Scalp care

[lapushka]

Just an FYI for folks in the US: it looks like H&S does not use piroctone olamine in the products here. :wail: I looked everywhere and could only find mention of it on the UK site.

I'm in Belgium and I see no piroctone olamine in mine either.

It works just as well, just leave it on the scalp for a couple minutes before rinsing clear.

[TheDebby]

I'm going to try and keep an eye on this topic!
I have some scalp issues myself, I'm not sure if it is just a dry scalp or maybe something more.

Lately I have some more problems and it might be a buildup.
Because of that I started using L'Oreal botanical lavender pre-shampoo oil and it seems to help.
So my plan is to use a good oil on my scalp let it sit for a bit to try and protect it from the sulphate shampoo.
(I have a big selection of oils to chose from, I think I'm going to use jojoba oil)

Edit: If it does not get better I will go and see my doctor about it.
I've been having this problem for over 15 years (probably way longer).
The last 4 year's I've been experimenting with sulphate free shampoo's.

I can't believe how well this worked!
My scalp burned so much some times, I was kind of afraid it would only get worse with using a sulfate.
But since a build up would be very likely I had to try it and see a doctor if it wouldn't help.

So I've washed it with the Neutral shampoo.
The first time I put in oil before but I din't was it out well enough.
A few days later I had to wash it again because it got so greasy.
I've washed it twice with the Neutral shampoo, I can't believe it but all the irritations seem to be gone!
And my hair feels even softer now so I'm happy!

It is a little harder to use hair sticks and forks because my hair is so clean now?
Anyway, I'm just glad I had to share.

[Begemot]

Awesome, TheDebby :thumbsup: I hope irritations will stay away for good.

[Six Seeds]

I'm in Belgium and I see no piroctone olamine in mine either.

It works just as well, just leave it on the scalp for a couple minutes before rinsing clear.

I'm AMAZED how good my scalp looks today after using H&S properly for the first time yesterday. :)

[Garnetgem]

I used a shampoo with mild action that contained pyrithione zinc and the results were instant...after years of trying all sorts.

[lapushka]

I'm AMAZED how good my scalp looks today after using H&S properly for the first time yesterday. :)

That's awesome! :)

[MusicalSpoons]

I know I've seen at least one version with no sulphates, however it seemed to be sold in one place, a trichology place in I think Essex and no price was listed but I doubt it will be cheap. I'll keep on the lookout for you and post the information here if I find one.

Thank you :) it was the sebum-decreasing effects that persuaded me to try Nizoral at all, in the hope it might at least counteract the greaseballing effect of the SLES - it didn't, at all. I persevered for a couple of months, at which time I was washing every other day, and it got rid of the weepy sore patches but then gave me what I now know are dehydration flakes :doh:


That's my unicorn, too!

So far, I'm thinking my Co-Op conditioner might be in the running for unicorn shampoo! :rollin:


I used it to scalp wash last night in the shower, scrubbed a bit with my nails to try to loosen some of the flakes, then put a bit of shampoo on top before rinsing out, and finished by doing a second conditioner wash. Today my hair is soft and fluffy and I have fewer flakes. It didn't get greasy any quicker from the last wash, so it will be interesting to see how it is tomorrow (usually oily by end of day 2 anyway but not too bad before that). It's just ... extra manipulation, extra effort ... ugh. I wanted my hair to be low-maintenance, damnit! Actually the hair is, it's just the scalp acting like a spoiled brat :lol:

[Six Seeds]

Here is what I'm dealing with right now. On Sunday afternoon, I washed my hair with Head and Shoulders (classic clean, just the shampoo) and Free & Clear conditioner (did not apply to scalp, just my ends as part of CWC). I've used Head and Shoulders for years but this is the first time I've ever let it sit on my scalp the way that you're supposed to, I think it was on there for less than 5 minutes. This worked really well for my flakes! But I think that the shampoo might have been drying, because later that evening I was already starting to feel a kind of pre-itch discomfort. The wash before this one, my scalp didn't start to itch until day 3.

My scalp was okay on Monday, but today it is REALLY itchy. So itchy I just had to scratch, where normally my scalp would not get so bad until a day or two after the sensation of itchiness had started. I have flakes now of course, but didn't have any before I started scratching/rubbing. What I'm trying to decide is what to do for my next wash. It seems clear to me that this is either dryness or irritation caused by the shampoo, but letting it sit on the scalp gave me such great results with my dandruff.

What do you think I should do next wash? Leave the shampoo on for less time? Try adding a bit of oil to the shampoo in my hand? Or should I go straight to trying a sulfate-free anti-dandruff shampoo? I have no idea if a sulfate sensitivity would only suddenly appear when leaving it on the skin for some time, but it was something that occured to me.

It is possible I used too much shampoo. We're nearing the end of the bottle and I accidentally got a big glop in my hand when I dispensed it.

Thanks for any help or suggestions you can provide, friends. :)

[MusicalSpoons]

Check to see if the H&S has silicones; that could be the culprit. If not, then maybe it is the sulphate. I can't remember what else is in H&S but it think it's more likely an ingredient causing the itch than the amount you used.

[Six Seeds]

Check to see if the H&S has silicones; that could be the culprit. If not, then maybe it is the sulphate. I can't remember what else is in H&S but it think it's more likely an ingredient causing the itch than the amount you used.

Oh yes, this particular type of H&S has dimethicone.

[Tinyponies]

MusicalSpoons, which Co op conditioner exactly are you talking about here? I had a browse yesterday but wasn’t sure as I’m not fully educated on ingredients yet. I’m thinking it would be good to replace my 1st C which is about to run out.

[MusicalSpoons]

Own-brand Tea tree and mint conditioner (boy do I hope they still do it! I'm not sure you can really see Co-Op's range online?), looks like this: https://www.dikes-direct.co.uk/supermarket/public/cache/co%20op%20tea%20tree%20and%20mint%20conditioner-txsv__width_900__height_900__zoomcrop_none__bgcolo ur_FFF.jpg

They also do an apple one and a red raspberry one; I hadn't noticed any real difference between them when using them as conditioner, and haven't tried those two on my scalp. My roots are oily though so I went with TT&M for 'shampooing' purposes to be on the safe side :shrug:

[Tinyponies]

Own-brand Tea tree and mint conditioner (boy do I hope they still do it! I'm not sure you can really see Co-Op's range online?), looks like this: https://www.dikes-direct.co.uk/supermarket/public/cache/co%20op%20tea%20tree%20and%20mint%20conditioner-txsv__width_900__height_900__zoomcrop_none__bgcolo ur_FFF.jpg

They also do an apple one and a red raspberry one; I hadn't noticed any real difference between them when using them as conditioner, and haven't tried those two on my scalp. My roots are oily though so I went with TT&M for 'shampooing' purposes to be on the safe side :shrug:

Thank you! Yep I saw these in the shop. Brill :)

[Six Seeds]

Yup, better get it checked by a doctor to see what's up :) Then she can receive the correct treatment.

I do think it's best to see a professional if you experience persistent problems with your scalp, but I thought to link this post of Science-y hair blog about products for troubled scalps and the active ingredients and their purpose in treating different problems. Maybe it can help someone here to understand and treat their scalp better http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/p/products-for-itchy-scalp.html

Thanks so much Begmot, this is exactly what I needed!

[Begemot]

Thanks so much Begmot, this is exactly what I needed!

It's nothing! :thumbsup:

[dancedance]

As I feared, the Jason Dandruff Treatment Shampoo has stopped working. I'm going to try Selsun Blue next.

[Ylva]

As I feared, the Jason Dandruff Treatment Shampoo has stopped working. I'm going to try Selsun Blue next.

Maybe you just need to clarify your hair and scalp properly?

[S&S]

Hi all,

I admittedly don’t do much for my scalp. I started scalp inverted scalp massaging this month (7days/mo).

I’ve alwaay has horribly dandruff - I’ll get out of the shower and start flaking. I finally tried to address this last year in June - I was prescribed Ketoconazole shampoo. I had amazing results after the very first wash! I wash my hair 1 a week and so by the time it came around for my second wash I had some life stressors. I washed again - I had terrible shedding in the shower ... it put me off but I figured it was something else - it wasn’t. I was a shedding mess after the shower and during the next few times I washed (I have pictures of how much hair was coming off - clumps!)

Sure enough I was rubbing I’m stressing now about my hair falling - bad cycle. I tried DHT blockers etc., was getting really paranoid thinking it was my IUD I had put in 4months back etc. Well, I stopped using Ketoconazole and my shedding horror ended! (End of July).

I’m too scared to try anything else for my scalp :/

[S&S]

Gosh, so many typos up there! I can’t edit my post :/

[gin]

Glad I found this thread! I'm also in the midst of experimenting with scalp treatments/products to see what helps. Has anyone tried the As I Am Dry/Itchy or Long/Luxe lines? I believe all those products have Piroctone Olamine in them which studies have shown to be good for scalp and hair growth. The Dry/Itchy line also has Zinc Pyrithione, similar benefits. Also, has anyone experimented with using hydrosols instead of oiling on the scalp (like tea tree hydrosol, etc)?

I believe my scalp is dry. I don't have huge issues, just some mild itchiness sometimes and sometimes a couple of scalp bumps/acne. It used to be worse with some dandruff before I switched to natural products without silicone or sulfates (I like Maple Holistics), but it would be nice to not have any of it! I was oiling my scalp with tea tree/peppermint in jojoba/castor oil, but I think I recently found out that my scalp doesn't like oils (more acne and more hair fall). I do think the tea tree helps (and maybe peppermint, jury still out on that one), since my shampoo/conditioner have it. I'm thinking of trying out tea tree hydrosol, theoretically it won't be as oily so hopefully I'll get the benefits without the oils! Now I just need to figure out how how to use up all this oil I have :)

I have the As I am Dry/itchy Cowash but haven't really used it yet (right now I'm trying to figure out if different shampoos affect my hair fall). I'm also using the Long/Luxe scalp treatment. I don't love the consistency nor smell of the scalp treatment, but I haven't used it long enough to know if it's making a difference or not.

[Six Seeds]

Hi Gin, I was just working on a reply to your intro thread, haha.

In your intro thread you mentioned exercise. What do you do to clean your scalp after working up a sweat? Apparently, not cleansing the scalp after a heavy sweat can cause acne so you might what to try scalp-only cleaning methods or just washing your hair more often.

I have dry scalp and one of the things I'm going to try is taking a fish oil supplement. I know that I don't get enough good fats in my daily diet, and this has been recommended to me by a hairdresser before. Flaxseed oil capsules would work, too; they really helped my partner when he had issues with dry eye.

I didn't know about the As I Am products for dry/itchy scalp, I'm going to add them to my list of products to look into if I don't like the shampoo that I'm trying next. (Just a cheap, moisturizing sulfate shampoo. I'm trying to determine if the dimethicone in Head and Shoulders is what's irritating my scalp.)

[EdG]

I wanted to post my observation that good scalp care requires good hair care.

Specifically, the scalp won't be healthy if it is covered by a rug of accumulated sebum, lint, and broken hairs. This seems obvious in hindsight, but it turns out that my scalp is completely problem-free now that it is no longer under a rug. ;)

Tangle-free hair still allows air to circulate down to the scalp. This is essential for a healthy scalp.
Ed

[gin]

Hi Gin, I was just working on a reply to your intro thread, haha.

In your intro thread you mentioned exercise. What do you do to clean your scalp after working up a sweat? Apparently, not cleansing the scalp after a heavy sweat can cause acne so you might what to try scalp-only cleaning methods or just washing your hair more often.

I have dry scalp and one of the things I'm going to try is taking a fish oil supplement. I know that I don't get enough good fats in my daily diet, and this has been recommended to me by a hairdresser before. Flaxseed oil capsules would work, too; they really helped my partner when he had issues with dry eye.

I've been taking fish oil supplements for a long time now (for climbing/joint health mainly), good to hear it can help with dry skin/scalp too!

I do workout and sweat a lot, however the sweat doesn't seem to have much effect as far as scalp acne/itchiness/etc goes, at least for me. I don't wash my hair after a sweaty session unless it's wash day (more out of laziness, haha). Recently, when I took a climbing trip out to the desert with really low humidity (below 10%), I came back with the worst scalp acne ever, so I'm thinking that dryness and not moisturizing my scalp might cause it to break out more. My scalp acne normally isn't that bad, I get a couple here and there every few weeks or so, though I still don't know exactly why they pop up. Lately I've been wondering if it has to do with the hair forks and other things I've been recently trying, and/or the glasses I wear on the days I'm not wearing contacts, because sometimes (most of the time?) the location of the acne is where those things are possibly coming in contact with my scalp. I haven't really tried paying attention to this though, so I will try to more now.

[S&S]

Just an update - in case anyone cared... I did an avocado oil scalp massage then rinsed in the shower with citric acid/distilled water, shampooed / conditioner like normal, and final rinse with distilled water and zero dandruff so far! - day 3!

[Six Seeds]

Just an update - in case anyone cared... I did an avocado oil scalp massage then rinsed in the shower with citric acid/distilled water, shampooed / conditioner like normal, and final rinse with distilled water and zero dandruff so far! - day 3!

That's great, S&S!

Today I used a scalp brush and Free & Clear shampoo and conditioner. The brush felt great (very gentle bristles) but the shampoo gave me the same kind of awful feeling that Head & Shoulders did. I also have a TON of flakes now in my drying hair, which I've read can be normal when you first start using a brush. Free & Clear is supposed to be for people with sensitive scalps, so at this point I'm wondering if I have an infection or the irritant is stuck on my scalp and activating again with water until it's all scrubbed off. It's weird, I can see down to the hair root on my scalp everywhere that I look, which I thought meant I didn't have buildup.

In any case, I have an appointment with my doctor in July and I'll talk to her about it. Should be able to clarify next week.

[S&S]

Oh no, Six Seeds!

I really hope the Dr can help explain things. <3

[The Lizard Wife]

What I've learned since starting my long-hair journey is that my scalp just absolutely hates being washed. It might be the hard water--I've never tried using soft water to see if that makes any kind of difference--but the longer I stretch my washes (I'm up to washing my hair once a month now, which was my goal) the happier my scalp is. My scalp has always been both very dry and flaky and itchy but also very oily (as a result of being overly dried out by sulfates and just washing in general, it would seem!). So when I cut out sulfates and gradually stretched washes...voila, no more itchy scalp, no more ever-present white flakes in my hair!

Well, except on wash day. That's a disaster of scritch, flip my head upside-down, and fluff all the snow out on the floor. But once a month is so much better than every day!

And as my scalp doesn't get any noticeable build-up, it's very feasible for me. I feel very lucky that the solution to my problems turned out to be "get even lazier." Though my scalp does still get oily, just a little slower and less intensely, so I've just made my peace with 3+ weeks of oiled hair in between washes...it's less noticeable if I never leave it down in public, right? And my hair's very resistant to being styled if it's not a little dirty anyway.

All that said, I have been debating the idea of tossing in a quick ACV rinse at the end of the shower just because, on the theory that it might do some unknown Good Thing against the hard water. Any thoughts about how useful that might be? My hair is already quite soft and not-sticky after washing, so it's not like there's a specific problem I'm trying to fix. Though I'm worried that might make my scalp itchier afterwards, since it's very sensitive to being dried out and I know my skin--which behaves the same way--gets a bit dried when I get mildly-diluted vinegar on it.

[Joules]

The Lizard Wife, have you ever tried an antifungal shampoo? (like with ketoconazole, pyroctone olamine, zink pyrithione, etc.). My Mom used to have a similar issue, although not as severe, for years and years. Head&Shoulders is now her absolute holy grail.

[The Lizard Wife]

Joules, I did try Head and Shoulders for a few years. I liked it well enough, and it did help reduce the flakes a little compared to other shampoos, but didn't actually get rid of them or stop the itchiness. As best as I can tell from googling, my flakiness has never been actual "dandruff," it's just dry scalp. Small, white, not-oily flakes, and no redness or crustiness to my scalp--the rest of my skin flakes likes that too, when it gets too dry. So that's probably why an antifungal shampoo never helped me!

[Green leaves]

The Lizard Wife, You just described my scalp issues. I've had dry flaky scalp for years until I went WO and stretched washes to weeks. Antifubgals never worked for me either. The only other thing that I think has helped is including more good fats and just a general improvement in diet. Love when doing less is the answer. Occasionally at change if season I get a little dryness or flakiness but nothing compared to how it used to be, and nothing that a head massage or good scritch doesn't fix.

[Green leaves]

I occasionally use a diluted acv rinse after a shampoo bar or just to help detangle. It's never dried my scalp out but I have soft water and not very sensitive skin...

[lapushka]

Joules, I did try Head and Shoulders for a few years. I liked it well enough, and it did help reduce the flakes a little compared to other shampoos, but didn't actually get rid of them or stop the itchiness. As best as I can tell from googling, my flakiness has never been actual "dandruff," it's just dry scalp. Small, white, not-oily flakes, and no redness or crustiness to my scalp--the rest of my skin flakes likes that too, when it gets too dry. So that's probably why an antifungal shampoo never helped me!

If it helped "a little" that normally means you're on the right track and that you need something stronger, like say Nizoral 2% (not 1%, but 2% there is a difference). I would have a chat with the doctor about possibly prescribing that to you. Do, however, use it like you're supposed to which means suds up, leave in for 5-10 min. (even with the H&S shampoo a couple min. is the normal thing to do) then suds up some more, wash, rinse clear.

[enting]

Sometimes it's confusing - I've also used head and shoulders or nizoral at various times in my life and none of them stopped itchiness for me, even if the H&S seems to help a *little*. Oiling my scalp before shampooing sometimes helps me, but I'm still on a journey to figure my scalp out. My dermatologist just wanted to toss more nizoral at me, and when that didn't work, coal tar shampoo. I wasn't ready to start using coal tar shampoo, so I'm back to trying to figure out on my own if I have a sensitivity, or dryness, or whatever else.

