View Full Version : Scalp Buildup
Ravenwind
April 8th, 2013, 10:18 AM
For the past few months I've been getting a lot of buildup on my scalp and I have no clue why. It's also very dry towards my forehead. In the past I have gotten buildup as well, but this time it's not going away.
I don't use any products on my scalp that would cause buildup, other than shampoo and oil a couple times a month. I do use a clarifying shampoo too. I kinda "scratch" my scalp when I wash my hair to get it really clean too, but it still doesn't really do much.
Anyone know what may cause buildup/dryness if it's not from using products? What can I do to help get rid of it?
Thanks!
heidi w.
April 8th, 2013, 10:43 AM
If you feel like scratching your scalp a lot, it matters how its done. With hands is bad since hands carry a lot of dirt and eowwww, germs. It's best to scritch the hair instead and lift and loosen any debris. For buildup on the hair we generally recommend clarifying the hair and starting over. Every other month, clarify to get rid of the grit on the scalp. Combine 3 T baking soda with 3 T shampoo choice; blend super well and apply all over the head. Scratch away. Although it's best to scritch before clarifying. It produces an extremely clean scalp. THEN condition the length only, and all should be well for a few days. Do not wash the hair with clarifying shampoo on an ongoing basis. More is not better. Clarifying is extremely drying to the hair and MUST be followed with conditioning the length only. THEN air dry; then oil the length only. From the top of the ears on down the length to the ends.
heidi w.
renia22
April 8th, 2013, 10:44 AM
Have you tried something like this?
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/neutrogena-t/sal-therapeutic-shampoo-scalp-build-up-control/ID=prod352987-product
Walgreens has a generic version, too.
jillosity
April 8th, 2013, 10:58 AM
Any dietary changes? A diet high in processed and animal foods can cause scalp (and body) issues. Have you tried ACV rinses?
Anje
April 8th, 2013, 11:28 AM
If you're using a clarifying shampoo every day, it's probably contributing to the dryness. Depending on your product selection, I'd suggest cutting down to using it weekly to monthly. Use a gentler, milder shampoo (think milder sulfates or sulfate-free, not baby shampoo) for the day-to-day cleansing.
Clarifying once might be useful for buildup. If you've just got scalp gunk, though, I'd suggest making a scrub instead. A favorite around here seems to be a few tablespoons of brown sugar (seems to work better than white sugar, I guess) mixed with just enough conditioner to make it spread a little. Apply to scalp and scrub gently, then rinse it out.
Telling us what texture the buildup is might be informative. Is this white flakes? greasy patches? Does it smell like anything?
jacqueline101
April 8th, 2013, 11:31 AM
I'd recommend clarifying and don't scratch your scalp.
MissDixie
April 8th, 2013, 11:48 AM
In the past when I had this problem I mixed brown sugar with conditioner(made it easier to work with) then shampooed:)
meteor
April 8th, 2013, 01:51 PM
I second the brown sugar scrub idea. But I would mix brown sugar with one of your favorite oils (olive and coconut are good) instead of conditioner. Conditioners have lots of artificial ingredients usually, and it's hard to tell which one may irritate your scalp.
Unfortunately, brown sugar scrub can lead to a bit of a shed when you try it.
If the buildup isn't too bad, I think that even switch up your shampoo & conditioner from time to time should eventually help remove product buildup you've accumulated.
Ravenwind
April 8th, 2013, 01:52 PM
If you feel like scratching your scalp a lot, it matters how its done. With hands is bad since hands carry a lot of dirt and eowwww, germs. It's best to scritch the hair instead and lift and loosen any debris. For buildup on the hair we generally recommend clarifying the hair and starting over. Every other month, clarify to get rid of the grit on the scalp. Combine 3 T baking soda with 3 T shampoo choice; blend super well and apply all over the head. Scratch away. Although it's best to scritch before clarifying. It produces an extremely clean scalp. THEN condition the length only, and all should be well for a few days. Do not wash the hair with clarifying shampoo on an ongoing basis. More is not better. Clarifying is extremely drying to the hair and MUST be followed with conditioning the length only. THEN air dry; then oil the length only. From the top of the ears on down the length to the ends.
heidi w.
I don't really scratch my scalp, but it can get a little itchy, and when I do scratch I'll get this thick white gunk under my fingernails. I use a clarifying shampoo very rarely, just when my hair feels like it needs it (and probably my scalp too) but I will have to try your baking soda suggestion. :) Also what is scritching?
Have you tried something like this?
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/neutrogena-t/sal-therapeutic-shampoo-scalp-build-up-control/ID=prod352987-product
Walgreens has a generic version, too.
I have never seen that but it sounds awesome! Thanks :)
Any dietary changes? A diet high in processed and animal foods can cause scalp (and body) issues. Have you tried ACV rinses?
Nope. I've had the same kind of diet for years. I have never tried an ACV rinse but I think I should.
If you're using a clarifying shampoo every day, it's probably contributing to the dryness. Depending on your product selection, I'd suggest cutting down to using it weekly to monthly. Use a gentler, milder shampoo (think milder sulfates or sulfate-free, not baby shampoo) for the day-to-day cleansing.
Clarifying once might be useful for buildup. If you've just got scalp gunk, though, I'd suggest making a scrub instead. A favorite around here seems to be a few tablespoons of brown sugar (seems to work better than white sugar, I guess) mixed with just enough conditioner to make it spread a little. Apply to scalp and scrub gently, then rinse it out.
Telling us what texture the buildup is might be informative. Is this white flakes? greasy patches? Does it smell like anything?
Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough in my original post, but I don't use a clarifying shampoo everyday :) lol my hair would be horrible. I use it every once in a while when I feel like I need it. The brown sugar method sounds nice though too. The texture of the buildup is soft, and it gets under my nails when I scratch. I can feel bumps of buildup and try to get rid of them by scratching them off (this sounds worse than it really is). But it's thick and white, kinda greasy, but I haven't smelled it. xD
I'd recommend clarifying and don't scratch your scalp.
I do clarify and I don't scratch too much :)
In the past when I had this problem I mixed brown sugar with conditioner(made it easier to work with) then shampooed:)
I think I will try that! :)
meteor
April 8th, 2013, 01:52 PM
I second the brown sugar scrub idea. But I would mix brown sugar with one of your favorite oils (olive and coconut are good) instead of conditioner. Conditioners have lots of artificial ingredients usually, and it's hard to tell which one may irritate your scalp.
Unfortunately, brown sugar scrub can lead to a bit of a shed when you try it.
If the buildup isn't too bad, I think that even switch up your shampoo & conditioner from time to time should eventually help remove product buildup you've accumulated.
Ravenwind
April 8th, 2013, 01:53 PM
If you feel like scratching your scalp a lot, it matters how its done. With hands is bad since hands carry a lot of dirt and eowwww, germs. It's best to scritch the hair instead and lift and loosen any debris. For buildup on the hair we generally recommend clarifying the hair and starting over. Every other month, clarify to get rid of the grit on the scalp. Combine 3 T baking soda with 3 T shampoo choice; blend super well and apply all over the head. Scratch away. Although it's best to scritch before clarifying. It produces an extremely clean scalp. THEN condition the length only, and all should be well for a few days. Do not wash the hair with clarifying shampoo on an ongoing basis. More is not better. Clarifying is extremely drying to the hair and MUST be followed with conditioning the length only. THEN air dry; then oil the length only. From the top of the ears on down the length to the ends.
heidi w.
I don't really scratch my scalp, but it can get a little itchy, and when I do scratch I'll get this thick white gunk under my fingernails. I use a clarifying shampoo very rarely, just when my hair feels like it needs it (and probably my scalp too) but I will have to try your baking soda suggestion. :) Also what is scritching?
Have you tried something like this?
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/neutrogena-t/sal-therapeutic-shampoo-scalp-build-up-control/ID=prod352987-product
Walgreens has a generic version, too.
I have never seen that but it sounds awesome! Thanks :)
Any dietary changes? A diet high in processed and animal foods can cause scalp (and body) issues. Have you tried ACV rinses?
Nope. I've had the same kind of diet for years. I have never tried an ACV rinse but I think I should.
If you're using a clarifying shampoo every day, it's probably contributing to the dryness. Depending on your product selection, I'd suggest cutting down to using it weekly to monthly. Use a gentler, milder shampoo (think milder sulfates or sulfate-free, not baby shampoo) for the day-to-day cleansing.
Clarifying once might be useful for buildup. If you've just got scalp gunk, though, I'd suggest making a scrub instead. A favorite around here seems to be a few tablespoons of brown sugar (seems to work better than white sugar, I guess) mixed with just enough conditioner to make it spread a little. Apply to scalp and scrub gently, then rinse it out.
Telling us what texture the buildup is might be informative. Is this white flakes? greasy patches? Does it smell like anything?
Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough in my original post, but I don't use a clarifying shampoo everyday :) lol my hair would be horrible. I use it every once in a while when I feel like I need it. The brown sugar method sounds nice though too. The texture of the buildup is soft, and it gets under my nails when I scratch. I can feel bumps of buildup and try to get rid of them by scratching them off (this sounds worse than it really is). But it's thick and white, kinda greasy, but I haven't smelled it. xD
I'd recommend clarifying and don't scratch your scalp.
I do clarify and I don't scratch too much :)
In the past when I had this problem I mixed brown sugar with conditioner(made it easier to work with) then shampooed:)
I think I will try that! :)
Ravenwind
April 8th, 2013, 02:02 PM
I second the brown sugar scrub idea. But I would mix brown sugar with one of your favorite oils (olive and coconut are good) instead of conditioner. Conditioners have lots of artificial ingredients usually, and it's hard to tell which one may irritate your scalp.
Unfortunately, brown sugar scrub can lead to a bit of a shed when you try it.
If the buildup isn't too bad, I think that even switch up your shampoo & conditioner from time to time should eventually help remove product buildup you've accumulated.
I have recently switched shampoos, from a higher quality to a lower quality. The one I have now makes me hair feel really nice but I wonder if that's what's causing the buildup? But the dryness started occurring before I switched, and oiling doesn't really help. Since you're the 3rd person to suggest a brown sugar scrub I think I'll have to do that :)
pinchbeck
April 8th, 2013, 02:10 PM
For this buildup on my scalp during the colder months I used a sugar scrub, but recently found out that baking soda and sugar scrubs can cause micro tears in the scalp. After reading this I switched to using salicylic acid (or one can use two crushed aspirin) added to my shampoo to try to slough off the gunk on my scalp. I also find that using coconut oil on my hair and scalp is also helping. Maybe the oil is breaking down this oily white stuff? I don't know, but it is gross!
Ravenwind
April 8th, 2013, 08:49 PM
For this buildup on my scalp during the colder months I used a sugar scrub, but recently found out that baking soda and sugar scrubs can cause micro tears in the scalp. After reading this I switched to using salicylic acid (or one can use two crushed aspirin) added to my shampoo to try to slough off the gunk on my scalp. I also find that using coconut oil on my hair and scalp is also helping. Maybe the oil is breaking down this oily white stuff? I don't know, but it is gross!
Oh good to know about the baking soda and sugar scrubs. My scalp is pretty tough I think but I don't want micro tears. I have coconut oil and I haven't used it in a while, maybe it's time I start again! :) Thanks
And yeah it is gross, and I hate having an itchy scalp and see all these white flakes fall down :|
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