You may have heard that you should treat the scalp the way you would your skin. However, you should actually treat the scalp better than your face. Here’s why: unlike skin covering your face, the scalp is thicker; it carries more blood than the rest of your skin. It has more sebaceous glands in order to produce sebum to protect hair and it’s especially important to cleanse your scalp thoroughly. If sebum builds up on top of dead skin cells and dirt, hair follicles become clogged and can lead to hair thinning, hair loss and dandruff. To take good care of your scalp, include a pre-shampoo that targets the scalp.

Try: Derma-Rx Trichology Scalp-Clear Prewash, $65. This moisturising deep cleanser uses a fruit enzyme to exfoliate the scalp, remove excess sebum without drying the scalp.

When you don’t wash your hair, sebum buildup on the scalp not only clogs hair follicles, but starts to coat the hair and causes it to look flat. If you’re out and about, pollutants in the air from exhaust gas, cigarette smoke, dust and odours stick onto the hair surface. That’s why you should wash your hair before heading to bed, but washing the hair every day can also weaken it — your hair becomes more prone to breakage and split ends.

To prevent this, use a pre-shampoo before your usual routine to reduce damage as this would smooth the hair cuticles before hair gets wet. If your hair is fairly healthy, you can skip a pre-shampoo and use a lightweight conditioner over dry hair (without touching the scalp) before your usual shampoo. However, if you have chemically damaged hair or naturally dry, frizzy hair, a dedicated pre-shampoo is recommended.

Try: Phyto Phytomillesime Color Locker Pre-shampoo, $65, from Beauty By Nature. Ideal for coloured hair, this is infused with Red Love apple, an antioxidant, to protect hair from external aggressors, and other botanical extracts to smooth cuticles and form a protective barrier around hair. Apply this lightweight gel-in-oil texture from roots to tips and leave it on for one to two minutes before washing hair with your regular shampoo.

Contrary to popular belief, you should start using a scalp tonic before hair loss starts. Like how you would apply an anti-aging serum for your face every night, you should also apply a hair tonic every night on clean scalp to protect it from external aggressors that can accelerate hair loss.

Try: The Face Shop’s Dr. Schwarz Scalp Serum, $19, which is rich in antioxidants, amino acids and minerals to help promote blood circulation, hydrate hair follicles and strengthens hair roots. Or if you’re more concerned with hair fall, Phyto Phytocyane Revitalizing Treatment Serum, $125 per box of 12 x 7.5ml Vials, from Beauty By Nature can help. This revitalising serum purportedly boosts healthy hair growth to make your locks stronger, smoother and shinier. Each single-dose vial is packed with ginkgo biloba, soybean extract, vitamin B6, grapeseed and tyrosine to boost microcirculation, and help prevent thinning and graying.

A weekly deep cleanse helps remove scalp buildup. Replace your regular shampoo with a deep cleansing shampoo once a week to remove impurities, control oiliness and unclog hair follicles

Try: IGK Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub, $54, from Sephora. This sulphate-free, colour-safe cooling scrub gets rid of dead skin cells and product build-up on the scalp with apple cidar vinegar and helps hydrates scalp with walnut oil.

The cure-all for hair overly exposed to the sun, chemically-processed hair, and excessive use of heat-styling hair tools, a hair mask is topically infused with botanical oils and butters to give your hair a deep-conditioning treat.

Try: Hair Rituel by Sisley Regenerating Hair Care Mask, $122. Made with four botanical oils rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals, this light and creamy mask promises to rebuild the hair structure, soothe irritation, and hydrate and nourish the scalp and hair to leave your locks soft and shiny.

Or, get your hands on Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Repairative Hair Pak, $54. If you tend to use heat-styling tools every day, change your hair colour every month, perm your hair, or simply have very dry hair, this would transform brittle hair with its blend of avocado oil, lemon extract and olive fruit oil to moisturise and strengthen hair for shiny, healthy looking hair.

Whether your scalp is dry or oily, a monthly scalp treatment works to balance the scalp condition, boost blood circulation, promote nutrient absorption, reduce any inflammation and itching, and maintain scalp health for healthy hair growth.

Try: Kerastase Avant Garde Ritual (from $198) at J’s Salon. This scalp-rejuvenating treatment is said to help hair growth through the use of the Infra Red Healing Brush to stimulate the scalp, and a hair steamer to help product penetration. The head, neck and shoulders massages boosts blood circulation, relieves tension, and were incredibly relaxing. You’ll also appreciate the tea menu, snack and fluffy robes, too. After the treatment, your scalp would feel fresher and your hair softer for the next few days.

J’s Salon is located at Level 3 Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Tel: 6733-3882