[The Lizard Wife]

Green Leaves, I'm glad you also found something that worked for you! Winter is always worse for my scalp, but winters now aren't as bad now as summers used to be before I changed my routine. And I've started using the "if you have straight hair, don't detangle until after your hair is entirely dry" theory and that's been working great for me, so I don't really need ACV to help with tangles. Maybe it's best if I just don't bother messing with a routine that's giving me pretty great results already.

Lapushka, that's good advice for anyone who's still struggling with flaky, itchy scalp. But in my specific case, since changing to less-harsh products (I'm not sure there is such a thing that my skin considers "not harsh"--the only product that claims to be good for sensitive skin that hasn't actually dried out my face is micellar water, and even then honestly my face would rather be oiled and exfoliated with a little rubbing instead) and stretching washes, for the first time in my life I've achieved a miraculous state of being basically flake- and itch-free aside from immediately after washing.

[MusicalSpoons]

My conditioner has run out and we don't live anywhere near a large Co-Op that might even possibly stock it, so I may have to try mixing one drop of tea tree or peppermint EO with a fair amount of one of the other Co-Op conditioners in the meantime.

I also had a look on Holland and Barrett for a couple of other things but noticed some Dr Organic stuff better than half price, and ordered a couple of shampoos to try - they have mild cleansers and aloe juice as the first ingredient which I believe is mildly acidic, so they *might* work. If not, I've not lost too much and it's the cheapest way I could have tried them.

The Lizard Wife I can so relate to this:

I'm not sure there is such a thing that my skin considers "not harsh"--the only product that claims to be good for sensitive skin that hasn't actually dried out my face is micellar water, and even then honestly my face would rather be oiled and exfoliated with a little rubbing instead

In the last couple of years however I have discovered my skin *does* like acidic things, especially miracle water; I wonder if pH might be a factor for you as well. The very best cleanse/tone/moisturise combination I've found so far for me was a salon brand available from Sally's (Skintruth, possibly UK only) which leaves my skin feeling like I've just used miracle water - but with actual cleansing and moisturising benefits too :lol:

[Six Seeds]

I have suffered with scalp problems. These things are what helped me the most:

1. Shampooing with a moisturizing shampoo with sulfates.
2. Not stretching washes (I wash every other day).
3. Using a Maxsoft scalp massager shampoo brush as I shampoo.

I was surprised how much adding the scalp brush helped. It solved a lot of problems that I originally thought I would have to address with chemicals. I’m not sure how it helps so much, but it does.

I realize that these three steps go against what many in the LHC do. However, my scalp has felt way better since doing these steps, and I wanted to share in case it can help anyone else. Scalp problems are no fun.

I used the Maxsoft brush during my last shampoo and my scalp has been so much less itchy this week. Thank you for sharing that, Little Lemon. I think I've had less hair fall over the course of the week, which I know is a concern that some people have because the brush seems to produce more in the shower.

[hoggle]

hey ladies, this might be useful information to a few of you. . I've posted on here about having an itchy scalp a few times and how I cannot go without washing my scalp. I also have a lot of shedding. Recently I ordered a test from Life extensions for DHT. My DHT was at 20 percent of the range five years ago and now it's at 82%, despite not having high androgen levels. I don't have acne, excess body hair, my skin is generally dry...except I get massive itching on my scalp. I'm positive it's from my DHT going up.

[rosey4exclaim]

Ooh, I'm really enjoying this thread, and I feel like I could spend hours reading through all of it.

My scalp reacts similarly to the skin on my face in that if I don't keep it moisturized, it overproduces oil and gives me problems. I'll get acne, itchiness, and that gunky dandruff that builds up under my fingernails when I scratch the itch. Recently, I've found that cowashing helps a lot, though I do "clarify" with a homemade shampoo with a castile soap base whenever I feel the need (about every 1-2 weeks). Sulfates don't really bother me, but they don't really help either. Since my fiance is at least mildly allergic to everything sulfa, I'd just as well keep them out of the house (he has used my shampoo without checking the label before and paid for it with a very irritated scalp).

[gin]

One thing that I've noticed is that when I take Biotin, I get way more scalp acne breakouts. I wasn't sure at first, so I stopped taking it, and my scalp was much better. Then I started taking it again and my scalp got worse again. Stopped again and it's better. :)

[Lions-mane]

I have an oily scalp and my facial skin is oily too. I have managed to keep my face in check my using a simple charcoal bar. I am still searching for the answer to my oily scalp. I have reduced washing to twice a week. This has helped some, I end up using a dry shampoo which leads to build up so I then have to use a clarifying shampoo which dries out my lengths when I rinse. Soooo I am looking into doing possible scalp oiling or moisturizing on weekends , will this help?

[Ylva]

I have an oily scalp and my facial skin is oily too. I have managed to keep my face in check my using a simple charcoal bar. I am still searching for the answer to my oily scalp. I have reduced washing to twice a week. This has helped some, I end up using a dry shampoo which leads to build up so I then have to use a clarifying shampoo which dries out my lengths when I rinse. Soooo I am looking into doing possible scalp oiling or moisturizing on weekends , will this help?

Oiling your scalp won't make it any less oily, quite the opposite.

[lapushka]

I have an oily scalp and my facial skin is oily too. I have managed to keep my face in check my using a simple charcoal bar. I am still searching for the answer to my oily scalp. I have reduced washing to twice a week. This has helped some, I end up using a dry shampoo which leads to build up so I then have to use a clarifying shampoo which dries out my lengths when I rinse. Soooo I am looking into doing possible scalp oiling or moisturizing on weekends , will this help?

Do you use a sulfate shampoo or a sulfate-free one.

It depends on the scalp, some oilier heads to better with sulfates, others with sulfate-free or sulfate-mild.

Adding oil is not going to help, I don't think.

My scalp has somewhat normalized in the sense that I now can weekly wash (Friday is the start of "oily" for me, I wash Sundays). But I do need sulfates and can't use oil on the scalp due to SD (seborrheic dermatitis). Nothing moisturizing or what "feeds" that fungal overgrowth is going on my scalp. It needs to be shampoo-only. Strictly! I can't even let conditioner or a mask touch my scalp.

[AuntyMiki]

It sounds like I'm in the same boat as you, Lapushka. I was washing only once a week for a couple of years, but now I think I need to increase it to three times a week. I've had what sounds just like SD since I was a teen in the '80s.

[lapushka]

It sounds like I'm in the same boat as you, Lapushka. I was washing only once a week for a couple of years, but now I think I need to increase it to three times a week. I've had what sounds just like SD since I was a teen in the '80s.

You do what you have to, right? I can do once a week because due to health reasons I could for a long time only wash my hair once every 2 weeks. Then suddenly after that rough patch, I could wash my hair once a week instead of 2/3 times a week. But I had a big red scaly patch on the back of my head after those weeks of not washing. And the washing every 2 weeks lasted for about half a year.

[Six Seeds]

One thing that I've noticed is that when I take Biotin, I get way more scalp acne breakouts. I wasn't sure at first, so I stopped taking it, and my scalp was much better. Then I started taking it again and my scalp got worse again. Stopped again and it's better. :)

Hey gin, I'm glad that you figured out part of your scalp acne problem. I hadn't heard of biotin being a problem, so that's really helpful info to have :)

[Six Seeds]

I have an oily scalp and my facial skin is oily too. I have managed to keep my face in check my using a simple charcoal bar. I am still searching for the answer to my oily scalp. I have reduced washing to twice a week. This has helped some, I end up using a dry shampoo which leads to build up so I then have to use a clarifying shampoo which dries out my lengths when I rinse. Soooo I am looking into doing possible scalp oiling or moisturizing on weekends , will this help?

Have you considered a charcoal shampoo or scalp treatment? You can protect the lengths of your hair from your shampoo by doing a pre-poo oiling or the CWC technique; in either case, only apply the protective product from earlobes down.

[Six Seeds]

How are your scalps doing, friends?

I'm nearing the end of my third week using a shampoo brush. I've had so much less itching and sensitivity, but this week my flakes appeared right away. I suspect I'll have to add some kind of dandruff treatment back in. I wasn't able to talk to my doctor about my scalp, there just wasn't time during the appointment (don't you hate that?!). Thankfully the pain I was experiencing during washing has gone away, so the problem doesn't feel as urgent anymore.

There's a line of scalp centric hair products by Kristin Ess at Target. Have any of you heard of this or tried it? The micellar shampoo looks interesting.

[Begemot]

I did some scalp massaging and gentle scritching today and could feel some gunk. Very small amount but I'm using anti-fungal cream or scalp lotion in a sec. Overall my scalp has seemed fine. Maybe a little sensitive now that I think about it... hmm.
I would love to try a micellar shampoo! We don't have Target here but I'm looking other brands with micellar shampoos once my current shampoos are used :) Give us a review if you try the Target one, Six Seeds! Hopefully you will be able to book another appointment just for the scalp stuff :blossom:

[Bess3714]

I've been using a shampoo brush for about two weeks, and I love it. I feel like my scalp is getting so much cleaner than it was before. I have dandruff, and I usually wash my scalp every four to five days. It used to be that my scalp would start to get itchy by the fourth day, but since I've been using the shampoo brush, it still feels good by day five. I might start experimenting soon to see how long I can go without shampooing.

[Silica]

I've been using a shampoo brush for about two weeks, and I love it. I feel like my scalp is getting so much cleaner than it was before. I have dandruff, and I usually wash my scalp every four to five days. It used to be that my scalp would start to get itchy by the fourth day, but since I've been using the shampoo brush, it still feels good by day five. I might start experimenting soon to see how long I can go without shampooing.

I've been experimenting with this too - until recently I was washing everyday, because I was using a lot of wax-based styling products for my short pixie. My hairdresser recommended washing much less as I grow it out to make it easier to handle (less fluffy and flyway). So, now - about 3 months later - I am washing only once a week. I credit my shampoo brush as a large part of being able to achieve this. I give my hair a good rinse and massage with the shampoo brush at least every couple of days and it helps my scalp stay happy between shampoo washes. Feels fabulous too!

[gin]

Guys, I'm so confused about my scalp! I've been trying out different things (and there's still a lot I haven't tried) and I really have no idea what is good and bad for my scalp anymore. I think what's confusing me the most is really not knowing "normal/non-problematic" scalp is supposed to feel like for me. I don't think my scalp issue (if there's even an issue??) is all that bad. It is mildy itchy usually, but not to the point where I have to scratch it (but enough that it can get annoying). I get a a bump or two from scalp acne, sometimes. These two things seem to be consistent no matter what I do, so maybe this is normal for me? It would be nice to never itch or to never get any scalp acne, though.

Right now my main theory is this: Before a few months ago, my hair was always down, and only in a loose low ponytail for workouts. Always down, basically my entire life, so like 38 years. The past few months I started really caring for my hair and I've been putting it up a lot, and nowadays it's up most of the time. Maybe my scalp just isn't used to being put up yet? I feel like I notice/feel the itchiness MORE when my hair is up vs. down. Putting my hair down still feels way more natural/comfortable for me than up. I still leave it up though, because really, the itchiness isn't really that bad.

Is this normal? Did anyone else experience something similar, and did it eventually go away? Will the scalp eventually get used to being put up more?

[S&S]

Hmmm, gin maybe the sweat from the workouts has nowhere to "escape" and causing the clog/acne and itchiness? Try letting down your hair and air drying your scalp after workouts (if you don't wash after).

I've never had an itchy scalp... I only started wearing my hair up past 2 months - It does get itchy in the area that the clip is or if it is getting tugged/pulled in a certain area though. Although, I have always had dandruff and a dry scalp and lightly massaging avocado oil on my scalp before wash days has totally cured that for me!

[gin]

Hmmm, gin maybe the sweat from the workouts has nowhere to "escape" and causing the clog/acne and itchiness? Try letting down your hair and air drying your scalp after workouts (if you don't wash after).

I've never had an itchy scalp... I only started wearing my hair up past 2 months - It does get itchy in the area that the clip is or if it is getting tugged/pulled in a certain area though. Although, I have always had dandruff and a dry scalp and lightly massaging avocado oil on my scalp before wash days has totally cured that for me!

I definitely get itchiness/discomfort/sensitivity where hairtoys are near my scalp or if it's slightly tight or pulling. I try to keep my updos as loose as possible without it falling apart, which is tough for exercise so I usually re-do my hair just for exercise and then re-do it again right after. I do think my follicles maybe only likes hair that is hanging downwards, haha. These days I've been putting my hair up in a loose bun on top of my head to minimize gravity pulling the weight of my hair, but then the follicles are getting somewhat pulled upwards so maybe it's a wash as far as how much it affects my scalp. :)

I have been wary of oiling my scalp since I think oils make things worse. But it's been awhile and I have more knowledge now, so maybe I'll try again. How much oil do you use and how do you apply it? Do you apply it to the back of your head too?

[S&S]

I do think my follicles maybe only likes hair that is hanging downwards, haha.

I have been wary of oiling my scalp since I think oils make things worse. But it's been awhile and I have more knowledge now, so maybe I'll try again. How much oil do you use and how do you apply it? Do you apply it to the back of your head too?

Haha... what about just doing a low braid, keep the follicles down?

I don't use too much, maybe 2 teaspoons and I just dip fingertips and gently massage my scalp standing up and then I flip my hair over and do the bottom of scalp - I try to get it all over my scalp.

I've also started putting it on my ends. I just cant over-saturate it on my ends because I only shampoo scalp so looks bit oily if I use too much (not that it matters when my hair is in a bun though).

[bokeh]

Gin, we have coarse, thick hair in common. If you also have a scalp that produces very little sebum then we have that in common also. I'll tell you my experience in case it is helpful to you. Before I started caring for my hair I had a very mild itchiness also. I never gave it any thought since it didn't seem to be causing any problems. Then I decided to grow my hair and I started the Curly Girl Method. I was using lots of product including gels and trying to stretch out my washes. My scalp became very pink at the part line and itchy. I thought it might be from new hairstyles and the follicles being pulled into new directions but I quickly discovered that by simply washing with shampoo my scalp would be fine. Now I pay attention to my scalp. I sometimes clarify or use sulfate free shampoo or 'conditioner only' or even 'water only' depending on what my scalp is feeling like. It's worked out that clarifying is probably done about every two weeks and SFS is done about every three or four days. Between times I either don't wash at all or CO or WO. As soon as (or better yet before) I feel itchiness on my scalp I do some sort of wash! Now I don't have an itchy scalp and as a bonus I have noticeably less hair shed in the shower. Oh, and just to be safe whenever I use gel (rarely these days) I'm careful to keep it off my scalp.

[gin]

Haha... what about just doing a low braid, keep the follicles down?

I thought this too, but my hair is so slippery and its coarseness make a lot of the braid unravel. And the ends that stick out (everywhere) make my neck itchy! So I guess it's uncomfortable scalp or uncomfortable neck. :) I do wear a low braid every now and then (wore it yesterday actually) to give my scalp a break from the updos.

I'm in the middle of a hair shedding experiment so I'm leaving my hair up almost always and only taking it down to count shed hairs after combing. I think I have less than a week left of this experiment and will definitely go back to leaving it loose/down more! Then maybe I'll also revisit oiling the scalp...

[gin]

Gin, we have coarse, thick hair in common. If you also have a scalp that produces very little sebum then we have that in common also. I'll tell you my experience in case it is helpful to you. Before I started caring for my hair I had a very mild itchiness also. I never gave it any thought since it didn't seem to be causing any problems. Then I decided to grow my hair and I started the Curly Girl Method. I was using lots of product including gels and trying to stretch out my washes. My scalp became very pink at the part line and itchy. I thought it might be from new hairstyles and the follicles being pulled into new directions but I quickly discovered that by simply washing with shampoo my scalp would be fine. Now I pay attention to my scalp. I sometimes clarify or use sulfate free shampoo or 'conditioner only' or even 'water only' depending on what my scalp is feeling like. It's worked out that clarifying is probably done about every two weeks and SFS is done about every three or four days. Between times I either don't wash at all or CO or WO. As soon as (or better yet before) I feel itchiness on my scalp I do some sort of wash! Now I don't have an itchy scalp and as a bonus I have noticeably less hair shed in the shower. Oh, and just to be safe whenever I use gel (rarely these days) I'm careful to keep it off my scalp.

Wow, it does sound like we have similar scalps and hair! I wash my hair every 3 or 4 days as well. I don't do WO or CO though, I tried WO a couple of times and I didn't like how my hair (or scalp) felt, and tried CO twice and stopped because I thought it might have increased shedding (still need to experiment more though to verify). I mainly use a sulfate-free shampoo though yesterday tried out Nizoral.

My issue is though, my scalp can feel itchy even right after washing it. Like within 30 minutes sometimes. It's like as soon as the scalp dries, it starts to itch. I mean, it's a very mild itch that I can mostly ignore, but it's there nonetheless. Today my scalp is feeling itchy and I washed my hair yesterday. So I can't do the wash as soon as I feel it itching thing. I use a shampoo brush and massage the shampoo in and leave the shampoo on for 3-5min, so I don't think it's because I'm not thoroughly shampooing or the shampoo isn't getting to the scalp.

[bokeh]

My issue is though, my scalp can feel itchy even right after washing it.
That sounds very different. I was hoping for an easy fix for you but at least it is a very mild itch. I hope you get it figured out. I will be paying watching for the results of your experiments on shedding.

[bokeh]

Wow, it does sound like we have similar scalps and hair! Lol, our hair is actually very different. Mine is not shiny and smooth like yours. I love your hair and I'm resisting the urge to say that I wish my hair was like that but I have a new-found love of my hair so I will resist!

[gin]

That sounds very different. I was hoping for an easy fix for you but at least it is a very mild itch. I hope you get it figured out. I will be paying watching for the results of your experiments on shedding.

