Oh how wrong I was.

[DBBramble]

January 3rd, 2010, 02:48 PM

Oh how wrong I was... I wrote that I wouldn't have to worry about losing my hair...well I was proved wrong. Very wrong.

My hair fell out March 2011. Now, 2 years later it's shoulder length, filled back in, and darker then my other pictures. (I'll post pictures in just a bit.)

So, in my rambling I would love to know. A safe way to lighten it. My ends are the bright blonde in my avatar. The rest a dark dark blonde...almost brown.
Also, any ideas on how to control dry scalp? (I'm not 100 percent sure it's dandruff because it doesn't itch or anything.)

[PrincessIdril]

Coconut oil is good for the scalp I find (my scalp psoriasis doesn't object anyway).
As for lightening, I know some people here use honey to bleach their hair. Not something I fancy trying myself so I'm currently experimenting with chamomile, which I think is bringing out the golden undertones in my hair gradually. (My hair is on the dark blonde spectrum)

[tigereye]

I found my dry, dandruff-y scalp was caused by an SLS sensitivity, which I only discovered after it turned into an allergy. Sulphates are pretty harsh anyway, so you might want to think about a more gentle hair-care routine if you are using sulphate a at the moment, though I don't know your routine.

As for helping a dry scalp, I just don't wash it often (once a week or less) but some people find they lose hair doing that, so maybe try a little coconut oil like PrincessIdril suggested.
Honey lightening could work if you don't mind the time it takes. I dont know many other gentle bleaching methods.

[jacqueline101]

If you don't want to do honey I've heard of lemon juice and water mixed in a spray bottle. You put it in and leave it in for so long and rinse out. You have to be in the sunlight for it to lighten.

[tigereye]

If you don't want to do honey I've heard of lemon juice and water mixed in a spray bottle. You put it in and leave it in for so long and rinse out. You have to be in the sunlight for it to lighten.

Oh yeah I heard of that too, and totally forgot. Might want to do a conditioning treatment after since I heard lemon was drying.

[ChristmasFnatic]

Coconut oil is good for the scalp I find (my scalp psoriasis doesn't object anyway).
As for lightening, I know some people here use honey to bleach their hair. Not something I fancy trying myself so I'm currently experimenting with chamomile, which I think is bringing out the golden undertones in my hair gradually. (My hair is on the dark blonde spectrum)


Pure coconut oil? How often do you put it and when do you wash it out?

[melusine963]

Pure coconut oil? How often do you put it and when do you wash it out?

Be careful here. Coconut oil works great for some people with a dry scalp, but for others oiling the scalp can cause a lot of shedding. I guess you won't really know which side you fall on until you try it though.

Personally, I discovered my own dry scalp was largely caused by using shampoos that were too harsh for me. Once I switched to sulphate-free products, my scalp calmed down completely.

I use coconut oil regularly, but as a hair treatment rather than scalp treatment. I take a fingernail scraping of pure coconut oil (the kind you would use for cooking with), melt it between my palms and distribute it through my hair from my chin down. I don't put it any higher, because my scalp produces enough oil that adding extra would just make my hair look greasy faster. Used on the length of my hair, the coconut oil acts as a leave-in detangler and moisturiser. It makes brushing my hair so much quicker, easier, and less damaging.

[Firefox7275]

January 3rd, 2010, 02:48 PM

Oh how wrong I was... I wrote that I wouldn't have to worry about losing my hair...well I was proved wrong. Very wrong.

My hair fell out March 2011. Now, 2 years later it's shoulder length, filled back in, and darker then my other pictures. (I'll post pictures in just a bit.)

So, in my rambling I would love to know. A safe way to lighten it. My ends are the bright blonde in my avatar. The rest a dark dark blonde...almost brown.
Also, any ideas on how to control dry scalp? (I'm not 100 percent sure it's dandruff because it doesn't itch or anything.)

Please get your scalp issue formally diagnosed, xerosis (simple dry scalp) is a different animal to 'dandruff' (often seborrhoeic dermatitis but can be other forms of dermatitis). What can treat one dermatological complaint can easily worsen another and most of them will put you at greater risk of shedding from any colour process.

