Do you scratch your scalp.. Like all over with fingernails?

[moeZy]

I know the practice is bad for hair, right? Do you do this? Small little scratching doesn't count.

[Seeshami]

I do before I wash. I am also a person who has to exfoliate their skin regularly or be a pimple monster.

[UP Lisa]

I have been guilty of this. Supposedly it breaks off hairs. Of course if you do it too hard, it will make sores.

[Thinthondiel]

I do it, but I don't see why it should be any worse for your hair than scritching, which a lot of people on here seem to recommend.

[gossamer]

I don't think it's bad for hair! I don't have a comb for scritching and I prefer using my nails. I can tell if I'm scratching too hard and feel resistance more easily, I think this means I'm not pulling out hairs.

[embee]

I don't use my fingernails, but I have a Denman brush and the feel of it on my scalp is one of my daily pleasures. Which is why I refuse to give up brushing. ;) It really massages my scalp and I've always understood that is a good thing, increasing blood flow and all. My mom brushed 100 strokes (scalp to hair-tips) morning and night. She kept her hair at waist length my whole life ... and cut *my* hair into a little Dutch-boy, earlobe length with bangs. .... yuk.

[Bagginslover]

I do, and I use my denman too. I have a very itchy scalp currently, and the only thing keeping me from scratching wildly in public at the moment is being able to scrach away the flakes each night at home. I don't shed while doing it, I'm gentle, and it seems to be really helping my problems.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I don't think scratching gently would be bad at all. I do it sometimes usually while washing it, but usually I use the pds of my fingers more than my nails. It feels really good!

[Mommyof4]

I scratch my scalp constantly, but not hard, just as a habit.

[Shepherdess]

I scratch my scalp fairly often and I don't think it's bad. It actually feels better when I scratch my scalp lightly every day. When I have had nails that weren't trimmed well, they have caught on my hair before, and that hurt since my hair at the roots are very thick, so it takes a lot to pluck one out. I have had individual hairs catch on things closer to my scalp before and not pluck out, but leave my scalp aching for an hour afterwards. My hair damages and breaks off easier farther down and at the ends. I think that it would be good stimulation to gently scratch the scalp.

[tigereye]

I do. I'm still trying to figure out what is causing my itchy scalp. Its worst the day or so after washing. I'm über-sensitive to fragrances, but I haven't changed shampoo in a long time so i don't think it's that. I've been looking for an SLS-free shampoo, since I went -cone free on my conditioner, since I have a feeling that's the problem-causer, but I have no clue where to start finding one - I'm a student with no money trying to find a local place that sells something.
I don't scratch hard, since my scalp is quite sensitive, but I get annoyed at myself for doing it.

[Long_hair_bear]

I scritch with a pic before my scalp oiling because I have a dry scalp and it helps get rid of the nastiness. :)

[browneyedsusan]

Sometimes. If I try to stretch washes too long, I get an itchy head. If I wash every other day, my scalp seems happier, so that's what I do!

[shirohane]

I've always had itchy scalp and still do even though I went NW/SO. Though, removing shampoo visibly reduced flakes, I still carpet the floor with them when I get my scalp a good scratching. Aside from the mild discomfort caused by having to sweep the mess up, it feels really good afterwards. My scalp feels breezy as if it could finally breathe.


I do. I'm still trying to figure out what is causing my itchy scalp. Its worst the day or so after washing. I'm über-sensitive to fragrances, but I haven't changed shampoo in a long time so i don't think it's that. I've been looking for an SLS-free shampoo, since I went -cone free on my conditioner, since I have a feeling that's the problem-causer, but I have no clue where to start finding one - I'm a student with no money trying to find a local place that sells something.
I don't scratch hard, since my scalp is quite sensitive, but I get annoyed at myself for doing it.

I've seen some SLS-free shampoo at resonable prices (like Tres-semme) but they are usually loaded with fragrances... Maybe you could try CO-washing if you've found a good conditioner?

[lydiajo]

Looks like I'm in good company. I scratch my scalp because it itches, also because it feels good. I don't really think I'm doing my hair any harm and I don't draw blood.