Yes, at least it's not that bad, I can live with it for sure. :) I decided to do this hair shedding experiment mainly because I shed a lot, and have no idea what is normal for me. I figured I can't figure out what makes me shed less without knowing what I normally shed. :) So right now I'm just trying to count my shed hairs everyday through 3-4 washes. I can probably start a new separate thread on that itself. :)

After the hair shedding experiment I actually might try lightly conditioning my scalp, because I did do that before and don't remember it causing any issues. It might be that my scalp is that dry.

[gin]

Lol, our hair is actually very different. Mine is not shiny and smooth like yours. I love your hair and I'm resisting the urge to say that I wish my hair was like that but I have a new-found love of my hair so I will resist!

Aw, thanks! I actually don't like how slippery my hair is, it makes it very unruly when it comes to putting my hair up. Even a simple braid can be a huge pain and on a bad day it'll take me 30 minutes and multiple tries to get it up in a bun that will stay up! I think we always like what we don't have, haha.

[gin]

OK, so after two washes with Nizoral, the first sulfate-containining and non-natural shampoo I've used in over six months, I think I can say that my scalp doesn't like it. I wanted to try Nizoral for my mild itching and my scalp in general since a lot of people have had positive results. After the first wash my scalp started itching (quite mildly though still enough to notice) literally right after I washed my hair. Maybe 30min after I let my hair down to air dry after it was in a microfiber towel turban. That's what I was referring to in my earlier post, haha. And the itchiness stayed pretty persistent for a day or two. It wasn't until 3 days later that it went away as a persistent itch. Well, I washed with Nizoral again today (because I'm scientifically-minded, I can't just go off one data point!), and it's the same thing right now! And in fact, one very small scalp pimple also popped up too.

So I probably won't use the Nizoral again. My previous shampoos didn't do this to me. I did still get mild itchiness with those, just not right after I washed and not in such a persistent manner.

This makes me think that maybe one part of my mild itchiness is due to dryness? I think there's another component too, which I still haven't figured out yet of course.

[MusicalSpoons]

Honestly, I found the only cure for my itchy and flaky scalp was conditioner - a particular conditioner, light enough not to weigh my oily roots down, and unfortunately may have been discontinued :wail: but my problem was dehydrated skin rather than not producing enough oil to keep my skin moisturised (I've produced more than enough oil since about the age of 12 ... :rolleyes:) I may have found a shampoo that actually agrees with my scalp, but I need to give it a few more weeks with our very hard water to be sure. Other than that there is one my scalp tolerates, in that the flaking and itching are relatively minimal, but this current shampoo is the first to be quite so promising.

If your scalp doesn't produce a lot of sebum then you're probably better off using moisturising products with mild surfactants, or even trying co-washing if you haven't already? Usually ones for oily hair / volumising are the lightest, useful for not overloading scalp/roots.

(I can't remember what you've already mentioned in this thread having tried, sorry.)

[gin]

Honestly, I found the only cure for my itchy and flaky scalp was conditioner - a particular conditioner, light enough not to weigh my oily roots down, and unfortunately may have been discontinued :wail: but my problem was dehydrated skin rather than not producing enough oil to keep my skin moisturised (I've produced more than enough oil since about the age of 12 ... :rolleyes:) I may have found a shampoo that actually agrees with my scalp, but I need to give it a few more weeks with our very hard water to be sure. Other than that there is one my scalp tolerates, in that the flaking and itching are relatively minimal, but this current shampoo is the first to be quite so promising.

If your scalp doesn't produce a lot of sebum then you're probably better off using moisturising products with mild surfactants, or even trying co-washing if you haven't already? Usually ones for oily hair / volumising are the lightest, useful for not overloading scalp/roots.

(I can't remember what you've already mentioned in this thread having tried, sorry.)

I'm definitely going to try lightly conditioning my scalp at my next wash. I think I used to do that before I started caring about my hair and my routine, but with coney conditioner and I was so haphazard back then I used a ton and I don't think I did a good job of rinsing it all out. :) So I remember getting some periodic scalp acne back then (worse then than now), but I'm pretty sure it was due to product build-up and the cones and conditioner being left on my scalp.

What shampoos do you like? I suspect dehydrated scalp could be my scalp... Though I don't think my scalp produces a ton of sebum either? I don't really notice much sebum on my scalp until third or fourth day hair, and it doesn't really feel oily until after that. Although if I have super sweaty workouts it'll get oiler faster.

I'm not sure if my scalp is dry or normal. Most everything I read focuses on oily scalps, and I'm pretty sure mine isn't oily, unless I don't wash for awhile. :)

[MusicalSpoons]

Shampoos are unfortunately pretty UK/Europe-specific - Natura Siberica Neutral shampoo is the tolerable one, and the most promising one so far is Dr Organic Aloe Vera. The NS is pearly coloured, the AV clear which I find does make a bit of a difference in oiliness at the roots, though I still look somewhat oily by day 2 (blonde + fine-ish hair + sebum NOT a good combination). I don't wash until day 4 or 5, sometimes up to day 6 though, unless I have to look presentable for going anywhere in which case it would have to be a scalp wash by day 2.

The ingredients of the shampoos might give you some kind of reference point though.

Natura Siberica Neutral shampoo:
Aqua, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Pineamidopropyl BetainePS, Hippophae Rhamnoidesamidopropyl BetaineHR, Guar Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Chloride, Bidens Tripartita Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract*, Glycerin, Hesperis Sibirica ExtractWH, Cortusa Sibirica ExtractWH, Sorbus Sibirica ExtractWH, Aquilegia Sibirica ExtractWH, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract*, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract*, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil*, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Limonene**, Linalool**.
(*) Issued from organic agriculture
(WH) Wild harvested Siberian plants
(**) Natural components of essential oils

Dr Organic Aloe Vera shampoo:
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Aqua, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Palmitamidopropyltrimonium chloride, Coco glucoside, Glyceryl oleate, Sorbitan sesquicaprylate, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool.

I do know my scalp and skin seem to prefer more acidic things; for a while FemFresh (supposed to have pH of 5.5) worked despite having SLES, but not for more than a couple of months. The AV shampoo I decided to try because of having aloe at the beginning of ingredients, so I thought it may be slightly more acidic.

[gin]

Thanks for the info, it’s definitely helpful.

On a further note, I’m definitely done with Nizoral. Two more scalp acne bumps have shown up in the past few hrs. I’ve never reacted like this to a hair product! I mean I’ve had worst scalp acne before but that was when I hadn’t washed my hair in over a week and was climbing in the desert in super hot weather and sweating all the time. I just washed my hair today and I have more scalp acne (3 bumps) on my head than I’ve had in a long while!

Other than possibly conditioning my scalp, I want to also try scalp only washes. The concept is great, it would
be nice to keep my scalp clean without having to fully wash. Would save lots of time and hopefully also protect my growing ends :)

[Six Seeds]

Itchiness and other scalp discomfort arises eventually when you stretch washes, from what I understand, but it definitely shouldn't happen the day that you wash! I'm using a moisturizing shampoo right now that has helped quite a bit with my itchiness and scalp discomfort. It's Tresemme Botanique (Nourish or something like that), but it's a sulfate shampoo. I'm sure there's companies that make something similar without sulfates.

[gin]

Itchiness and other scalp discomfort arises eventually when you stretch washes, from what I understand, but it definitely shouldn't happen the day that you wash! I'm using a moisturizing shampoo right now that has helped quite a bit with my itchiness and scalp discomfort. It's Tresemme Botanique (Nourish or something like that), but it's a sulfate shampoo. I'm sure there's companies that make something similar without sulfates.

Thanks for the info! I'll look into moisturizing shampoos. Before Nizoral there were two natural shampoos that I was using, one was clear in consistency and the other was creamy. I don't know if I paid attention enough back then to know if one was better than the other as far as the mild itchiness / acne was concerned. I'll try to pay better attention from now on.

Yeah, was definitely shocked that my scalp was itching right after washing it, I don't think I experienced that before.

[lapushka]

Thanks for the info, it’s definitely helpful.

On a further note, I’m definitely done with Nizoral. Two more scalp acne bumps have shown up in the past few hrs. I’ve never reacted like this to a hair product! I mean I’ve had worst scalp acne before but that was when I hadn’t washed my hair in over a week and was climbing in the desert in super hot weather and sweating all the time. I just washed my hair today and I have more scalp acne (3 bumps) on my head than I’ve had in a long while!

Other than possibly conditioning my scalp, I want to also try scalp only washes. The concept is great, it would
be nice to keep my scalp clean without having to fully wash. Would save lots of time and hopefully also protect my growing ends :)

About the Nizoral. Are you sudsing it up, then leaving it on for 10 min. then sudsing the same suds some more (washing) and then rinsing?

If you just wash with it it's not going to do a thing.

[AuntyMiki]

I have an awful scalp problem, unless I use dandruff shampoo and wash minimum twice a week. Flakes and scabs are awful.

[gin]

About the Nizoral. Are you sudsing it up, then leaving it on for 10 min. then sudsing the same suds some more (washing) and then rinsing?

If you just wash with it it's not going to do a thing.

Yep, I did these things, because I read in multiple places on this forum to do that. :) They were probably your posts!

[lapushka]

Yep, I did these things, because I read in multiple places on this forum to do that. :) They were probably your posts!

Ah OK. That's fine then, just checking to be sure, because you have no idea... my dad used to just wash with it and then wonder why it didn't do a thing.

Then it's probably not the solution for you. :flower:

[gin]

OK, my scalp has finally calmed down now from the Nizoral. It's actually quite happy at this moment. Wanted to mention something that I think might be helping.

Before my last wash yesterday I exfoliated my scalp. Nothing too fancy, I got a cheap teasing brush and did something similar to what this person does for Step 1 in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoYm3fXy9YI

Basically I part my hair in sections and gently rub my scalp with the brush to loosen up dead skin. You can see the skin just come right up, it was pretty disturbing the first time I did it, haha. I don't rub as vigorously as the girl in the video, just enough that my scalp gets rubbed to loosen the skin. After this I just shampoo and condition as usual. A lot of YT videos mention using a scalp scrub (the video above does a scalp scrub for Step 2), so that could also be done, though I haven't tried mainly because I don't think my scalp likes oils.

Side note: The video above calls it "product buildup" but IMO it's really just dead skin. I don't use any products on my scalp except for shampoo, which gets washed out.

I'd done this a couple times before, but out of laziness/forgetfulness I hadn't done it in a few weeks and I don't do them regularly. Since my scalp is feeling great right now, I'm thinking the exfoliation helped? It would make sense if the dead skin cells were clogging up pores maybe? I don't think I'm going to do this every wash, but maybe once a week. We'll see how it goes!

[Begemot]

My scalp has been doing well this past summer. Washing twice a week and using scalp lotion somewhat regularly has kept it calm. No dry flakes or greasy dandruff. Hopefully colder weather won't upset my scalp!

[Ophidian]

OK, my scalp has finally calmed down now from the Nizoral. It's actually quite happy at this moment. Wanted to mention something that I think might be helping.

Before my last wash yesterday I exfoliated my scalp. Nothing too fancy, I got a cheap teasing brush and did something similar to what this person does for Step 1 in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoYm3fXy9YI

Basically I part my hair in sections and gently rub my scalp with the brush to loosen up dead skin. You can see the skin just come right up, it was pretty disturbing the first time I did it, haha. I don't rub as vigorously as the girl in the video, just enough that my scalp gets rubbed to loosen the skin. After this I just shampoo and condition as usual. A lot of YT videos mention using a scalp scrub (the video above does a scalp scrub for Step 2), so that could also be done, though I haven't tried mainly because I don't think my scalp likes oils.

Side note: The video above calls it "product buildup" but IMO it's really just dead skin. I don't use any products on my scalp except for shampoo, which gets washed out.

I'd done this a couple times before, but out of laziness/forgetfulness I hadn't done it in a few weeks and I don't do them regularly. Since my scalp is feeling great right now, I'm thinking the exfoliation helped? It would make sense if the dead skin cells were clogging up pores maybe? I don't think I'm going to do this every wash, but maybe once a week. We'll see how it goes!

My scalp needs regular exfoliation too. If the brush is working for you, great! I was doing scrubs for a while but realized that I wasn’t crazy about the amount of hair that was shedding afterwards (even though most of it was probably close to falling out anyway). Now I use a shampoo once a week that contains 2% salicylic acid, which is a chemical (as opposed to mechanical) exfoliant. Just wanted to share that option too.

[lapushka]

My scalp has been doing well this past summer. Washing twice a week and using scalp lotion somewhat regularly has kept it calm. No dry flakes or greasy dandruff. Hopefully colder weather won't upset my scalp!

That's awesome to hear! I'd keep the regimen going. :thumbsup:

[enting]

I've been trying to leave Head and Shoulders on my scalp a little longer. I don't know how long I'm actually leaving it on, but I apply it first thing in the shower and I wash it out just before conditioning/final rinsing and I do everything else in between. I've also discovered that my scalp really likes it when I apply a generous amount of Hello Hydration to my curlier hairline hairs and a bit on the scalp in those areas as well. My prior experience with conditioner on the scalp led me to believe it would cause itchiness and shedding, but instead HH appeases my scalp. Odd. But I'm not going to argue with it!

[lapushka]

I've been trying to leave Head and Shoulders on my scalp a little longer. I don't know how long I'm actually leaving it on, but I apply it first thing in the shower and I wash it out just before conditioning/final rinsing and I do everything else in between. I've also discovered that my scalp really likes it when I apply a generous amount of Hello Hydration to my curlier hairline hairs and a bit on the scalp in those areas as well. My prior experience with conditioner on the scalp led me to believe it would cause itchiness and shedding, but instead HH appeases my scalp. Odd. But I'm not going to argue with it!

That's so cool. I leave H&S on my scalp for about 2 minutes and that's all it takes for me when I have a few tiny flakes on my temples (start of the whole ordeal). If I can nip it in the bud with that, I'm cool with it!

Hello Hydration is a discontinued product where I live (Belgium). I have back-stock though. Recently discovered a new HG that blows the HE HH out the water and it's the L'Oréal extraordinary oil (so soft and sooo much slip).

[enting]

That's so cool. I leave H&S on my scalp for about 2 minutes and that's all it takes for me when I have a few tiny flakes on my temples (start of the whole ordeal). If I can nip it in the bud with that, I'm cool with it!

Hello Hydration is a discontinued product where I live (Belgium). I have back-stock though. Recently discovered a new HG that blows the HE HH out the water and it's the L'Oréal extraordinary oil (so soft and sooo much slip).

I plan on trying out the L'Oreal one you like, because if your hair liked HH and my hair likes HH, I figure I may as well try it. HH is discontinued where I live also. I bought a couple of bottles last time I was in the USA and am rationing them. If need be I can do that again sometime, if the L'Oreal is either too hard to find or not as good for my hair. I'm so glad it's your new HG and is still available where you are!

[ExpectoPatronum]

I use shampoo bars and I recently switched my acid rinse around and noticed a huge improvement in my scalp. I was using ACV and still battling a flakey scalp. I switched to lime juice and immediately about 98% of my flakes were gone. I'm quite impressed with how well it worked. I guess my scalp really likes the acidity of lime juice!

[lapushka]

I plan on trying out the L'Oreal one you like, because if your hair liked HH and my hair likes HH, I figure I may as well try it. HH is discontinued where I live also. I bought a couple of bottles last time I was in the USA and am rationing them. If need be I can do that again sometime, if the L'Oreal is either too hard to find or not as good for my hair. I'm so glad it's your new HG and is still available where you are!

Thank you. I hope you can easily find it, and I do hope you like it. It gives so much slip and softness without getting your hair heavy or oily, and that is what I like about it.

Over here the range is called Elsève, but it goes under Elvive in English speaking countries, I think.

[enting]

Thank you. I hope you can easily find it, and I do hope you like it. It gives so much slip and softness without getting your hair heavy or oily, and that is what I like about it.

Over here the range is called Elsève, but it goes under Elvive in English speaking countries, I think.

I think here it's Elvive, but honestly I don't spend much time in the haircare aisle usually. I do vaguely find the look of the bottle familiar, though, so we probably have at least some of the line here. I'd also generally assume that whatever you have, we also have, but that could be wrong. I'll make a note to myself to look for it next time I'm in the grocery store or pharmacy.

[lapushka]

I think here it's Elvive, but honestly I don't spend much time in the haircare aisle usually. I do vaguely find the look of the bottle familiar, though, so we probably have at least some of the line here. I'd also generally assume that whatever you have, we also have, but that could be wrong. I'll make a note to myself to look for it next time I'm in the grocery store or pharmacy.

Awesome! :thumbsup:

Here our local Lidl just did a promotion, 4.99 euro for 2 bottles, a lot of variations possible. I might see if they still have some left next Wednesday.

[gin]

My scalp has been doing well this past summer. Washing twice a week and using scalp lotion somewhat regularly has kept it calm. No dry flakes or greasy dandruff. Hopefully colder weather won't upset my scalp!

Awesome! What's the scalp lotion? And when do you apply the lotion?

[gin]

My scalp needs regular exfoliation too. If the brush is working for you, great! I was doing scrubs for a while but realized that I wasn’t crazy about the amount of hair that was shedding afterwards (even though most of it was probably close to falling out anyway). Now I use a shampoo once a week that contains 2% salicylic acid, which is a chemical (as opposed to mechanical) exfoliant. Just wanted to share that option too.

I've actually been trying to find a salicylic acid shampoo, since I've been using this salicylic acid scalp spot treatment that my scalp seems to like. What shampoo do you use and what % SA? Have you tried multiple ones? There are so many and I'm still not sure what my scalp likes as far as sulfates/sulfate-free/natural/etc.

[Begemot]

Awesome! What's the scalp lotion? And when do you apply the lotion?