I general review your diet, making it as anti inflammatory and nutrient dense as possible. Also ensure all your products respect the skin's protective acid mantle/ beneficial flora - cleanser sulphate and ideally anionic surfactant free, pH 4.5 to 5.5. Once you have a healthy scalp then consider an acid-based salon colour or honey lightening.

[ChristmasFnatic]

Be careful here. Coconut oil works great for some people with a dry scalp, but for others oiling the scalp can cause a lot of shedding. I guess you won't really know which side you fall on until you try it though.

Personally, I discovered my own dry scalp was largely caused by using shampoos that were too harsh for me. Once I switched to sulphate-free products, my scalp calmed down completely.

I use coconut oil regularly, but as a hair treatment rather than scalp treatment. I take a fingernail scraping of pure coconut oil (the kind you would use for cooking with), melt it between my palms and distribute it through my hair from my chin down. I don't put it any higher, because my scalp produces enough oil that adding extra would just make my hair look greasy faster. Used on the length of my hair, the coconut oil acts as a leave-in detangler and moisturiser. It makes brushing my hair so much quicker, easier, and less damaging.

OK thanks! And forgive my ignorance, how can you differentiate a dry scalp to dry hair? Or does the two come together?

[DBBramble]

Thank you for all the replies and suggestions. I was looking at the honey thread yesterday when I was finally able to log back in. I've got everything for it and it will give me an excuse to buy more honey (I don't really eat it. I keep it around on the off chance my sugar gets low and I need a quick boost. So it mostly goes into milk baths or facials.) As far as my scalp goes, I understand a dermatologist's opinion would be wise. But my scalp has always been "dry" even when I was younger. I say it's been dry due to back to back (I honestly think some of this was my mother's hypochondriac nature) lice treatments. Mama always used the cheap harsh stuff. I didn't learn til several years ago that it can be very very drying to the scalp. But that is neither here nor there really. Point is my scalp is dry.

I have done a hot coconut oil scalp treatment. My beloved was nice enough to do it for me. I left it in for about 2 days (I was lazy) but it seemed to do well. I didn't have any shedding or anything. At least nothing out of the ordinary, but he also didn't soak my scalp in it. (He's strange about oily/slimy things. We just used cotton balls to get it all over my scalp without doing overboard)

As far as my hair care routine goes:

Clean and Clear Total Care Shampoo 1-2 a week
" " Conditioner: 1 a week
Coconut oil as leave in: few times a week from base of skull down.
As scalp treatment (Starting out): Every 2 weeks

[Firefox7275]

Thank you for all the replies and suggestions. I was looking at the honey thread yesterday when I was finally able to log back in. I've got everything for it and it will give me an excuse to buy more honey (I don't really eat it. I keep it around on the off chance my sugar gets low and I need a quick boost. So it mostly goes into milk baths or facials.) As far as my scalp goes, I understand a dermatologist's opinion would be wise. But my scalp has always been "dry" even when I was younger. I say it's been dry due to back to back (I honestly think some of this was my mother's hypochondriac nature) lice treatments. Mama always used the cheap harsh stuff. I didn't learn til several years ago that it can be very very drying to the scalp. But that is neither here nor there really. Point is my scalp is dry.

I have done a hot coconut oil scalp treatment. My beloved was nice enough to do it for me. I left it in for about 2 days (I was lazy) but it seemed to do well. I didn't have any shedding or anything. At least nothing out of the ordinary, but he also didn't soak my scalp in it. (He's strange about oily/slimy things. We just used cotton balls to get it all over my scalp without doing overboard)

As far as my hair care routine goes:

Clean and Clear Total Care Shampoo 1-2 a week
" " Conditioner: 1 a week
Coconut oil as leave in: few times a week from base of skull down.
As scalp treatment (Starting out): Every 2 weeks

Even if the skin appears dry that doesn't mean you have xerosis which is relatively unusual, it could be atopic eczema or irritant contact dermatitis that is why you should have a formal diagnosis or at least reassess when you are using products that respect your skin's acid mantle and skin flora. What are the ingredients of the Clean & Clear, is that a shampoo for mild seborrhoeic dermatitis (greasy dandruff)? If so that can easily worsen xerosis and most forms of dermatitis. Sulphate surfactants alone thin and dehydrate the skin at concentrations as low as 1% even in those with healthy skin.

