Dry Scalp help

[whimsicalfaerie]

I need some help with my scalp. I get very dry skin...it's not exactly like dandruff, I've had that before as well a number of years ago. On my face, I've had the best luck with using hydrating serums that use a lot of hyaluronic acid, and other water-attracting ingredients, not oils.

Does anyone have a suggestions that might work to keep my scalp hydrated? As I mentioned above, I'm very reluctant to use oils directly on the scalp, since they'd have to be applied immediately after a wash, and my hair is very non-porous and fine. Oils just sit on the cuticle and it looks greasy easily.

[Nymphe]

I need some help with my scalp. I get very dry skin...it's not exactly like dandruff, I've had that before as well a number of years ago. On my face, I've had the best luck with using hydrating serums that use a lot of hyaluronic acid, and other water-attracting ingredients, not oils.

Does anyone have a suggestions that might work to keep my scalp hydrated? As I mentioned above, I'm very reluctant to use oils directly on the scalp, since they'd have to be applied immediately after a wash, and my hair is very non-porous and fine. Oils just sit on the cuticle and it looks greasy easily.
I had that problem and it took me years to realize I cannot use coconut-derived fatty alcohols. I had to give up using conditioner. Hopefully, you do not have the same issue. There are scalp exfoliators out there. Have you try a shampoo/conditioner combo with hyaluronic acid, AHA, or BHA in it yet?

[Shorty89]

What washing method do you use? I use conditioner only and it helps keep my scalp from drying out. You could also try a deep oiling before washing and see if that helps. Spot scalp oil treatments help my scalp eczema.

[whimsicalfaerie]

I have not tried an AHA/BHA shampoo yet, although I did try my AHA face serum on my scalp once, with limited success. Is there any that you recommend?

I currently use Shea Moisture products...usually the raw shea line, but I throw in some of the jamaican castor oil shampoo occasionally if I want something more cleansing. I am completely cone-free because it was causing breakouts on my scalp.

Shorty89 I have tried pre-oiling treatments, and it does seem to help my scritch off any loose "flakes" (I hesitate to call them flakes because rather than being flat, very thin flake shapes, it's more like tiny, tiny grain shapes.) But after the wash, the next day when my hair is dry, the grainy dry feeling is back. And if at all possible, I'd like to find a post-wash treatment that doesn't include oil. Oil doesn't soak into my hair and the smallest amount makes it look greasy because it's so fine.

[Nymphe]

The Nioxin brand of products (https://www.nioxin.com/en-US) is the one I am most familiar with, although Aveda (http://www.aveda.com) is improving in this area with its Invati (http://www.aveda.com/product/5311/21056/hair-care/shampoo/invati-exfoliating-shampoo) line.

[whimsicalfaerie]

The Nioxin brand of products (https://www.nioxin.com/en-US) is the one I am most familiar with, although Aveda (http://www.aveda.com) is improving in this area with its Invati (http://www.aveda.com/product/5311/21056/hair-care/shampoo/invati-exfoliating-shampoo) line.

Thank you! I will look into it tonight.

[lapushka]

Are you sure it is in fact dry scalp and not something like seborrheic dermatitis? Only a doctor can make that call, so I'd try and make an appointment.

[XiaoBaiTu]

I have this problem. One thing that has made it a little better for me is to exfoliate my scalp, this allowed me to deal with my scalp more directly and not just whatever was laying on top of it, keeping it from getting the moisture it needed. Keep your scalp clean so anything you do add to moisturize it will actually encounter your skin, not a layer of caked-on junk and dead skin.

Also, definitely stay hydrated, especially if you have dry skin on the rest of your body. If you aren't drinking enough fluids, your body will prioritize liquids to things like your eyes, so your skin will become very dry.