It probably starts to sound like someone is paying me to talk about this product but I just really really like it :D The brand is Finnish Sim System 4. I apply the lotion usually the night before wash day. There's not many options here when it comes to scalp products that have no alcohol denat. Here's the ingredients list if you can't get this specific product and would like to look for something similar:
Aqua, Glycerin, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Betaine, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Climbazole, Piroctone Olamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP; Ceramide AP; Ceramide EOP; Phytosphingosine; Cholestrol: Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate; Carbomer; Xanthan Gum, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Inositol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

[gin]

It probably starts to sound like someone is paying me to talk about this product but I just really really like it :D The brand is Finnish Sim System 4. I apply the lotion usually the night before wash day. There's not many options here when it comes to scalp products that have no alcohol denat. Here's the ingredients list if you can't get this specific product and would like to look for something similar:
Aqua, Glycerin, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Betaine, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Climbazole, Piroctone Olamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP; Ceramide AP; Ceramide EOP; Phytosphingosine; Cholestrol: Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate; Carbomer; Xanthan Gum, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Inositol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Thanks for the info! I'll see if I can find anything similar.

So I'm having serious issues figuring out my scalp! I thought the exfoliation was the answer, but turns out I was just having a good week that week or something. Well, I'm sure it helped, but it didn't clear up everything. Thankfully my scalp problem isn't really that big of a problem - it's just minor itchiness and a couple scalp acne bumps and/or tender spots. The itchiness is mild enough that I don't have to scratch it, usually I just apply a little pressure with my finger and that's fine, or just don't do anything. But it's annoying.

What's bizarre is that what I'm experiencing seems to be the opposite of what most people have when it comes to scalp issues. My scalp has the worst symptoms after I wash it - i.e. the itchiness and acne will appear within 24 hours of washing, and then after that it usually gets better or at the very least stays the same. Most every time I wash my hair, it will alleviate the previous acne and itchy spots, but then new acne/itchy spots will appear. Part of me suspects dry scalp because of this, but I also think I have a sensitive scalp when it comes to updos/buns which could also be contributing.

So far it seems like no matter what I try, nothing really changes. Product-wise, I really haven't seen much of a difference or improvement. So what I'm focusing on now is pH levels of products, since I just started reading about that. I got some pH strips and tested all the various products I have. It does seems like the products that yielded the worst results had a higher pH (around 6.5-7). What's interesting is that some of the products have a different pH than the company is saying they have. A cowash I tried (As I am), which was the worst for my scalp, was supposed to have a pH of 5.5 according to the company. But it was the most basic one of all the products I have, it came out about the same pH as our water (7). I had read that Trader Joe's Nourish Spa shampoo was supposed to have a pH of 7, but for me it came out to around 5.5. In any case, maybe my scalp needs a specific pH, and I guess I'll find out soon...

What I've tried:

SO many different shampoos, both sulfate and sulfate-free, old shampoos, new shampoos, Nizoral, zinc pyrithione, tea tree oil shampoo, etc etc etc. Several different scalp serums (and also no scalp serum at all). Conditioning the scalp, not putting anything on the scalp. Oiling the scalp, not oiling the scalp. Cowashes. Vinegar rinses. Hydrosols. WO and stretching washes didn't help (for other reasons). Scalp exfoliation. Blow drying just the scalp so it's not wet for as long.

Other things I'm considering trying:
Using face/skin products, like toners or serums. Wearing my hair down more, especially after washing. Salicylic acid shampoo. Wet scalp more?

I've finally scheduled a dermatologist appointment, but it's not for another month. I guess until then I'll keep experimenting!

[Ophidian]

I've actually been trying to find a salicylic acid shampoo, since I've been using this salicylic acid scalp spot treatment that my scalp seems to like. What shampoo do you use and what % SA? Have you tried multiple ones? There are so many and I'm still not sure what my scalp likes as far as sulfates/sulfate-free/natural/etc.

The two I’ve tried are Avalon Organics Medicated Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Jason Dandruff Relief shampoo (not 2-in-1). Both contain 2% salicylic acid, and the Jason also has sulfur. I like the Jason shampoo a lot but the sulfur smell can be pretty overwhelming so I mostly stick with the Avalon. Here’s my routine:

Sunday: Wash scalp with 2% salicylic acid shampoo. Massage in, let it sit for several minutes, massage again, rinse directly off scalp as I find it drying on the length. Massage scalp again with Jason 2-in-1 (it’s like a zinc-containing cowash, basically). Let sit a few minutes, rinse through hair. Love this stuff so much.

Thursday: Wash with 2-in-1 only.

If my scalp gets flaky: Nizoral 1% for a wash or two. In the beginning I had to use Nizoral consistently for a while to get my scalp clear. Now I don’t need it if I stick to the routine above. It’s been a great maintenance strategy for me that works for both scalp and length.

I prefer sulfate free which is why I’ve only tried Avalon and Jason, but off the top of my head T-Sal is another option, and I’m sure there are other drugstore brands that contain salicylic acid out there to choose from too.

ETA: here’s an article from science-y hair blog that informed my routine and has a list of dandruff treatment products with various active ingredients. She’s got other scalp-related articles too and they’re all great.

http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/p/products-for-itchy-scalp.html?m=1

[gin]

The two I’ve tried are Avalon Organics Medicated Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Jason Dandruff Relief shampoo (not 2-in-1). Both contain 2% salicylic acid, and the Jason also has sulfur. I like the Jason shampoo a lot but the sulfur smell can be pretty overwhelming so I mostly stick with the Avalon. Here’s my routine:

Sunday: Wash scalp with 2% salicylic acid shampoo. Massage in, let it sit for several minutes, massage again, rinse directly off scalp as I find it drying on the length. Massage scalp again with Jason 2-in-1 (it’s like a zinc-containing cowash, basically). Let sit a few minutes, rinse through hair. Love this stuff so much.

Thursday: Wash with 2-in-1 only.

If my scalp gets flaky: Nizoral 1% for a wash or two. In the beginning I had to use Nizoral consistently for a while to get my scalp clear. Now I don’t need it if I stick to the routine above. It’s been a great maintenance strategy for me that works for both scalp and length.

I prefer sulfate free which is why I’ve only tried Avalon and Jason, but off the top of my head T-Sal is another option, and I’m sure there are other drugstore brands that contain salicylic acid out there to choose from too.

ETA: here’s an article from science-y hair blog that informed my routine and has a list of dandruff treatment products with various active ingredients. She’s got other scalp-related articles too and they’re all great.

http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/p/products-for-itchy-scalp.html?m=1

Thanks for the info! I love the science-y hair blog too. My wash days are Wednesday and Saturday (sometimes Sunday if I have something going on Saturday), so our wash schedules are pretty much the same. :)

So have you only tried Avalon and Jason and those happened to work out? I've tried a multitude of shampoos so far and while some seem to be better than others, none have been great and none have alleviated my scalp issues completely. Nizoral didn't work for me AT ALL and made things much worse. I'm so weary of buying yet more shampoos only for them to not work out, but I guess it's a price I need to pay in order to find one that works.

I also prefer sulfate-free and definitely need silicone-free, so I'll definitely look into Avalon/Jason. Do you happen to know the pH of them?

[Ophidian]

I’m not sure of the pH, though both products are marked “pH balanced” I believe. I totally hear you on being wary of buying too many products. I had to do a fair bit of trial and error to find what helped me. I tried to focus on specific active ingredients (ketoconazole, zinc, salicylic acid with and without sulfur...), learning what they do and trialling them one at a time. For me, I tried the Jason shampoo (salicylic acid + sulfur) first. I used it regularly for a few months and while it seemed to help a little and my hair liked it, it didn’t totally clear my scalp. So I got 1% Nizoral, and used it as directed for about a month as it began making a noticeable difference after the first week of so of use. But, my scalp gets dry and irritated if I use sulfates for an extended period, so I went back to the Jason shampoo, which kept my scalp clear as long as I didn’t miss a wash. If I did and my scalp started to flare up again, I would do a Nizoral wash or two and it would calm down. But the sulfur smell in my hair was driving me nuts. So, realizing that regular exfoliation with salicylic acid seemed to keep the problem under control as long as I didn’t slip up, and Nizoral would knock it out if I did, I decided to try a new salicylic acid shampoo (the Avalon) to exfoliate once a week and added in the zinc 2-in-1 as my regular twice weekly cleanser since zinc is an anti fungal (though milder than Ketoconazole).

Well that was long winded! Even if you didn’t make it through all the details, my main point is that a) trialling this stuff seems to take a while and I know how frustrating it is when things aren’t working :grouphug:. I know my experience is different from yours, as you already stated that Nizoral made things worse. But I think there’s something to looking at what active ingredients are supposed to do and using your results with a product to inform what you might try next. Like slowly narrowing in, which it sounds like you’re starting to do with the pH observation. It sounds like you’re on the right track, and I’m glad you’ve got a derm appointment scheduled.

If you’ve already read science-y hairblog I’m basically just regurgitating everything she says, but I did want to share my experience just to show how I slowly got from “nothing is working” to “well this helps a little” to a maintenance routine that actually works. Hang in there!

ETA: I left out everything I tried prior to this that failed miserably, including sulfate shampoos, cowashing, frequent washing, infrequent washing, tea tree oil products, various herb rinses and masks (love doing them for my hair but scalp didn’t improve), scalp oiling, no scalp oiling, ACV... probably more that I’ve forgotten and a lot of which you’ve mentioned above too.

ETA 2: you may have already mentioned this too and if so I apologize for missing it, but have you had any experiences with fragrance vs. fragrance free products? Do you feel like there might be some sensitivity issues that might be causing some kind of inflammatory response? Just food for thought.


Thanks for the info! I love the science-y hair blog too. My wash days are Wednesday and Saturday (sometimes Sunday if I have something going on Saturday), so our wash schedules are pretty much the same. :)

So have you only tried Avalon and Jason and those happened to work out? I've tried a multitude of shampoos so far and while some seem to be better than others, none have been great and none have alleviated my scalp issues completely. Nizoral didn't work for me AT ALL and made things much worse. I'm so weary of buying yet more shampoos only for them to not work out, but I guess it's a price I need to pay in order to find one that works.

I also prefer sulfate-free and definitely need silicone-free, so I'll definitely look into Avalon/Jason. Do you happen to know the pH of them?

[Ophidian]

It probably starts to sound like someone is paying me to talk about this product but I just really really like it :D The brand is Finnish Sim System 4. I apply the lotion usually the night before wash day. There's not many options here when it comes to scalp products that have no alcohol denat. Here's the ingredients list if you can't get this specific product and would like to look for something similar:
Aqua, Glycerin, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Betaine, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Climbazole, Piroctone Olamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide NP; Ceramide AP; Ceramide EOP; Phytosphingosine; Cholestrol: Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate; Carbomer; Xanthan Gum, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Inositol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Oooo I love ingredients labels :D. I’m not an expert but the key ingredients in this product I’m guessing are piroctone olamine and climbazole (both antifungals). The first one is interesting - it’s not very common in the US but some people really seem to swear by it. Has anyone else had experience with it before?

[gin]

I’m not sure of the pH, though both products are marked “pH balanced” I believe. I totally hear you on being wary of buying too many products. I had to do a fair bit of trial and error to find what helped me. I tried to focus on specific active ingredients (ketoconazole, zinc, salicylic acid with and without sulfur...), learning what they do and trialling them one at a time. For me, I tried the Jason shampoo (salicylic acid + sulfur) first. I used it regularly for a few months and while it seemed to help a little and my hair liked it, it didn’t totally clear my scalp. So I got 1% Nizoral, and used it as directed for about a month as it began making a noticeable difference after the first week of so of use. But, my scalp gets dry and irritated if I use sulfates for an extended period, so I went back to the Jason shampoo, which kept my scalp clear as long as I didn’t miss a wash. If I did and my scalp started to flare up again, I would do a Nizoral wash or two and it would calm down. But the sulfur smell in my hair was driving me nuts. So, realizing that regular exfoliation with salicylic acid seemed to keep the problem under control as long as I didn’t slip up, and Nizoral would knock it out if I did, I decided to try a new salicylic acid shampoo (the Avalon) to exfoliate once a week and added in the zinc 2-in-1 as my regular twice weekly cleanser since zinc is an anti fungal (though milder than Ketoconazole).

Well that was long winded! Even if you didn’t make it through all the details, my main point is that a) trialling this stuff seems to take a while and I know how frustrating it is when things aren’t working :grouphug:. I know my experience is different from yours, as you already stated that Nizoral made things worse. But I think there’s something to looking at what active ingredients are supposed to do and using your results with a product to inform what you might try next. Like slowly narrowing in, which it sounds like you’re starting to do with the pH observation. It sounds like you’re on the right track, and I’m glad you’ve got a derm appointment scheduled.

If you’ve already read science-y hairblog I’m basically just regurgitating everything she says, but I did want to share my experience just to show how I slowly got from “nothing is working” to “well this helps a little” to a maintenance routine that actually works. Hang in there!

ETA: I left out everything I tried prior to this that failed miserably, including sulfate shampoos, cowashing, frequent washing, infrequent washing, tea tree oil products, various herb rinses and masks (love doing them for my hair but scalp didn’t improve), scalp oiling, no scalp oiling, ACV... probably more that I’ve forgotten and a lot of which you’ve mentioned above too.

ETA 2: you may have already mentioned this too and if so I apologize for missing it, but have you had any experiences with fragrance vs. fragrance free products? Do you feel like there might be some sensitivity issues that might be causing some kind of inflammatory response? Just food for thought.

It's definitely frustrating. My scalp is in a "bad" period right now (i.e. worse than usual) and it's driving me crazy because I just can't figure it out. I've been trying to remember what my scalp was like before I started caring 6-7 months ago. For 7ish years I used Nexxus shampoo/conditioner, and I vaguely remember scratching my scalp at times pretty harshly, so I think it itched more (on average) then, though still not a lot. 12ish years prior to that, I used Pantene products, and prior to that, H&S or Pert Plus 2-in-1s, and I really don't remember my scalp at all (though that could be a good thing?). But my hair wasn't as long and it was so long ago, a lot of other factors (like hormones, diet, water, etc.) probably have changed since then.

My current thought is along the lines of pH, because I recently found out the tap water where I live is pretty alkaline ( pH 9.5-9.8 ). The shampoos I've been recently using are around pH 5.5, so they're balanced though I wonder if the alkaline water is offsetting it, and if I should consider a more acidic shampoo? I have been doing ACV rinses which my hair loves, though I ran out recently and started using white vinegar, so that might be contributing to my current woes. I read somewhere that ACV is antifungal properties whereas regular vinegar doesn't.

Another interesting tidbit: I did a really sweaty workout this morning and my scalp feels better. I tested the pH of my sweat and it's around 5. Considering I washed my hair yesterday and my scalp wasn't doing great yesterday and this morning, the sweat really seems to be helping (at least for now).

Well, one good thing is my lengths are loving my routine now (since I discovered ROO and vinegar rinses). Just need to figure out my scalp! I do have a dermatologist appointment in a month so maybe I should just not worry about it until then to keep myself more sane. :)

[MusicalSpoons]

pH 9.5-9.8? :thud: that's into the realms of hair damaging, let alone skin! I recently learned that hair is generally more resilient to changes in pH than I previously thought, but that's very high, and skin is something else entirely (obviously).

How is your wash setup? I mean, showerhead / bathtub / bucket / ... ? Is there any way you can wash with more neutral water by adding something like citric acid or vitamin C to it? For instance, there are showerhead / inline shower filters filled with vitamin C pretty cheaply available (though I don't know how long they last).

[gin]

pH 9.5-9.8? :thud: that's into the realms of hair damaging, let alone skin! I recently learned that hair is generally more resilient to changes in pH than I previously thought, but that's very high, and skin is something else entirely (obviously).

How is your wash setup? I mean, showerhead / bathtub / bucket / ... ? Is there any way you can wash with more neutral water by adding something like citric acid or vitamin C to it? For instance, there are showerhead / inline shower filters filled with vitamin C pretty cheaply available (though I don't know how long they last).

Yeah, when I read that in the city's water report I was surprised. Although I wonder if I'm missing something, because when I used the pH strips on the water it was more like 7.5-8. But it's just one of those paper strips that changes color, it's not a digital reading or anything, so I could be mis-interpreting the color? I've lived here for over 13-14 years and haven't had any real issues with skin or hair, other than what I've described in this thread.

As far as my setup, I actually take baths. :) We just did a large remodel to our house and I have this luxurious freestanding tub that I absolutely love. I do have a shower wand that I use to rinse out shampoo and conditioner, though I've only recently started using that. Before, I would just dunk my head in the bathwater and swoosh around to rinse. Maybe I should try doing that again? Since I washed my hair like that for basically my entire life, outside of my college years when there were only showers around... And FYI, our bathroom does have a large shower too, with a rainshower head and shower wand, I just rarely use it.

I don't know how easy it will be to attach a filter to a tub filler or rainshower head. My husband builds homes so I can ask him, though I guess it probably would have been easier to do this during our remodel. Oh well!

I'm now wondering if I made my white vinegar rinses too strong. I used half the amount of white vinegar as I did ACV, which was one tablespoon in ~16oz (2 cups or 1/2 liter) of water. The pH strip showed it was maybe pH 3.5-4, maybe that's too low for my scalp. I just got the strips so I don't know what pH my previous ACV solutions were at. I'm actually going to wash my hair again tomorrow to try to help with my current scalp situation, but I won't use the vinegar on my scalp, just the lengths. Hopefully it will help.

[aenigmatica8]

I have a sensitive scalp that is prone to itching/bumps and I do the following:

1) I've added around 1 tablespoon of boric acid to my shampoo and mixed. Cuts down on the itching I would experience 5-7 days after a wash. Feel free to ask me for more information.
2) There are plenty of shampoos that my scalp finds irritating/is allergic to. Likely due to the fragrance. That doesn't mean I avoid all fragrance, however. I liked the BWC aromatherapy shampoo, and am currently using the Palmer's coconut oil shampoo. I try to avoid shampoos with sulfates as one of the first few ingredients.
3) I try to avoid other allergenic compounds. I am allergic to PPD and indigo (but I still use PPD because nothing gets my hair as black, sigh :rolleyes:).
4) While washing your hair infrequently is great, there is DEFINITELY A LIMIT! Don't be afraid to use a gentle shampoo if you need to wash your hair. Don't try to stretch washes so much that you end up being an itchy greaseball. It's not good for your hair!

