much natural lubricant your body produces, and it can make it harder for you to climax as well.
As far as the lube part goes, the issue with that is alcohol dehydrates you, and let me tell you, there are few things worse than trying to have great sex with a dry va-jay-jay. All of that friction damn near feels like broken glass (not exactly but…close). Ugh. So, a glass of wine or a shot of Casamigos? Cool. Throwin’ back an entire bottle? Yeah, let’s not.
Before Sex Tip #4: Your Vagina Wishes You Wouldn’t "Forget" to Use Condoms
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If you want to significantly decrease your chances of experiencing an unwanted pregnancy or an STI/STD, you need to use a condom — not sometimes, not partly during sex…each and every time and from start to finish when it comes to copulation. To this day, when used flawlessly, condoms continue to be 98 percent effective (around 87 percent effective otherwise). Not only that but if you are having sex with a new partner for the first time, his sperm/semen has the potential to throw your vagina’s pH off and that could lead to itchiness, irritation and/or some type of infection.
Look, I don’t know one person on this planet who thinks that wearing a condom feels better than “going raw.” Still, unless you want to get pregnant or you want to do a crap shoot with your health (at a time when STIs/STDs are on the rise, by the way), do you and your vagina a favor and bring condoms into the mix. Speaking of condoms (and your vagina), check out “These Are The Kinds Of Condoms Your Vagina Would Actually Prefer,” so that using them can be as pleasant of an experience as possible.
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After Sex Tip #1: Your Vagina Wishes You Wouldn’t “Mingle” with Sex Toys
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Okay, so when it comes to “after sex,” I think that pretty much all of us can vouch for the fact that sometimes sex doesn’t stop so much as it…pauses. And during that refractory period, it can be common for one or both partners to do things that will help to keep the juices flowing (umm, so to speak). Thing is, if your sex toys have been moving around from place to place, this means that bacteria, fungi, or even viruses can be transmitted.
So, after the first sex romp, please wash your sex toys before inserting them, umm, elsewhere. Then, once you’re completely done, thoroughly clean and dry them and put them away. For tips on how to do this, based on the material that they are made out of, check out Self’s “How to Clean Your Sex Toys So You Can Use Them Safely.”
After Sex Tip #2: Your Vagina Wishes You Wouldn’t Hold Your Pee In
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Although I am a childhood sexual abuse survivor, when I stepped onto my college’s campus for the first time, I was pretty green about a lot of things when it came to sex. That’s why it threw me off when my freshman year suite mates were trying to convince me that holding urine in during sex intensifies orgasms. Chile…if y’all are out here doing that, that explains why there seems to be an uptick in squirting (some of y’all will catch that later — LOL).
Anyway, what I do know, as far as pee goes, is you should definitely release it after intercourse. According to science, making sure to use the bathroom after sex can help to push out germs and bacteria that may try to get caught up in your urethra, ones that could ultimately lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI).
After Sex Tip #3: Your Vagina Wishes You Wouldn’t Use Harsh Cleansing Products
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It can never be said enough that vaginas are self-cleaning — this means that, even after sex, yours does not need the assistance of douching or you attempting to “clean it out” with some sort of over-the-top body wash or heavily fragranced soap. All that will do is disrupt the pH of your vagina. As far as your vulva — the outer part of your vagina — goes, even that doesn’t need you to go overboard.
Some warm water and a mild, unscented soap are really all that you need, especially since you may have some mild abrasions due to the friction of the sexual experience. Oh, and if you are doing the most, thinking that you can get sperm/semen out of you — that’s not how it works. Once it enters your body, it’s gotta leave in its own time (which tends to be no longer than 5-7 days).
After Sex Tip #4: Your Vagina Wishes You Wouldn’t Put Panties (Back) On
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Even though men have told me that they feel more comfortable with putting a pair of drawers on after having sex, that doesn’t mean that you should automatically follow suit. I mean, unless you plan on getting right into the shower (and fully drying off afterwards), there is probably sweat and other fluids that could be a breeding ground for an infection if you decide to immediately put on panties, lingerie, or some other type of tight-fitting clothing on.
So, stay naked — at least from the bottom down. It’ll give your vagina (and vulva) some time to catch its breath and actually breathe. Yes, literally.
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Without your vagina, sex would suck. LOL. And so, the least you could do is implement these eight tips as a way to show your appreciation. They’re simple things that can make a big difference in how your vagina feels — about sex and you before, during and after it. #wink
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