The Skincare Ingredient You Should Be Adding to Your Haircare Routine

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Taking care of your skin doesn’t stop at your face. Sure, you may have heard this from the dermatologists you follow on TikTok and Instagram for skincare tips. You’ve also probably come across articles on sites like this one about the best skincare products to use on your neck and chest. But the scalp is another area of the body that deserves some TLC, too.

It’s not easy to see your scalp because you have a full head of hair covering it, but it’s still skin, which is why you’ll find common skincare ingredients in scalp care and even haircare products. Take hyaluronic acid for example. It’s a popular ingredient known for attracting moisture to the skin for a plumper, dewier complexion. And it just so happens it has similar benefits when applied to your head.

“Hyaluronic Acid is a brilliant humectant and works wonders for anyone with dry skin or a dry scalp,” says Kerry Yates, trichologist and founder of Colour Collective. “When applied topically, humectants help draw moisture back into the treated area, trapping it and rehydrating the skin.”

RELATED: What the Heck Is Scalp Detoxing?

Before you bring your hyaluronic acid serum in the shower with you, we tapped Yates, along with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian of Schweiger Dermatology Group, to break down how to use the ingredient on your scalp and hair. Read on for all the details on incorporating hyaluronic acid in your haircare routine.

How Does Hyaluronic Acid Benefit the Scalp and Hair?

Just like your face, hyaluronic acid can draw moisture to the scalp to boost hydration. Yates says that humectant can help keep the scalp balanced, which is important because “a healthy scalp supports proper follicle fitness, helps keep each strand supple and soft, and assists in keeping dandruff at bay.”

It can also help improve common hair hangups like dryness, which contributes to frizz. “It’s often added to haircare products to improve frizzy, dry strands without weighing down hair,” Dr. Nazarian adds.