Tip: Take a look at WHEN itching starts. Is it after many days of not washing your hair and sebum is building up? Is it the day you wash your hair? It is after you sweat or get damp hair? These kinds of things can point you to what the problem could be.

[enting]

I have a sensitive scalp that is prone to itching/bumps and I do the following:

1) I've added around 1 tablespoon of boric acid to my shampoo and mixed. Cuts down on the itching I would experience 5-7 days after a wash. Feel free to ask me for more information.
2) There are plenty of shampoos that my scalp finds irritating/is allergic to. Likely due to the fragrance. That doesn't mean I avoid all fragrance, however. I liked the BWC aromatherapy shampoo, and am currently using the Palmer's coconut oil shampoo. I try to avoid shampoos with sulfates as one of the first few ingredients.
3) I try to avoid other allergenic compounds. I am allergic to PPD and indigo (but I still use PPD because nothing gets my hair as black, sigh :rolleyes:).
4) While washing your hair infrequently is great, there is DEFINITELY A LIMIT! Don't be afraid to use a gentle shampoo if you need to wash your hair. Don't try to stretch washes so much that you end up being an itchy greaseball. It's not good for your hair!

Tip: Take a look at WHEN itching starts. Is it after many days of not washing your hair and sebum is building up? Is it the day you wash your hair? It is after you sweat or get damp hair? These kinds of things can point you to what the problem could be.

These are really good points!

What does the boric acid do? Is it just because it's additional acid or is there something special about boric acid?

I get itchy right about when my hair is fully dry after washing. Sometimes it starts itching before it's totally dry, and when that happens I figure I either overdried my scalp with the water (I get water itch on other parts of my body) or I'm sensitive to something I used, if I used anything new.

[gin]

These are really good points!

What does the boric acid do? Is it just because it's additional acid or is there something special about boric acid?

I get itchy right about when my hair is fully dry after washing. Sometimes it starts itching before it's totally dry, and when that happens I figure I either overdried my scalp with the water (I get water itch on other parts of my body) or I'm sensitive to something I used, if I used anything new.

My itching is similar! It will start as my hair is drying after washing it. Because my itchiness pops up right after washing it, my initial thought was there was something in the shampoo I was using (I don't let conditioner touch my scalp). But I've tried countless different shampoos with different ingredients, and I don't notice any difference. I tried to blow dry just my scalp on cold to see if getting it dry faster helped, and that didn't seem to make a difference either.

What do you mean by over-drying scalp with water or "water itch"? This is a new concept to me. How would you minimize something like that?

You're basically the first person that seems to have a similar issue to mine (itchy after washing vs. after not washing for awhile), so let me know if there's ANYTHING you've found that helps. I'll take anything! My scalp actually feels better if I sweat. Though sometimes the itchiness will return once the sweat dries, though less so than before.

[enting]

There's something called "aquagenic pruritis" which I have *not* been diagnosed with (nor have I particularly asked my dermatologists about), but I have noted that when I have been washing dishes, or soon after a shower, my arms are particularly itchy. I often have flat red rashy looking areas on my arms after showering that fade after a bit. Anything water based on my face makes the skin on my face itch, so immediately after showering I apply oil to my face. Using cooler water when showering helps with the itchiness on my body/arms, but I'm also sensitive to temperatures, so it's a delicate balance. Even cold water when washing dishes will still make my arms itch if the water stays there and dries on my arms rather than me toweling it off quickly, which is why I really do think that I have some sort of water sensitivity. Using oils or moisturizer on the itchy spots after showering seems to help if it's too bad to just wait it out until it calms down on its own.

Water apparently dries out skin, probably akin to being able to use water only to strip the hair of excess oils. A friend of mine with dry skin said she was advised to always dry off very well with a towel after showering to prevent her skin from getting even more dried out and itchy. She suggested that perhaps my scalp itch was similar, and since then I've tried to towel dry my scalp as well as I can. I do that with my head upside down and my hair hanging down so I avoid toweling the rest of my hair as much as possible.

I also do better when I make sure to oil my scalp before washing. I use a layered combination of castor oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil. Coconut oil especially seems to leave a protective film on my skin even after washing, and that helps mitigate the itchiness from washing. I also have a small scalp patch that the dermatologist said is "psoriatic-ish", and I especially make sure to oil soak that area. I do have to make sure not to oil my scalp too far in advance of washing it because on me at least, the oils weaken my roots and hairs come out more easily if it's oiled for a while and I touch my hair.

Hello Hydration conditioner is my holy grail of conditioners to make my hair softer and my scalp less itchy in the areas where my hair is more wiry/dry. I tried the new biorenew formulation and nope, the itch is back. I checked the ingredients and the biorenew has humectants that the original HH does not have.... leading me to believe, yet again, that my itchy spots do not like water.

To be honest, my scalp was happier back when I used a ball-tipped regular brush, but it was ripping my hair so I stopped using it. It took a while to notice that my scalp was itchier. I might need more regular scalp massages, but I don't like doing them myself because that could just as easily trigger itchy feelings and the urge to pull (I have a habit of hair pulling). For all I know, my scalp would have gotten itchier anyway and the brush change is a red herring, but I'll add it in there in case it makes a difference.

I wonder if the ball tipped brush stimulated my scalp to produce oils more effectively than my wide toothed comb. Hmm.


All this is to say: I've tried a bunch of stuff, some helps a bit or some of the time, but this is still something I struggle with and am trying to figure out. I'd also love to hear if there's anything that works for you, even some of the time.

ETA - I forgot, I also use a strong vinegar rinse with cedarwood oil in it when I wash my hair. I apply it mainly to my scalp, though it also helps with detangling. It also sometimes helps with the scalp itch.

[MusicalSpoons]

Even cold water when washing dishes will still make my arms itch if the water stays there and dries on my arms rather than me toweling it off quickly, which is why I really do think that I have some sort of water sensitivity. Using oils or moisturizer on the itchy spots after showering seems to help if it's too bad to just wait it out until it calms down on its own.



ME TOO!!! I have to dry quickly or put cream on while still damp, especially after a shower. I've never had massive problems thankfully, but before I realised what it was it would incredibly frustrating when I was all itchy just after a shower - and with nothing visible either, I've never had a rash. My face is okay as long as I put something on reasonably soon afterwards, though it can dry slightly before that without itching. My scalp used to itch straight after watching when I used very warm or hot water, but using ordinarily warm water is fine.

Lost my thread now, but yeah that's my experience.

[Ylva]

Oooo I love ingredients labels :D. I’m not an expert but the key ingredients in this product I’m guessing are piroctone olamine and climbazole (both antifungals). The first one is interesting - it’s not very common in the US but some people really seem to swear by it. Has anyone else had experience with it before?

If I remember correctly, Katsura had a liking to piroctone olamine. Hopefully, she'll stop by to share some information. :)

[gin]

There's something called "aquagenic pruritis" which I have *not* been diagnosed with (nor have I particularly asked my dermatologists about), but I have noted that when I have been washing dishes, or soon after a shower, my arms are particularly itchy. I often have flat red rashy looking areas on my arms after showering that fade after a bit. Anything water based on my face makes the skin on my face itch, so immediately after showering I apply oil to my face. Using cooler water when showering helps with the itchiness on my body/arms, but I'm also sensitive to temperatures, so it's a delicate balance. Even cold water when washing dishes will still make my arms itch if the water stays there and dries on my arms rather than me toweling it off quickly, which is why I really do think that I have some sort of water sensitivity. Using oils or moisturizer on the itchy spots after showering seems to help if it's too bad to just wait it out until it calms down on its own.

Water apparently dries out skin, probably akin to being able to use water only to strip the hair of excess oils. A friend of mine with dry skin said she was advised to always dry off very well with a towel after showering to prevent her skin from getting even more dried out and itchy. She suggested that perhaps my scalp itch was similar, and since then I've tried to towel dry my scalp as well as I can. I do that with my head upside down and my hair hanging down so I avoid toweling the rest of my hair as much as possible.

I also do better when I make sure to oil my scalp before washing. I use a layered combination of castor oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil. Coconut oil especially seems to leave a protective film on my skin even after washing, and that helps mitigate the itchiness from washing. I also have a small scalp patch that the dermatologist said is "psoriatic-ish", and I especially make sure to oil soak that area. I do have to make sure not to oil my scalp too far in advance of washing it because on me at least, the oils weaken my roots and hairs come out more easily if it's oiled for a while and I touch my hair.

Hello Hydration conditioner is my holy grail of conditioners to make my hair softer and my scalp less itchy in the areas where my hair is more wiry/dry. I tried the new biorenew formulation and nope, the itch is back. I checked the ingredients and the biorenew has humectants that the original HH does not have.... leading me to believe, yet again, that my itchy spots do not like water.

To be honest, my scalp was happier back when I used a ball-tipped regular brush, but it was ripping my hair so I stopped using it. It took a while to notice that my scalp was itchier. I might need more regular scalp massages, but I don't like doing them myself because that could just as easily trigger itchy feelings and the urge to pull (I have a habit of hair pulling). For all I know, my scalp would have gotten itchier anyway and the brush change is a red herring, but I'll add it in there in case it makes a difference.

I wonder if the ball tipped brush stimulated my scalp to produce oils more effectively than my wide toothed comb. Hmm.

All this is to say: I've tried a bunch of stuff, some helps a bit or some of the time, but this is still something I struggle with and am trying to figure out. I'd also love to hear if there's anything that works for you, even some of the time.

Thanks so much for this! My legs and arms do mildly itch after bathing or showering some or most of the time, so I wonder if I have something similar. The itchiness has never really been bad enough for me to focus on it or try to do something about it - similar to my scalp. Though the past 2-3 weeks my scalp has been much worse than usual, hence me coming on here desperate for solutions. :)

How long before you wash do you oil your scalp? How would you oil it and how much oil would you use? I used to oil my scalp before washing when I started paying attention to my hair, but I had stopped because I thought it was making my scalp worse. I might try again. I was using a blend of jojoba and castor oil with vitamin E, tea tree, peppermint, and menthol added. I suspect though that perhaps I added too much menthol and that was culprit.

RE: conditioner, do you apply it on your scalp? I actually hardly use any conditioner now, just ROO and a little bit on the ends. My hair apparently doesn't need conditioner, which was mindblowing to me when I figured that out. Perhaps my scalp might need it though? I's on my list as something to try, but I've been trying other things and haven't gotten around to it. Admittedly I'm a bit scared to try, haha.

As far as drying your scalp, have you tried blow drying just your scalp with cold air? I didn't see much of a difference for myself, but I only tried once and it might be something worth trying for you. I use a large microfiber towel to squeeze out the water from my hair (upside down like you) and then put it up in a separate microfiber towel turban for 20-30min. I'll try focusing on drying the scalp during this process next washes.

I actually have one of those electric head massagers from Amazon and it's awesome because it's super comfortable on the scalp, easy to get through the hair, and I don't have to try to get my fingers in there. Unfortunately I don't do scalp massages regularly. Now I'm thinking I should add it to my routine, like every night before going to bed or something.

[gin]

ME TOO!!! I have to dry quickly or put cream on while still damp, especially after a shower. I've never had massive problems thankfully, but before I realised what it was it would incredibly frustrating when I was all itchy just after a shower - and with nothing visible either, I've never had a rash. My face is okay as long as I put something on reasonably soon afterwards, though it can dry slightly before that without itching. My scalp used to itch straight after watching when I used very warm or hot water, but using ordinarily warm water is fine.

Lost my thread now, but yeah that's my experience.

This makes me glad. Well, not glad that you have this issue, but glad that I'm not the only one that itches right after washing!

Now that I think about it, I blow dried my hair my entire life until recently when I joined LHC and started doing real hair care, and I don't think my scalp itched as bad then. Now I air dry my hair. Maybe I'll blow dry agin!

[enting]

It's kind of exciting to find other people with a similar itchiness to talk with!
Musicalspoons, exactly that - I need to put moisturizer or whatever on when my skin is still wet or damp to avoid the itch.

gin, I haven't really timed it, but a half hour would probably be a good amount of time. However if I've forgotten to pre-oil, even adding oil just minutes before showering will help and be better than skipping the oiling. I just pour some into my hands and slather it on and try to work it into the scalp. I probably use something like a tablespoon, but I'm mostly eyeballing it so I'm not sure. Personally I'd probably avoid using mint/menthol on my scalp as it might "wake it up" more which could make it more itchy. I want it to sleep, relax, calm down, be less sensitive. When I add oils to my vinegar rinse I use cedarwood and sometimes add rosemary and/or vanilla and/or tea tree, nothing more aromatic than those. But YMMV of course!

I sometimes use conditioner on my scalp. At some point I was doing CO washing and putting it on my scalp, but DH and I are pretty sure it made me shed more. I wasn't using HH at that point though, I was using Dove conditioner. I don't put HH all over my scalp, just in the itchier areas. Some will get to my scalp regardless because I often pile my hair on top of my head to dry, and gravity will make some get through. If my scalp gets itchy after my hair is dried I'll put a little bit more of HH conditioner on the itchy spot and then add a bit of water to spread it out evenly over the area. It kind of acts like a moisturizer, except regular moisturizers leave residue on my hair and make me want to pick at my hair. HH doesn't leave that kind of residue.

Oh, my eyebrows and eyelashes get very dry and itchy also after being washed, so I usually apply either the oil I put on my face to them or I also put on a layer of castor oil on each. Sometimes I put just castor oil on my eyebrows and lashed *before* showering instead.

I've never actually tried blowdrying at all with any temperature - I've never owned a blow dryer to try with. I did sit in front of a blow heater in the middle of winter last year to dry my roots because I just couldn't sit there with cold, wet, itchy scalp anymore. I don't remember if it helped, but it definitely sped up the drying process so I wasn't miserable.

[Ophidian]

...I also do better when I make sure to oil my scalp before washing. I use a layered combination of castor oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil. Coconut oil especially seems to leave a protective film on my skin even after washing, and that helps mitigate the itchiness from washing. I also have a small scalp patch that the dermatologist said is "psoriatic-ish", and I especially make sure to oil soak that area. I do have to make sure not to oil my scalp too far in advance of washing it because on me at least, the oils weaken my roots and hairs come out more easily if it's oiled for a while and I touch my hair.

This is really helpful. Now that my scalp is on a good routine, I have been contemplating adding back in a light pre-wash scalp oiling sometimes so I can use my NightBlooming blends, but I have had some hairfall in the past with scalp oiling. Nothing major, but I try to avoid losing more hair than I have to ;). I'd never thought about a connection to the length of time the oil is on, but it makes sense and it's good to hear that you've had success leaving it on for a short period. I know milage my vary, but I'm inspired to give it a try since I have a good baseline now.


If I remember correctly, Katsura had a liking to piroctone olamine. Hopefully, she'll stop by to share some information. :)
I think I remember Arctic liking it too :)

[gin]

It's kind of exciting to find other people with a similar itchiness to talk with!

I agree! I'm super ecstatic, haha.

enting, thanks for all the info RE: your routine and experiences, it's been very helpful and giving me a good direction of things to try next. I don't have as much itchiness as you do on the face and eyebrows/eyelashes, but my hairline on my forehead and at my nape can get itchy. So I'll definitely try your tips/tricks. Do you use ACV or another type of vinegar for your rinses?

I do suspect that my recent woes are due to going from ACV to white vinegar. I washed today and didn't let the white vinegar solution touch my scalp, I just dunked my lengths in it. My scalp seems (so far) to be better off than before, though it's still recovering. Perhaps the white vinegar dilution I used was much stronger than the ACV dilutions I was using before. I just re-stocked ACV so I'll know for sure when I use it next and can compare the pH. Or maybe my scalp doesn't mind ACV but can't stand white vinegar, who knows!

[gin]

enting, I also forgot to ask you about how your scalp handles updos? I find that my scalp is pretty sensitive to being put up in anything - buns, braids, etc. Since you mentioned being cognizant of "waking up" the scalp, hair pulling with itchiness, etc, I was wondering if you might have a similar experience with updos.

I wore my hair down and loose my entire life up until the past few months. I believe that if I put my hair up in a bun when my hair isn't fully dry, I'll get these sensitive spots (and sometimes acne) where there's slight pressure from the bun. Same thing even from a loose braid. Surprisingly to me, even a loose braid will pull or put pressure on some spots on the scalp, at least more so than when my hair is loose. If it's a tighter bun or tighter braids (which I have to do for working out and climbing), it can be worse. But the combo of damp scalp + updo seems to make it much, much worse. My scalp LOVES it when my hair is loose, but at my current length I need to put it up when I go climbing or do other activities. Plus I love hairtoys and I do like learning all the new ways to put my hair up. I just wish my scalp loved it too. :)

[enting]

This is really helpful. Now that my scalp is on a good routine, I have been contemplating adding back in a light pre-wash scalp oiling sometimes so I can use my NightBlooming blends, but I have had some hairfall in the past with scalp oiling. Nothing major, but I try to avoid losing more hair than I have to ;). I'd never thought about a connection to the length of time the oil is on, but it makes sense and it's good to hear that you've had success leaving it on for a short period. I know milage my vary, but I'm inspired to give it a try since I have a good baseline now.