[LadyCelestina]

Scratch iiiit ! I do it when I'm thinking hard or am nervous.Unless you do it too vigorously,I think it's just about the same as scritching,count in the benefits too.
Sadly,it sometimes ends up with an irritated scalp,especially when there's a lot of stress going on at school.To avoid this,it sort of helps to have short nails,but I wouldn't sacrifice mine.

[Sharysa]

I scratch my scalp a LOT when I'm at home, because there's some things that plain massage can't help with. I keep my nails short anyway, so there's no risk in drawing blood by accident.

It feels better afterward, I don't pull any hairs, and generally nothing's gone wrong from a good scalp scratching in the morning. Especially if I forgot to shower and my scalp's gone itchy, since I shower twice a week due to my oily scalp. One day can make a huge difference--day three is maybe a bit itchy, but day four is HELL.

[Suguru]

I had a really itchy scalp for a while recently and would scratch my scalp regularly, even in public which I really tried not to do. It was damaging my hair and I really wanted to stop. I wasn't sure what was causing the itchiness until once during a scratching session I scratched behind my ear and a louse fell out! Turns out I had a full-blown head lice infestation! Disgusting I know! After no less than FOUR lice treatments and painstakingly combing through my classic-length hair with a super fine-toothed metal lice comb each time (very damaging but unfortunately necessary) I finally got rid of them. It seemed like there was a whole ecosystem living in my hair. I've stopped scratching as much now but unfortunately I have little sores on my head from all the past scratching and sometime I feel compelled to scratch the scabs that start to form, which then creates new sores...it's a vicious cycle! So yes, for those of you who scratch because your scalp itches it may well be worth checking for lice. I would suggest getting someone else to check you properly because I thought I had checked myself and found nothing but I was very very wrong!

[Natalia]

I do it when im stressed, something about that feeling on my scalp calms me. I usually do it in the morning and i try not to do it on wet hair.

[MegaMystery]

I mostly do it when I'm thinking or when I'm stressed, and then usually just around my hairline (when I realise what i'm doing I usually turn it into a complete scalp-massage. I have noticed some flakes falling out, but nothing too bad. Sometimes I get a pimple on my scalp that I feel compelled to pick at, but I do that with pimples on my back and face as well so nothing strange there.

[DarkCurls]

Guilty.

Mostly before I wash it. I find it helps with flakes. I figure my hair has been through much worse and it's doing fine. :D
I keep my nails short, though.

[gnome82]

I scratch my scalp, I do not cause it damage from this it is fine.

[anitacs9101]

Sometimes :blushing: I have dry itchy scalp so sometimes after I wash it's SUUUPER itchy.

[Venefica]

I scratch my scalp, I try not to but it is not easy, also I file my nails into sharp claws so I cut myself sometimes when scratching, it do not seam to make my hair any less thick though and I generally do not have much damage so it can not be that bad.

[jacqueline101]

I use my new vibrating brush. Prior to that I scratched lightly to remove dander.

[KwaveT]

I do to get the white stuff out of my hair. I have about figured out which conditioner is causing this.

[earthnut]

I scratch with my fingernails. I haven't heard of it being bad for hair, though it can be bad for the scalp if you do it too hard. When I do it (along with preening) to stretch washes, my hair seems to really love it in fact. I can't seem to get my scalp clean enough if I just use the pads of my fingers. As long as it doesn't hurt to do it, it's probably fine.

Although I don't consider my skin to be sensitive, I cannot use any exfoliation harsher than dilute vinegar and a terry towel on the rest of my body.

[spidermom]

I use the teeth of my wooden comb.

[goldloli]

@tigereye, there is a johnsons baby shampoo variety that is sulphate free, it's the cheapest ive seen for a widely sold uk product.

I've been massaging with brush on scalp, lightly scratching and massaging for a month maybe? idk all i know is im growing pretty quick and really enjoy the feeling of it.

[ibleedlipstick]

I use a Denman brush! It feels fantastic on my scalp and since I don't notice any irregular shedding with it, I don't worry about it. I love having my head/scalp massaged, so it is like a cheap scalp massage every evening.

[PixieKitten]

I love a good scratch on the head! DBF knows how much I love it so whenever he's sat behind me he'll give me scratches behind the ear and on the nape of my neck as if I were a cat... It sends me into a puddle of mush every time!