[Firefox7275]

Duplicate.

[DBBramble]

Here's the link to my album if you wish to take a look. The pictures are a little out of order but I've dated them all so you can get the timeline. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=10259

As far as what's in my shampoo: water,sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidoprpoyl bentaine along with a honest of other scientific names that probably shouldn't be there or at the very least be given in plain English. I don't use it very often or a lot but you do have a valid point. When I get the money I'll make an appointment to see what they say.

[Firefox7275]

Here's the link to my album if you wish to take a look. The pictures are a little out of order but I've dated them all so you can get the timeline. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=10259

As far as what's in my shampoo: water,sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidoprpoyl bentaine along with a honest of other scientific names that probably shouldn't be there or at the very least be given in plain English. I don't use it very often or a lot but you do have a valid point. When I get the money I'll make an appointment to see what they say.

Your family doctor can diagnose the most common scalp disorders, it doesn't need to be a dermatologist. Harsh sulphate surfactant emboldened, just bubbles of that running down my arm was the trigger for my elbow patch of atopic eczema (began to heal the week I switched to conditioner washing, now clear over two years). We can tell you which other ingredients might be a problem if you type them out/ can find a list and link to it - I don't know every ingredient but I know a decent number. Otherwise just switch to something much gentler, I like the look of either
http://www.komazahaircare.com/moja-shampoo.html
http://www.regenepure.com/complete-list-ingredients.html/

HTH!

[melusine963]

OK thanks! And forgive my ignorance, how can you differentiate a dry scalp to dry hair? Or does the two come together?

When my scalp is dry, it produces tiny little flakes. This looks and feels very different from psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis (which results in a scaly scalp), and the only thing I need to fix the problem is to stop using whatever it is that is drying my skin out. Hopefully someone else can wiegh in here with more details on telling the difference between various scalp problems.

On the other hand, dry hair (in my case) feels rough, tangly, and less supple than normal. It's difficult to explain, but the difference after doing a moisture treatment (in my case using coconut oil) is drastic. My hair becomes smoother and less tangly.

[Firefox7275]

When my scalp is dry, it produces tiny little flakes. This looks and feels very different from psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis (which results in a scaly scalp), and the only thing I need to fix the problem is to stop using whatever it is that is drying my skin out. Hopefully someone else can wiegh in here with more details on telling the difference between various scalp problems.


I wouldn't recommend laypeople try to self diagnose and we should not be encouraging others to, that is what the medical profession trains for, dermatology is a specialist field for a reason. Sometimes dermatitis is a symptom of an undiagnosed underlying health problem, not a standalone diagnosis. If we get the diagnosis wrong we can easily worsen the condition with the self treatment we select.

Even if you can tell the difference between dry and greasy flaky scalp, that doesn't tell you the difference between irritant contact dermatitis and atopic eczema, some family doctors don't get that right first time. Bear in mind it's far from uncommon for two conditions to co-exist. More severe SD and more severe psoriasis do present quite differently to other forms of dermatitis, but if they are mild they often do not.

Best thing to do whilst awaiting an appointment with a doctor is address the aspects of modern lifestyles that are known to cause or contribute to multiple dermatological disorders: imbalanced diet, excessive or harsh cleansing, ingredients known to damage the skin barrier. At the end of the day all the common scalp complaints except xerosis have an irritant/ inflammatory component so addressing both local and systemic inflammation has a reasonable chance of being beneficial and should not be detrimental.

[melusine963]

^^ Very good points. :)

[PrincessIdril]

Pure coconut oil? How often do you put it and when do you wash it out?

Yep. I don't often apply to to my scalp, as my psoriasis is pretty much stable. But if it's getting a bit itchy then I'll do it. When I do apply it it's the night before a wash, as I nearly always soak my length the night before washing anyway.

[lapushka]

Clean and Clear Total Care Shampoo 1-2 a week
" " Conditioner: 1 a week
Coconut oil as leave in: few times a week from base of skull down.
As scalp treatment (Starting out): Every 2 weeks

You wash 1 to 2 times a week, yet you only use conditioner once? If you have dry scalp, it's nice to use plenty of conditioner. *Plenty*! Use the conditioner on the scalp also, so not just from the ears down, but all over. I think you might benefit from conditioning more.