I think I remember Arctic liking it too :)

The time that oil is on my head definitely makes a difference to me, but then again, the shorter the time frame the less chance I've had of giving in to the urge to play with my hair. If I just don't touch it I've been able to have oil on my scalp for a full day and night without any hairfall issues, but again, I really have to make sure not to touch it or manipulate it at all if it's oiled for longer periods of time. If you try pre-oiling again for just a short time, let us know how it goes.

gin, I'm happy to relay any experiences I remember :)
I use the super ultra cheapest synthetic vinegar in the store. Sometimes I use the one that's colored with caramel coloring and is masquerading as ACV (it's totally not), and sometimes I use just the plain white one. I think I used real ACV only once in my life, when my MIL bought some for me during a visit to her house because I asked if I could use some vinegar for showering. (I hadn't asked for ACV specifically! She's nicer to my hair than I am, apparently :P)

If your scalp was happier with ACV and you've recently switched, I'd switch back with no qualms. It could also be that whatever they made the white vinegar out of is something you're sensitive to.

Regarding updos: my scalp is pretty forgiving of different styles, interestingly enough. It does take me a little while to train my hair and scalp into a new style but I don't usually have a lot of pain or sensitivity about it, or if I do, it passes easily enough. When I started wearing topknots to sleep I think it took me a few days or weeks to get used to the style, but I think most of the "getting used to" was me getting used to how it looked!

My main thing is keeping the hairs around my extra itchy spots from moving too much. I guess the hair moving in those areas acts like I'm being tickled or something. Whenever I wear my velvet headband it helps to gently press the hair down and somehow that quiets down that area of scalp for me. It's one of the reasons I like wearing bandanas and headscarves, aside from the fact that it helps keep me from pulling hair/hides where I've pulled.

I've seen some people on the forum mention that a loose braid will pull badly on them because the start of the braid is less stable. An odd question, but does starting the braid lower down help or make it worse? This hairstyle (https://paladinproject.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/zeldas-hairstyle/) made me think about how it might feel like it's mostly loose while still being a bit contained. Or it might pull horribly, I don't know.

It makes sense to me that your scalp would be more unhappy about an updo when it's also damp. I'm not sure why, but it makes sense to me. Sometimes my scalp is happier depending on how I styled it when wet/damp. On me it's more like if I style it when damp it's okay how it is, but the instant I take it down when dry and styled like that for a while my scalp will ache.

I think I'm figuring out that for me, my scalp is happiest right after "reset" with washing, as long as I've gotten the water/oil balance right. It's been two days since my last wash and my scalp is a little itchy again and I will probably wash again today. I think the longer I go without washing the drier my scalp and hair get. Just oiling might help, I know it helps my ends, but then I would have the hairfall problem if I don't also wash it out soon after. The weather is also really humid and perhaps that's also a factor. I also finger combed last night and all that manipulation may partly be making me itchy, too, who knows.

(I hope you all don't mind my ramblings and musings here in among my responses.)

[CuteCrow]

Not exactly scalp related but have you tried gentle body cleansers? My niece used to have this itchy skin condition after washing and one of my cousins had a psoriasis-like rash (at first they thought it was psoriasis but after they diagnosed water allergy/Aquagenic urticaria).
With my niece, the doctors said it wasn't the water but the cleansers, most normal body washes are rather harsh and strip our natural skin protection. What caused the itchiness was the minerals in the water, that's what makes the skin dry (and probably why drying as fast as possible after the shower works for some, you are avoiding these minerals to stick to your skin). The rule of thumb for gentle cleansers for my niece was, if it makes your skin "squeaky clean" is too harsh, as what makes the squeaky sounds are the minerals against your skin. The cheap option was the dove beauty bar and Soaper Duper body wash.
My cousin had a water softener for the same reason and some pharmacy brought body wash and shampoo so I'm not sure which ones he got.
So, I'm guessing maybe the same can work for the scalp? Maybe trying some sulfate-free gentle shampoo and not going for the squeaky clean feel.
I have dry skin so it's not exactly the same, but since I started using gentler body washes my skin is less itchy. My scalp is trickier as I have to use sulfated shampoos for my dandruff but they dry the heck out of my scalp.

[enting]

I was using Dove body soap on my scalp and hair for a while. It seemed all right. It wasn't amazing, but it was no worse than the better things that I've used. My hair didn't like it, but my scalp was okay with it. I kept having this powdery stuff come off on my hands after it dried. I do keep wondering if I should look for a gentler shampoo somewhere, if that would help.


Followup to the oiling subject - I oiled my scalp about an hour and 15 minutes ago and then put up my hair in a coronet braid right where the slight pressure is best. It's really calm right now, but I'm going to have to wash it out soon. I wish I could get this calm feeling without my head dripping in oil.

ETA: aaand that was too long. I touched some scalp hair and a few strands pulled away. Washed now.

[FaerieToast]

I have a question about mechanically distributing natural oil/sebum off of the scalp: (Sebum is just the name for the natural oil of the scalp, right?)

I flip my hair upside down in front of me when I (horn) comb it, and a big aspect for me is distributing the natural oil/sebum from my scalp into the rest of my hair. But I have problems with trying to get oil from the top part of the scalp distributed... it's like if I was combing down from a circle, O, and I can get the edges just fine but the closer I try to get to the middle, the harder it is. By day-5 there's a giant difference between the oilyness of the top of my scalp and the not-top, and I normally resort to taking a bath and using bit of shampoo bar on the top of my scalp to try and take care of it. I'd love to find a different solution, though, especially since I'm vaguely interested in something like sebum only for the future.

I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for mechanically cleaning that top part of the scalp? I have a horn comb, a BBB brush, and a plastic hair pick (normally used for henna application days) to work with.

Thanks ~

[MusicalSpoons]

^ fingers! I have experimented briefly, and the best sebum distribution method for me was fingers. I got the sebum down to about nape/shoulder length, which was further than with BBB.

Re: mild cleansers, I have found a correlation between harsher cleansers and itchy/tight/stripped skin. I *usually* only use shower gel on my armpits and underneath, and only water on the rest of me (including face) but there's still some itching if it dries too slowly. But then there have been times when mild cleansing wash was better than only water :confused: so ... goodness knows :shrug: though like I said, overall not a real problem for me, thankfully. The worst is being caught in the rain and drying out unevenly shudder: then it's really itchy!!

[gin]

(I hope you all don't mind my ramblings and musings here in among my responses.)

Ramble away! This is all VERY helpful to me. Even if I've heard it before, I think just knowing it's coming from someone that has a similar itchy experience to me makes all the difference

My scalp is getting better slowly. I may hold off on putting the vinegar on my scalp for another wash or two, even if it's back to ACV, as long as it's getting better. The next thing I'm going to try is lightly oiling the scalp 30min to an hour before washing. I'm hoping for positive results because I some oils that I'm not using at all right now. :)

[aenigmatica8]

These are really good points!

What does the boric acid do? Is it just because it's additional acid or is there something special about boric acid?

I get itchy right about when my hair is fully dry after washing. Sometimes it starts itching before it's totally dry, and when that happens I figure I either overdried my scalp with the water (I get water itch on other parts of my body) or I'm sensitive to something I used, if I used anything new.

Boric acid is a strong antifungal, and it will also bring down the pH of the shampoo to make it less attractive for fungi! Roughly 15% (although I suspect more) of the population shows an immune response against the fatty acids produced by malassezia fungus breaking down sebum. This can produce symptoms like dandruff and itching. However, since the itching starts just after you wash it- Could it be your shampoo? Does it contain fragrance/harsh sulfates? Perhaps you could try a different one. :)

[aenigmatica8]

There's something called "aquagenic pruritis" which I have *not* been diagnosed with (nor have I particularly asked my dermatologists about), but I have noted that when I have been washing dishes, or soon after a shower, my arms are particularly itchy. I often have flat red rashy looking areas on my arms after showering that fade after a bit. Anything water based on my face makes the skin on my face itch, so immediately after showering I apply oil to my face. Using cooler water when showering helps with the itchiness on my body/arms, but I'm also sensitive to temperatures, so it's a delicate balance. Even cold water when washing dishes will still make my arms itch if the water stays there and dries on my arms rather than me toweling it off quickly, which is why I really do think that I have some sort of water sensitivity. Using oils or moisturizer on the itchy spots after showering seems to help if it's too bad to just wait it out until it calms down on its own.

Water apparently dries out skin, probably akin to being able to use water only to strip the hair of excess oils. A friend of mine with dry skin said she was advised to always dry off very well with a towel after showering to prevent her skin from getting even more dried out and itchy. She suggested that perhaps my scalp itch was similar, and since then I've tried to towel dry my scalp as well as I can. I do that with my head upside down and my hair hanging down so I avoid toweling the rest of my hair as much as possible.

I also do better when I make sure to oil my scalp before washing. I use a layered combination of castor oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil. Coconut oil especially seems to leave a protective film on my skin even after washing, and that helps mitigate the itchiness from washing. I also have a small scalp patch that the dermatologist said is "psoriatic-ish", and I especially make sure to oil soak that area. I do have to make sure not to oil my scalp too far in advance of washing it because on me at least, the oils weaken my roots and hairs come out more easily if it's oiled for a while and I touch my hair.

Hello Hydration conditioner is my holy grail of conditioners to make my hair softer and my scalp less itchy in the areas where my hair is more wiry/dry. I tried the new biorenew formulation and nope, the itch is back. I checked the ingredients and the biorenew has humectants that the original HH does not have.... leading me to believe, yet again, that my itchy spots do not like water.

To be honest, my scalp was happier back when I used a ball-tipped regular brush, but it was ripping my hair so I stopped using it. It took a while to notice that my scalp was itchier. I might need more regular scalp massages, but I don't like doing them myself because that could just as easily trigger itchy feelings and the urge to pull (I have a habit of hair pulling). For all I know, my scalp would have gotten itchier anyway and the brush change is a red herring, but I'll add it in there in case it makes a difference.

I wonder if the ball tipped brush stimulated my scalp to produce oils more effectively than my wide toothed comb. Hmm.


All this is to say: I've tried a bunch of stuff, some helps a bit or some of the time, but this is still something I struggle with and am trying to figure out. I'd also love to hear if there's anything that works for you, even some of the time.

ETA - I forgot, I also use a strong vinegar rinse with cedarwood oil in it when I wash my hair. I apply it mainly to my scalp, though it also helps with detangling. It also sometimes helps with the scalp itch.

Aquagenic pruritis is rare- However, perhaps this relates to fungus? I have noticed that oilier regions of my skin become itchy when wet. I would suspect this has to do with fungi munching on the sebum. :confused:

[FaerieToast]

^ fingers! I have experimented briefly, and the best sebum distribution method for me was fingers. I got the sebum down to about nape/shoulder length, which was further than with BBB.

Thanks MusicalSpoons ^^ I tried it out and ended up making a blog post including it; preening with my fingers made me super excited hehe.

It was also really informative to me--I never knew how many different strand lengths make up the total body that is my hair, especially close to the scalp. There are so many younger and shorter strands that have a totally different feel at the tips than my longest hair... off-topic thought that I'll have to think more about tomorrow: I wonder now if my latest hairdresser's comment about how I 'still have some hair at different lengths' was slightly misleading; our conversation was about layers but I had already gotten my 7" of bonnafide unwanted layers chopped 2 years ago.

[lapushka]

I was using Dove body soap on my scalp and hair for a while. It seemed all right. It wasn't amazing, but it was no worse than the better things that I've used. My hair didn't like it, but my scalp was okay with it. I kept having this powdery stuff come off on my hands after it dried. I do keep wondering if I should look for a gentler shampoo somewhere, if that would help.

About Dove soap. With regular (other) soap I have residue in my sink, and heavy residue too. With Dove I don't have that at all. It is a really wonderful body soap (amazing), but I wouldn't use it on my hair, personally.

[lapushka]

I flip my hair upside down in front of me when I (horn) comb it, and a big aspect for me is distributing the natural oil/sebum from my scalp into the rest of my hair. But I have problems with trying to get oil from the top part of the scalp distributed... it's like if I was combing down from a circle, O, and I can get the edges just fine but the closer I try to get to the middle, the harder it is. By day-5 there's a giant difference between the oilyness of the top of my scalp and the not-top, and I normally resort to taking a bath and using bit of shampoo bar on the top of my scalp to try and take care of it. I'd love to find a different solution, though, especially since I'm vaguely interested in something like sebum only for the future.

I think that's why a lot of people use a BBB (boar bristle brush). A brush makes it all lie in the same direction and can distribute pretty well and can reach spots a comb can't. A comb just allows the hair to separate where it will due to the oil. If that makes any sense.

[enting]

The worst is being caught in the rain and drying out unevenly shudder: then it's really itchy!!
Oh gosh, yes, that's terrible.


Boric acid is a strong antifungal, and it will also bring down the pH of the shampoo to make it less attractive for fungi! Roughly 15% (although I suspect more) of the population shows an immune response against the fatty acids produced by malassezia fungus breaking down sebum. This can produce symptoms like dandruff and itching. However, since the itching starts just after you wash it- Could it be your shampoo? Does it contain fragrance/harsh sulfates? Perhaps you could try a different one. :)


Aquagenic pruritis is rare- However, perhaps this relates to fungus? I have noticed that oilier regions of my skin become itchy when wet. I would suspect this has to do with fungi munching on the sebum. :confused:

The itchiest place of all seems driest. I do have a couple of other patches that are dandruffy and seem oilier, though. I suspect there's more than one thing going on on my scalp and the dermatologist didn't have the patience to really care, she just threw antifungal shampoo at me and when that didn't help she wanted me to try coal tar shampoo.

It could absolutely be my shampoo, I'm just afraid to try things out for fear of it making my scalp worse the way it did the last time I switched.


About Dove soap. With regular (other) soap I have residue in my sink, and heavy residue too. With Dove I don't have that at all. It is a really wonderful body soap (amazing), but I wouldn't use it on my hair, personally.

I tried it because I figured if the rest of my skin seems okay with it, maybe my scalp would like it better than the shampoos I was using. I do use body wash as a shampoo in a pinch anyway, or vice versa (yes, I've used head & shoulders as body wash at times!) but I agree, I think I don't want to do that regularly.

[gin]

I just had a revelation. Long story short, my husband and I have been TTC for awhile and had our first visit to a fertility doc over a month ago. She advised me to start taking a few more supplements, one of them being DHEA. All my lab tests for hormones, blood, etc. came back normal, but I guess there's a lot of scientific research supporting DHEA helping with eggs for IVF (we're not at that point yet though). In any case, yesterday I was thinking about how my scalp has been much worse on the itching and acne front and what other changes I have made besides the white vinegar, and remembered the supplements! Apparently it's common for hair loss, itchy scalp, and acne as side effects for DHEA. So this makes much more sense to me than the vinegar, as my scalp was so annoyingly itchy yesterday, even when I haven't used vinegar for awhile.

Luckily I have an appointment with the doctor later today, and will definitely bring this up!

[lapushka]

gin, I just wanted to side-track a bit and wish you luck on TTC!

OK, back to regular programming! :lol: ;)

[FaerieToast]

I just had a revelation. Long story short, my husband and I have been TTC for awhile and had our first visit to a fertility doc over a month ago. She advised me to start taking a few more supplements, one of them being DHEA. All my lab tests for hormones, blood, etc. came back normal, but I guess there's a lot of scientific research supporting DHEA helping with eggs for IVF (we're not at that point yet though). In any case, yesterday I was thinking about how my scalp has been much worse on the itching and acne front and what other changes I have made besides the white vinegar, and remembered the supplements! Apparently it's common for hair loss, itchy scalp, and acne as side effects for DHEA. So this makes much more sense to me than the vinegar, as my scalp was so annoyingly itchy yesterday, even when I haven't used vinegar for awhile.

Luckily I have an appointment with the doctor later today, and will definitely bring this up!
Huh I never knew that about DHEA!! I've been taking it as a supplement for the last 4 years or so because of the testosterone building blocks it offers (it offers other building blocks too). Interesting to think it also helps with TCC, but it makes sense--if I accidentally miss a couple of days of DHEA, or start it after not taking it for a while, it messes with my hormonal cycle and I might ovulate despite having an IUD that typically stops ovulation entirely. Very good luck!


I think that's why a lot of people use a BBB (boar bristle brush). A brush makes it all lie in the same direction and can distribute pretty well and can reach spots a comb can't. A comb just allows the hair to separate where it will due to the oil. If that makes any sense.
@ part that I underlined: ooh I wonder if this is part of why I've always had a difficult time using my BBB---I normally try brushing it according to the 'normal direction' of hair growth instead of lying it all in the same direction, and it's never worked right unless I use it on the underside of hair that's upside down in front of me, or right-side up behind me. Once I get to day 3 or 4 since hair wash I'll try it out again with that in mind.

[enting]

Making connections between things is really interesting. If it is the DHEA, will you have to stay on it for the duration? Or is it just one of those "nice to add but may not need" things?

[gin]

Huh I never knew that about DHEA!! I've been taking it as a supplement for the last 4 years or so because of the testosterone building blocks it offers (it offers other building blocks too). Interesting to think it also helps with TCC, but it makes sense--if I accidentally miss a couple of days of DHEA, or start it after not taking it for a while, it messes with my hormonal cycle and I might ovulate despite having an IUD that typically stops ovulation entirely. Very good luck!.


Making connections between things is really interesting. If it is the DHEA, will you have to stay on it for the duration? Or is it just one of those "nice to add but may not need" things?

So just got back from the doc. When I initially asked about the itching she said it was unlikely at the dose I'm taking (25mg/day), but then when I mentioned the acne she said it definitely could be the DHEA. She said it would be really nice to keep taking it since it does help a lot with egg quality, but since we're not doing IVF yet (we're trying IUI now) she said I could stop taking it now and see if my scalp condition improves just to see if it is in fact the DHEA. Of course, in the ideal scenario I'd get pregnant and then wouldn't need to worry about the DHEA anymore :)

[guska]

I've got to start using Nizoral again, my scalp has been developing small itchy bumps between washes again :/ Luckily I still have some left in the bottle I bought ten months ago.

