Most people only think about the hair on their head and completely forget the skin underneath it. In a place like Canggu, where humidity sits between 70% and 90% most days, that's where the problems actually start.
An unhealthy scalp shows up as:
- Constant mild itching, especially after being outside
- Flaking that looks like dandruff but isn't
- Greasy roots within a few hours of washing
- Small pimples or bumps along the hairline and neck
The good news is that you don't need a complicated medicine cabinet. Three small changes are usually enough.
Wash with warm, not hot water
Hot water feels good on a humid day, but it strips the scalp and triggers it to produce even more oil to compensate. You end up in a loop: wash with hot water → scalp overproduces oil → hair feels greasy faster → you wash again.
Warm water is plenty. Cold rinse at the end if you can stand it — it closes the cuticles and everything sits nicer.
Exfoliate once a week
Product, sweat, sunscreen, and pollution all build up on the scalp over the course of a week. A gentle scalp scrub or a chemical exfoliant with salicylic acid applied once a week is enough to keep things clear without irritating.
You don't need to scrub hard. Circular motions with your fingertips for a minute or two before shampooing does the work.
Don't put conditioner on the roots
Conditioner is for the length of the hair, not the scalp. If you're working it all the way to your roots every wash, you're adding unnecessary weight and blocking the follicles that are already sweating through the Bali heat.
Work conditioner through the mid-lengths and ends only, and rinse it properly. Residue is what causes that heavy, flat feeling an hour after you've washed your hair.
Sunscreen on the hairline
This is the one almost no one does. If you're spending time outside — and in Canggu, you are — your hairline, parting, and the tops of your ears get direct sun. A small amount of facial sunscreen patted into those areas before you leave the house prevents scalp burn that you'd otherwise only notice that evening in the shower.
Scalp care is one of those things that feels invisible when it's working and unignorable when it isn't. A few minutes a week, done consistently, is enough to keep things comfortable even in the wettest months.