Throughout my career, one question comes up more than any other: why is my hair shedding? Why isn't it as thick as it used to be?
Last summer, I traveled to Greece to train with a trichologist on the proper way to cleanse and care for the scalp to optimize hair growth. What I learned changed how I think about hair loss — and it starts with something most people have never considered: buildup.
The buildup nobody talks about
Your scalp accumulates what's called "complex compounds" — sebum, dirt, styling product residue, minerals, and hard water deposits. Here in Austin, our water is loaded with limestone, and if you've ever had to clean the screens on your sink or showerhead, you've seen the mineral cast it leaves behind. That same coating is building up on your scalp.
Over the years, a lot of people have moved away from shampooing often, believing they need to "retrain" the scalp to protect their hair from heat damage and mechanical manipulation. But here's the problem: your scalp is like the farm that grows the crop. When you skip shampooing — washing only once a week, say — buildup accumulates. And modern shampoos are formulated to be so gentle that they don't overstrip the hair, which means the scalp underneath still isn't getting the cleansing it actually needs.
Think about it this way: you shower and exfoliate your body every day. But the regimen you use on your face looks nothing like what you're doing for your scalp. Why not?
Inside the treatment
Here's how I approach scalp health for every client:
- 01
Imaging first
I take six photos across the scalp so we have a clear before, to compare against the after.
- 02
Setting the mood
Lights dimmed, curtains closed, shoes off, blanket on — I want this to feel like an aesthetician's spa treatment, not a quick rinse at the sink.
- 03
Shampoo
We start clean.
- 04
The active treatment
I apply a solution built around three key ingredients — ascorbic acid, kaolin clay, and zinc — and it stays on for about 15 minutes while I continuously massage the scalp.
- Ascorbic acid — the most potent form of vitamin C — helps stop free radicals on the scalp from oxidizing, which can otherwise lead to premature shedding or hair miniaturization.
- Kaolin clay — draws impurities out of the scalp.
- Zinc — soothes scalp irritation.
- 05
Exfoliating scrub
A cooling, minty scrub sloughs away any remaining dead skin.
- 06
Second shampoo, then a custom conditioning treatment
Tailored to exactly what your hair needs.
The bonus nobody expects
This treatment is built for scalp health — but it has a major side benefit: it strips mineral buildup from the hair itself.
When minerals attach to your hair, it's like having tiny rocks stuck to every strand. That buildup increases tangling, dulls shine, makes blondes look darker, makes brunettes look less reflective, and leaves everyone's hair feeling less soft — no matter your hair type.
That's why the results from this treatment actually last. We're not masking the problem with a cosmetic smoothing product. We're removing what's actually causing it.
See it for yourself
This is the Scacial — my signature scalp treatment, with before-and-after imaging so you can see exactly what changes in one appointment.
45 minutes · $150. Read all about it, or book a free consultation and let's take a look at your scalp.