[Ylva]

Huh I never knew that about DHEA!! I've been taking it as a supplement for the last 4 years or so because of the testosterone building blocks it offers (it offers other building blocks too). Interesting to think it also helps with TCC, but it makes sense--if I accidentally miss a couple of days of DHEA, or start it after not taking it for a while, it messes with my hormonal cycle and I might ovulate despite having an IUD that typically stops ovulation entirely. Very good luck!

Off-topic, but what kind of an IUD is that? The information I've been given as well as my personal experience indicate the opposite, that IUDs typically do not prevent ovulation but that it's rather the exception if it happens.

[gothicshollow]

I'm having some scalp problems.
I never had dandruff or dry scalp before 2015, then I moved to another city to do my PhD and suddenly I started to find flakes right after the shampoo. Back then I blamed the combination of my way of washing hair (with soap nuts and shikakai, although I was using them also before with no problems) and the very chalky water of the new city.
I struggled in finding a way to wash my hair without getting the flakes and the only product I could use was a detergent for "intimate parts", very diluted in water. When I washed the hair with that, no flakes. Plus, the flakes went away whenever I did/do henna and indigo.

Then I moved to Germany. The detergent I used in Italy is not available here and I had to find a similar one. I found it and at first everything was ok. Then since last week I tried to decrease the number of times I use it in a week, from 3 times a week to once a week (with WO washes in between, when I run).
Today my scalp was a bit itchy, then I went for a run and I washed my hair with the detergent. Now I'm full of flakes :O :'(
What's happening to meeeeeee :'( Can it be the fact that I decreased the "real" scalp cleansing and my scalp doesn't like not to be clean?

I planned to do henna tonight... but I don't know if I should postpone it and go to sleep with some kind of scalp treatment?

[FaerieToast]

Off-topic, but what kind of an IUD is that? The information I've been given as well as my personal experience indicate the opposite, that IUDs typically do not prevent ovulation but that it's rather the exception if it happens.

Hnn... my IUD is a Mirena (progestin-only) from 2015. I was told by my nurse when I got it that it 'should stop ovulation which makes its other birth control effects even more effective' (or something along those lines, that's my best memory of what she said). What I've always taken to be signs of ovulation--a kind of cranberry sized, off-white translucent 'blob' that'll be discharged once every month or month and a half--stopped happening except for very rarely or if I messed up with my supplements.

Now I'm really curious though... I only had periods for 3 years of my life, from age 15-18 and it was extremely irregular and light during that time before it just stopped when I got birth control--which means that I probably am an outlier in how I respond to birth control... and also a lot less informed about my body's natural cycle. I was browsing some of the period thread yesterday and I was absolutely flabbergasted with how awesomely in-the-know you all were.
Is there a good thread in the off-topic section where it's on-topic to discuss this kind of stuff?

[Ylva]

Hnn... my IUD is a Mirena (progestin-only) from 2015. I was told by my nurse when I got it that it 'should stop ovulation which makes its other birth control effects even more effective' (or something along those lines, that's my best memory of what she said). What I've always taken to be signs of ovulation--a kind of cranberry sized, off-white translucent 'blob' that'll be discharged once every month or month and a half--stopped happening except for very rarely or if I messed up with my supplements.

Now I'm really curious though... I only had periods for 3 years of my life, from age 15-18 and it was extremely irregular and light during that time before it just stopped when I got birth control--which means that I probably am an outlier in how I respond to birth control... and also a lot less informed about my body's natural cycle. I was browsing some of the period thread yesterday and I was absolutely flabbergasted with how awesomely in-the-know you all were.
Is there a good thread in the off-topic section where it's on-topic to discuss this kind of stuff?

The period and IUD threads in the health section. :)

[FaerieToast]

Thanks Ylva ^^ I'll check them out after some house work today.

gothichollow how different are the climates or water quality in Germany and the city in Italy where you were before, was your move to Germany recent? I don't want to assume too much and give bad info, but the first thing I thought of when reading your post was a thread (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=95454) I read by a lovely lady who moved from India to the UK and had a lot of problems (with shedding) that she'd never had before despite using the same techniques she always had. Your mention of a couple of moves & soapnuts suddenly acting up and finding a similar intimate wash that flakes kind of reminded me of that.

[gothicshollow]

Thanks Ylva ^^ I'll check them out after some house work today.

gothichollow how different are the climates or water quality in Germany and the city in Italy where you were before, was your move to Germany recent? I don't want to assume too much and give bad info, but the first thing I thought of when reading your post was a thread (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=95454) I read by a lovely lady who moved from India to the UK and had a lot of problems (with shedding) that she'd never had before despite using the same techniques she always had. Your mention of a couple of moves & soapnuts suddenly acting up and finding a similar intimate wash that flakes kind of reminded me of that.

Thank you for mentioning that thread, I will go to read it immediately!
So the water here is incredibly chalky, but I can't say if it's worse than in the city I lived before.
I could mention multiple factors that might have an influence (and something in common with the previous move)
- The stress due to the move - this time in particular I moved twice, once from the old city to my hometown, then after a couple of days again to Germany. I moved to Germany in August.
- Back then I had the stress of beginning a PhD, now I have the stress of ending it, that peaked during this week, and I have also troubles finding a job for afterwards
- The water, as mentioned
- The climate is dryer. Both my hometown and the city I lived in during the PhD are instead very humid. The upcoming winter scares me and my skin a lot!
- My change in the hair routine, as I mentioned, from 3 times a week diluted detergent, to once a week diluted detergent and twice a week WO. I also must mention the silk cap at night.

For now it seems that I kind of solved it by applying a lotion that I self made originally for my face cleansing routine, and that I use to reestabilish the face skin pH after cleansing it with the soap bar. It's a very simple water lotion containing some hydrating ingredients and with a slightly acidic pH, nothing fancy. But it seemed to give some rest to my scalp.

[enting]

Wait, intimate wash is good for scalps?! I want to try that now!

My scalp was still feeling a bit uncomfortable this week and I was a bit short on time, so yesterday I skipped the oiling and just put on a bit of antifungal cream on the dandruffy spots and did the rest of my wash as normal. My scalp was less itchy last night and today than it has been, so it seems like my scalp needs a bit of variety. Do oils build up? Because it seemed like maybe they did and my head just needed a plain wash without the oils on it this time. My scalp is a little more dandruffy today, but oddly not itchy along with that. (Until I started playing with my hair - they my scalp started getting annoyed with all the movement. But that's a differen't thing than the itching straight after the shower.... I think?)

[MusicalSpoons]

^ Intimate wash is supposed to have a lower pH, and I guess dispenses with any other ingredients that might disturb the, erm, local microbiome ;)

[enting]

You know, that makes sense. I've never looked into what goes into intimate washes. Hm!

[gin]

My scalp is finally back to "normal" now. Since trying Nizoral my scalp had been more inflamed and had more acne. I tried Neutrogena T-Sal too, and that also made it worse. It got to a point where I couldn't put my hair up in buns anymore due to how sore certain parts of my scalp were. The past couple of weeks I've been leaving my hair down to give my scalp a rest, and also added a wash day a week (from twice to 3x a week). I've found that Trader Joe's TT seems to be working for my scalp the best. Now that it's back to "normal" (still very slightly itchy but not inflamed and sore), I think I will stop experimenting with shampoos now!

Given my experience the past couple of weeks, I think my scalp sensitivity is due to tension from buns and updos, some harsher ingredients in shampoos, as well as needing a fine balance from being too dry and too dirty/sweaty. And possibly not being damp for too long (I've also started blow drying just my scalp on low and cool for a couple minutes to help it dry faster after washing or sweating a lot). I started scalp-only washes which allowed me to add the extra wash day.

I'd like to start wearing buns again since I love my hairtoys, but if my scalp is super sensitive to them I might not be able to. :( I'll try to start wearing them slowly and in shorter periods of time and see what happens. My problem before might have been that I started to wear them for too much too quickly and my scalp just couldn't adjust.

I still have my dermatologist appointment in a couple days so we'll see what the doc says as well.

[enting]

I'm glad your scalp is getting better, gin.

Mine was massively itchy today, but I have a suspicion that I'm just having an allover allergic reaction to something plantlike outside. My legs are also itchy.

[Begemot]

And possibly not being damp for too long (I've also started blow drying just my scalp on low and cool for a couple minutes to help it dry faster after washing or sweating a lot). I started scalp-only washes which allowed me to add the extra wash day.

I'd like to start wearing buns again since I love my hairtoys, but if my scalp is super sensitive to them I might not be able to. :( I'll try to start wearing them slowly and in shorter periods of time and see what happens. My problem before might have been that I started to wear them for too much too quickly and my scalp just couldn't adjust.

I still have my dermatologist appointment in a couple days so we'll see what the doc says as well.

I did the same thing back when my SD was bad and I believe it really helped managing my scalp. Great to hear your scalp has calmed down! Keeping my fingers crossed for you that you will eventually be able to re-introduce hair toys to your hair without scalp troubles.

[gin]

Update from my dermatologist appointment: My scalp was actually pretty clear for the appt which was annoying since she couldn't see the worst of it, but there was an old scalp pimple that was healing. It was enough for her to say it's folliculitis and gave me a topical prescription to use when I get acne. Unfortunately I still don't know exactly what causes them, but she said it's usually better to wash more frequently and avoid putting hair up when it's still damp. So I will continue with my added wash day (thankfully I can scalp-only wash so it's not bad at all) and also blow drying just my scalp. I currently think tension on my scalp is the most likely cause (combined with sweating), and that my scalp is just super sensitive to follicle manipulation and tension (there's a thing called traction folliculitis).

I wore a bun today (for longer than 15-30min) for the first time in over a few weeks! Only for maybe an hour or so when I went to run errands but I'm going to take it slow this time. :) At home I'll continue to leave it loose/down or loosely wrapped in a satin handkerchief. My climbing sessions are longer (3-4hrs) so I'll practice some loose braiding for now, and as I get my scalp used to buns again I'll re-introduce climbing buns and tighter braids. I'll also try to add more scalp massages so my follicles can get used to that too.

[Begemot]

Good thing you got a diagnosis and treatment plan, gin! It's a step towards managing your condition :thumbsup:

[lapushka]

Good thing you got a diagnosis and treatment plan, gin! It's a step towards managing your condition :thumbsup:

Yes and when it's particularly bad, try and go back to her. Keep the feedback loop going, it's important. Thankfully you had that one pimple; just explaining how there are usually more should have made the bulb go off and it apparently did. So that's great. At least you got something to work with now!

[Arciela]

I've had scalp problems for so many years. Itching non stop..omg. I used head and shoulders once and left it on for 5+ minutes , then it finally went away. I used H&S so many times but rinsed it off so quickly..I guess that's why it didn't help. Anyway after that I began cowashing...dunno if it helped but the only thing that works is if I use ACV on my scalp after cowashing. I think it helps balance my PH or something...if I don't use it the itch slowly comes back.

[Begemot]

Got some mild flaking around my hairline. Not worried but I would just like to know the reason for it. I might have annoyed my scalp by using a physical scalp scrub last week. Or it could be just the changing weather. Or I have applied some skin care product(s) there and haven't washed my hairline properly. Or maybe it's the shampoo(s)? I honestly have no idea. I don't even have any scalp lotion right now. I want to order some but I'm looking for discounts first...

[lapushka]

Got some mild flaking around my hairline. Not worried but I would just like to know the reason for it. I might have annoyed my scalp by using a physical scalp scrub last week. Or it could be just the changing weather. Or I have applied some skin care product(s) there and haven't washed my hairline properly. Or maybe it's the shampoo(s)? I honestly have no idea. I don't even have any scalp lotion right now. I want to order some but I'm looking for discounts first...

Can you stand Head & Shoulders? I would try and when you suds, leave it on for a couple minutes before rinsing clear.

[Begemot]

Can you stand Head & Shoulders? I would try and when you suds, leave it on for a couple minutes before rinsing clear.

Unfortunately no, in the past H&S made my whole scalp flaky. I figured some ingredient in it is just too strong for my scalp. I'm hoping that this is just a case of winter dryness and not a sign of some other issue.

[enting]

The temperatures and humidity have been changing and suddenly my hair and scalp like the biorenew herbal essences conditioner better than the hello hydration one. I guess they want more humectants now?

I ran out of antifungal cream and I'm thinking I should get some more. I'm still sort of itchy, but it's a dry sort of itch, like my hair and scalp and everything are just too dry.

[cestlavie]

I was in Poland from 31st of October until yesterday and got a few hair goodies. I got multiple scalp tonics (wcierka in Polish) from Jantar and Saponics because they are very cheap there. Also, Poland and other East European countries tend to have a lot of products especially designed for the scalp and hair loss compared to The Netherlands. So it was quite an experience when I entered the first drugstore there.

[MusicalSpoons]

Bumping this thread for those of us that need it :)

[Bri-Chan]

Thank you MusicalSpoons, I had no idea this thread existed.

[Bri-Chan]

Has anyone tried cowash? I did in the past, when my scalp was so much easygoing. I'd like to try again but I'm afraid for the longer massage that cowash needs.

[lapushka]

Has anyone tried cowash? I did in the past, when my scalp was so much easygoing. I'd like to try again but I'm afraid for the longer massage that cowash needs.

What exactly do you mean with, "when my scalp was so much easygoing"? Is it problematic now? Because depending on what's wrong CO-wash might work for you or against you.

It can't hurt to try.

[Bri-Chan]

It was not always like this. I used to wash on day 6 with harsh shampoo and my scalp was happy like that. Then I tried an indian scalp massage (15 minutes a day every day. About 20 days before results. I did it for one month and an half) to improve growth but it irritated my scalp and my routine changed drastically and my scalp never returned to his original stage. I don't know if the massage was the only guilty... Several months later I discovered some health issues, but it's been months since I'm ok or almost. I improved a lot, for sure, but my scalp is always that sensitive. The only kind of shampoo my hair truly like are sulfate based and very mild: that shampoos addressed to very dry hair, that makes your hair dirty faster

This is what happened.... I also have to check if the conditioner I have now can be used for cowash.

[MusicalSpoons]

Bri-Chan can you copy and paste what you posted on the other thread please? Now I have some brainpower but I can't remember what your issue was :oops:


Bumped the thread for myself as well; I've been having quite a time of it ... [Okay this turned out LONG and possibly a bit TMI. I wish I could put it under a cut]

- November last year had a massive eczema flare on my face (this is relevant), realised a couple of months later it was triggered by using biological laundry liquid for my pillocases and satin cap (:doh::doh::doh:) so stopped using that, obviously. Lots of steroid cream later and I had about 3 days when it was clear in February then it all went downhill again - not reacting and hot and tight and awful but definitely sensitised and it's not been right since.
- Scalp-wise, I was having it dry and flaky for a few months but I could manage
- Face is an ongoing list of new things I'm realising it hates
- A few weeks ago I had a reaction all over my face, neck and majority of my scalp to something. I suspect it was my HG conditioner because I had some left over on my hands in the shower and thought the ingredients might make it nice to rub over my face and neck, kind of like a cream cleanser instead of a foaming wash and better than plain water. WRONG. The reaction was just ... awful. I can describe details if anyone wants to know (I actually didn't realise quite what the symptoms meant for a couple of days until it twigged when I'd felt similar before - when my face was reacting to the laundry liquid) but seriously, yikes.
- Since then my scalp calmed down a bit before the next time I washed my hair, but I had a reaction again (didn't use the same conditioner!) just somewhat milder and limited to my scalp and around the hairline, ears, and forehead. I think this might have been when I had an initial moan on another thread.

Basically my head and neck seem to be super-sensitised, and I don't know if it's product-specific or whether it just needs time to completely heal. I used the same Dr Organic AV shampoo until last time I washed, which is when it ran out and I opened the tea tree version. My scalp now is back to dry and flaky, with only weepy behind one ear where I slept on it, a bit crusty round the hairline and these patches of excess skin above my nape which sort of peel off - I don't know how to describe them but they are much better than before and when they come off, it's not weeping underneath and I don't find a new patch replacing it just a few hours later. I will say though that I'm absolutely fed up of having to thoroughly comb my hair because of them (I can only pull the biggest patches/flakes out with my fingers but the smaller ones need combing ... I say smaller, they're still >5mm in diameter but there are too many of them to get out of my hair individually) and the front looks permanently greasy because of having to use so much moisturier on my face, not to mention the flaky skin around my hairline making a nuisance of itself.

Other external possibilities I'm so far considering are that the shower filter might have been a dud, or that the mains hot water might be contributing as we had a new heating system installed last June and the water smells metallic :vomit: (thankfully cold water is still fine, but still hard and horrible for skin and hair *sigh*). Both of these can be simultaneously tested by just using water from the shower without the filter, as it heats cold water from the mains.
Another consideration is that while my scalp is upset, it may not like being wet for long. Last time I showered I didn't do any pre-poo, as well as the different shampoo and it itched significantly less when drying before bed and I woke up without it having wept and gone all crusty other than around my ears. I've found the diffuser for the hairdryer in case I need to attempt using that just for the roots; while I hope I don't, it might be what allows me to pre-poo like I used to, because my hair is feeling the lack of it just from missing a couple of times.

And a final update of sorts, I did a partial scalp wash late afternoon yesterday, and it dried absolutely fine with no additional irritation (dry and flaky is standard right now) :happydance:

I would love to be able to go back to using conditioner on my scalp because when it was flaky like this before, that's what really helped (I occasionally used shampoo but mostly conditioner for a few weeks) and it was great after that, but the conditioner has been discontinued and I haven't found anything yet that looks like a suitable replacement - and I daren't try anything different while it's still sensitised.

[Bri-Chan]

Bri-Chan can you copy and paste what you posted on the other thread please? Now I have some brainpower but I can't remember what your issue was :oops:
I actually posted my "story" in the previous page of this thread. I realized only recently that my problems are signs of a sensitive scalp :rolleyes: my scalp get itchy very easily if I don't use mild and nourishing shampoo. And dandruff, it looks like dry dandruff. I'm on the oily side, but if I touch my scalp I feel it dry. Sometimes my scalp can stand a harsher shampoo and that's why I have some of them... But it can also end with super itchy scalp, dandruff anywhere and burn in some areas. Also with shampoo described and reviewed as mild I can have this reaction. Now I will keep use my safe shampoo for a while, but my scalp has not improved a lot since the last reaction so I think I will need some time.
What is absurd is also that I did my last dye on october, and I did several beaches the last summer. This situation was already affecting me, but my scalp didn't react after those treatments. I don't know what is the main problem.

[Spitfire]

I have a super duper oily scalp. It is an epic producer of mega grease and it only takes 6 hours after a shampoo to grease up again. I've tried several times to stretch washes (patiently) and have gotten myself into an every other day routine, but that's the best I can do.

It doesn't matter what products I use, either. It's been a life long battle.

The best I can do is give it nourishing products that aren't oil heavy, and be patient with it. Caffeinated shampoo seems to work really well for me.

[lapushka]

I actually posted my "story" in the previous page of this thread. I realized only recently that my problems are signs of a sensitive scalp :rolleyes: my scalp get itchy very easily if I don't use mild and nourishing shampoo. And dandruff, it looks like dry dandruff. I'm on the oily side, but if I touch my scalp I feel it dry. Sometimes my scalp can stand a harsher shampoo and that's why I have some of them... But it can also end with super itchy scalp, dandruff anywhere and burn in some areas. Also with shampoo described and reviewed as mild I can have this reaction. Now I will keep use my safe shampoo for a while, but my scalp has not improved a lot since the last reaction so I think I will need some time.
What is absurd is also that I did my last dye on october, and I did several beaches the last summer. This situation was already affecting me, but my scalp didn't react after those treatments. I don't know what is the main problem.

Should you happen to go to the doctor, just ask him or her about it sometime. No need perhaps to "specially" go, especially in these times, but if you happen to be there... why not?

[Bri-Chan]

Should you happen to go to the doctor, just ask him or her about it sometime. No need perhaps to "specially" go, especially in these times, but if you happen to be there... why not?

I should see a dermatologist for other reasons when the situation here in Italy will be safer... I'll ask for the scalp. I also have some struggles with face skin, probably it's related.

[lapushka]

I should see a dermatologist for other reasons when the situation here in Italy will be safer... I'll ask for the scalp. I also have some struggles with face skin, probably it's related.

Ah OK. Good luck! :D And totally understandable about postponing until safer!!!

[MusicalSpoons]

I actually posted my "story" in the previous page of this thread. I realized only recently that my problems are signs of a sensitive scalp :rolleyes: my scalp get itchy very easily if I don't use mild and nourishing shampoo. And dandruff, it looks like dry dandruff. I'm on the oily side, but if I touch my scalp I feel it dry. Sometimes my scalp can stand a harsher shampoo and that's why I have some of them... But it can also end with super itchy scalp, dandruff anywhere and burn in some areas. Also with shampoo described and reviewed as mild I can have this reaction. Now I will keep use my safe shampoo for a while, but my scalp has not improved a lot since the last reaction so I think I will need some time.
What is absurd is also that I did my last dye on october, and I did several beaches the last summer. This situation was already affecting me, but my scalp didn't react after those treatments. I don't know what is the main problem.

Ah sorry, I must have read it but it not quite registered. Yes I completely sympathise; my scalp is oily too (would need washing every other day if I needed it to look presentable, and any manipulation produces more oil). I realised that for me, the dryness was not true dryness in the doesn't-produce-enough-oil sense, but rather because the skin was dehydrated due to either too harsh shampoo, or reacting to shampoo (though compared with recent events, any reactions back then were mild indeed! :roll:). I found a lot of sulphate-free shampoos were still too harsh, most of which had cocamidopropyl betaine as the main surfactant or at least as one of the first few ingredients. pH also seems to be a factor for me; I don't know if it might be for you as well. I'm glad you have a safe shampoo though, and I do hope that with time it will heal and rebalance itself :flowers:



I have a super duper oily scalp. It is an epic producer of mega grease and it only takes 6 hours after a shampoo to grease up again. I've tried several times to stretch washes (patiently) and have gotten myself into an every other day routine, but that's the best I can do.

It doesn't matter what products I use, either. It's been a life long battle.

The best I can do is give it nourishing products that aren't oil heavy, and be patient with it. Caffeinated shampoo seems to work really well for me.

From 6 hours to every other day is amazing! I know it can often feel like we *ought* to stretch washes but your scalp wants what your scalp wants, and for most of us there comes a point beyond which we can't push washes any further. As I said above, if I needed my hair to be presentable I would need to wash my scalp every other day - but I don't need it to, so I routinely do a full wash once a week-ish, with usually a scalp wash in between to keep my scalp from becoming itchy if it needs it. Well, that *was* the routine when my scalp was happy, but my point is even with stretching washes that far* it hasn't noticeably reduced oil production. We just have to work with what we've got :)

*with the mildest shampoo I could find; with harsher products it used to look greasy by the end of the day and the products stripped and aggravated my scalp, so that was a lose-lose situation!

[nyholev]

I've have been experiencing itchy scalp for this spring (cant really recall when this started) and lately I've been trying to tackle this problem with various ways. It gets really itchy after 2 days of washing and I always though that its means that all the dirt and sebum is making it itchy but turns out, its just dry and thats making it itchy.

I've been using shampoo bars (always with a vinegar rinse) for around 10 years now and never had issues with them before (ok, maybe when not washing like in 5 days it got itchy :D) so I first tried to using oils before washing in the scalp, mixed with teatreeoil and whatnot, but no help. Between washes I'm washing my hair with water only, since I exercise almost daily, but that doesn't make it particularly clean or oil free, and sometimes that postpones the itchiness just a few hours.
Then I thought that maybe CO wash would help the problem, and it did, but the scalp got itchy "too fast" again, around day 3 after wash. That's when I decided to try humectants straight to my scalp when it gets itchy and to my surprise, it worked almost instantly!
So what I used was just a skin cream (with no oils, Humektan is the finnish brand here) diluted with water (1/3 humektan, 2/3 water) and just massaged it to my scalp.
Next step is to use that mixture straight after washing with bar or CO and lets see how long I can go without washing it :)

Just sharing this if someone else is battling with this and is willing to try new things.

[nyholev]

I've have been experiencing itchy scalp for this spring (cant really recall when this started) and lately I've been trying to tackle this problem with various ways. It gets really itchy after 2 days of washing and I always though that its means that all the dirt and sebum is making it itchy but turns out, its just dry and thats making it itchy.

I've been using shampoo bars (always with a vinegar rinse) for around 10 years now and never had issues with them before (ok, maybe when not washing like in 5 days it got itchy :D) so I first tried to using oils before washing in the scalp, mixed with teatreeoil and whatnot, but no help. Between washes I'm washing my hair with water only, since I exercise almost daily, but that doesn't make it particularly clean or oil free, and sometimes that postpones the itchiness just a few hours.
Then I thought that maybe CO wash would help the problem, and it did, but the scalp got itchy "too fast" again, around day 3 after wash. That's when I decided to try humectants straight to my scalp when it gets itchy and to my surprise, it worked almost instantly!
So what I used was just a skin cream (with no oils, Humektan is the finnish brand here) diluted with water (1/3 humektan, 2/3 water) and just massaged it to my scalp.
Next step is to use that mixture straight after washing with bar or CO and lets see how long I can go without washing it :)

Just sharing this if someone else is battling with this and is willing to try new things.

[auburntressed]

I don’t know what precisely is wrong with my scalp, but I am a chronic sufferer of constant itch. When I was a teenager, my family got taken out by head lice, and I actually never even noticed a difference because the itch was no different than what I always had anyways.

I have tried so many different things over the years, including oil massages, dandruff shampoos, and a host of other things. Constant, never-ending itch. All the time.

The only thing that has ever relieved my itch has been henna.

I used to use straight henna. Nothing works better. My natural color is auburn, so the color difference was minimal.

Then it started to just get too purple-toned for me. So I tried to switch to cassia instead, and that did not relieve my itch.

I eventually settled on a 50/50 henna/cassia mix. Any less henna, and it won’t knock out the constant itch. I’ve been doing scalp only for several years now, and it’s holding pretty steady without over-coloring my hair.

I can always tell when it’s time for a treatment, because the itch starts to creep in on me. It’s subtle at first, but it gets bad if I ignore it. So I do a scalp treatment every 5-6 weeks, as needed.

[Locksmith]

Bumped the thread for myself as well; I've been having quite a time of it ... [Okay this turned out LONG and possibly a bit TMI. I wish I could put it under a cut]



Oh nooo. It sounds like we have similar issues - utmost sympathies D: I really hear you on the "want to try things but daren't in case it flares up again" horror!

I've only recently realised that my scalp issues are SD (you know that grim SD smell? Yeah, that. ) The rest of my skin is dry like the desert and super reactive, so for years I thought the dandruff was my scalp being dry too, even though my hair gets lank the day after it's washed. The moisturiser I use on my face is ointment-based and has the consistency of lard, and it goes on several times a day, which is super great if you get dry scales around the hairline and also have fine straight hair that goes lank at a sniff of oil :rolleyes: But it's the first stuff I've used in a decade that my skin hasn't one day suddenly decided is basically napalm, so it's here to stay and I love it.

Thought I'd take advantage of lockdown to try and stretch washes a bit, acclimatise my scalp. Hahahaha. BIG MISTAKE. Coal tar shampoo and ACV rinse every other day is going some way to start getting the consequent flareup under control. My length is not appreciating it, especially as the instructions are to shampoo twice. :( Currently trying for coconut oil on the length before showering, then CWC for the second wash. So far it seems an acceptable compromise, but it's doing a number on the rest of my skin, which *is* dry, and cannot handle the harsh sulfates or the conditioner that often. I have a massive patch of eczema on my neck, and I've yet to find any way of stopping the suds and/or conditioner from making it flare up painfully. Anyone got any smart ideas? I'm starting to contemplate cannibalising a plastic bag into some kind of neck shield. I hate having to do a full wash every other day, it's exhausting, but needs must...

[Locksmith]

Sorry, my browser's done something weird. Duplicate removed!

[Marymary]

I understand about not wanting to try new products when you have an irritated scalp but if you get to the point you can try a different shampoo there’s one called allergenics which you may have tried already maybe but Its very mild and I have found it really helpful for itchy unhappy scalp. I’m in the uk and it’s available from Holland and Barrett https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/allergenics-hair-gentle-medicated-shampoo-60087773 not sure about other countries though

[Spitfire]

Ah sorry, I must have read it but it not quite registered. Yes I completely sympathise; my scalp is oily too (would need washing every other day if I needed it to look presentable, and any manipulation produces more oil). I realised that for me, the dryness was not true dryness in the doesn't-produce-enough-oil sense, but rather because the skin was dehydrated due to either too harsh shampoo, or reacting to shampoo (though compared with recent events, any reactions back then were mild indeed! :roll:). I found a lot of sulphate-free shampoos were still too harsh, most of which had cocamidopropyl betaine as the main surfactant or at least as one of the first few ingredients. pH also seems to be a factor for me; I don't know if it might be for you as well. I'm glad you have a safe shampoo though, and I do hope that with time it will heal and rebalance itself :flowers:




From 6 hours to every other day is amazing! I know it can often feel like we *ought* to stretch washes but your scalp wants what your scalp wants, and for most of us there comes a point beyond which we can't push washes any further. As I said above, if I needed my hair to be presentable I would need to wash my scalp every other day - but I don't need it to, so I routinely do a full wash once a week-ish, with usually a scalp wash in between to keep my scalp from becoming itchy if it needs it. Well, that *was* the routine when my scalp was happy, but my point is even with stretching washes that far* it hasn't noticeably reduced oil production. We just have to work with what we've got :)

*with the mildest shampoo I could find; with harsher products it used to look greasy by the end of the day and the products stripped and aggravated my scalp, so that was a lose-lose situation!

Thanks! It's definitely progress but yes, it's my limit. That's where I'm at too, I don't need to look washed and presentable every day so I can get away with a little greasiness every other day or so.
I wonder if the illusion that my scalp makes less oil when I stretch to every other day is just that, an illusion, and maybe it's the same amount of scalp oil, but my hair that has somehow learned to better absorb said scalp oil?
I have no idea what I'm talking about but it's an idea. lol.

When I used heavy sulfate shampoos, I had much more trouble with grease by the end of the day too.

[Shorty89]

I'm popping in here. Unlike many people, I don't have SD, I have scalp eczema. Specifically, atopic dermatitis. I usually get flare ups in summer due to the increased heat and sweating on my scalp. While SD requires more frequent washing and harsher shampoos, my goal is moisture, moisture, and more moisture. It's hard to have nice looking hair when I'm applying oil or aloe vera on my scalp. I have prescription cream, but it's super hard to get it through my hair and onto my scalp. Generally, I can control it with aloe vera or coconut oil to moisturize and using ACV rinses. But, I do get flare-ups every summer, especially on the back of my head where my hair sticks/forks sit. I think that they rub the skin when I'm outside, moving, and sweating and cause further irritation. It's quite annoying. I often sacrifice my ends by living in braids (sometimes crown or milkmaid). If anyone has any tips specific to eczema, I'd welcome them.

[Bri-Chan]

MusicalSpoons I just checked the sulphate-free shampoo that I have and I find too harsh, and it is cocamidopropyl betaine based! I find it harsher also than my shampoo bar with sodium lauryl sulphate (I use it to clarify basically).

[Elodea]

I found a lot of sulphate-free shampoos were still too harsh, most of which had cocamidopropyl betaine as the main surfactant or at least as one of the first few ingredients. pH also seems to be a factor for me; I don't know if it might be for you as well.


MusicalSpoons I just checked the sulphate-free shampoo that I have and I find too harsh, and it is cocamidopropyl betaine based! I find it harsher also than my shampoo bar with sodium lauryl sulphate (I use it to clarify basically).

Reading this made me curious, so I checked the ingredients of a sulfate-free shampoo I have that was too harsh for my scalp, and it also has cocamidopropyl betaine (as the third ingredient listed). It's this shampoo (Andalou Naturals moisture rich shampoo), which smells delicious but I cannot use it on my scalp (my hair seems fine with it though). https://andalou.com/products/argan-oil-shea-moisture-rich-shampoo

I'm not exactly sure what the cause or solution to my own scalp issues is, though generally if I a) try not to look at it too closely and b) don't scratch at it, I can sort of ignore said issues because they're somewhat mild/not too severe. My scalp is always dry and flaky right after I wash my hair (about once per week), regardless of which shampoo I use. Though I think I've noticed that some shampoos dry it out worse than others. Even when I once did a water-only wash to see what would happen, my scalp was dry after that too.

The rest of the skin on my body is often dry, so I'm guessing there may be a connection there. A few times, I've tried using body lotion on my scalp around the hairline where the dryness is most obvious, but that doesn't seem to be a highly practical solution because I don't really want the lotion to get all in my hair and I don't see a way to thoroughly apply lotion to my entire scalp without getting it in my hair as well.

[auburntressed]

I'm popping in here. Unlike many people, I don't have SD, I have scalp eczema. Specifically, atopic dermatitis. I usually get flare ups in summer due to the increased heat and sweating on my scalp. While SD requires more frequent washing and harsher shampoos, my goal is moisture, moisture, and more moisture. It's hard to have nice looking hair when I'm applying oil or aloe vera on my scalp. I have prescription cream, but it's super hard to get it through my hair and onto my scalp. Generally, I can control it with aloe vera or coconut oil to moisturize and using ACV rinses. But, I do get flare-ups every summer, especially on the back of my head where my hair sticks/forks sit. I think that they rub the skin when I'm outside, moving, and sweating and cause further irritation. It's quite annoying. I often sacrifice my ends by living in braids (sometimes crown or milkmaid). If anyone has any tips specific to eczema, I'd welcome them.I don’t have eczema myself, that I know of. I have had family deal with it, though. The only thing I know of that helped them, aside from actual medication, was oatmeal. I wonder if it’s possible or feasible to make crushed up oatmeal rinses?

[MusicalSpoons]

MusicalSpoons I just checked the sulphate-free shampoo that I have and I find too harsh, and it is cocamidopropyl betaine based! I find it harsher also than my shampoo bar with sodium lauryl sulphate (I use it to clarify basically).


Reading this made me curious, so I checked the ingredients of a sulfate-free shampoo I have that was too harsh for my scalp, and it also has cocamidopropyl betaine (as the third ingredient listed). It's this shampoo (Andalou Naturals moisture rich shampoo), which smells delicious but I cannot use it on my scalp (my hair seems fine with it though). https://andalou.com/products/argan-oil-shea-moisture-rich-shampoo

I'm not exactly sure what the cause or solution to my own scalp issues is, though generally if I a) try not to look at it too closely and b) don't scratch at it, I can sort of ignore said issues because they're somewhat mild/not too severe. My scalp is always dry and flaky right after I wash my hair (about once per week), regardless of which shampoo I use. Though I think I've noticed that some shampoos dry it out worse than others. Even when I once did a water-only wash to see what would happen, my scalp was dry after that too.

The rest of the skin on my body is often dry, so I'm guessing there may be a connection there. A few times, I've tried using body lotion on my scalp around the hairline where the dryness is most obvious, but that doesn't seem to be a highly practical solution because I don't really want the lotion to get all in my hair and I don't see a way to thoroughly apply lotion to my entire scalp without getting it in my hair as well.

How interesting - I know c-b can be used to wash out silicones so I'm not overly surprised it was too harsh for my scalp but that others have the same experience is oddly comforting :o though of course I am sorry you both go through similar things!

Elodea is your skin dry-dry (as in, doesn't produce enough oil) or could it be dehydrated? Your experience sounds very similar to how mine was before the current troubles, and I found my skin doesn't like water-only (or could just be that it doesn't like the water) and that's why I used a light conditioner to help moisturise. At one point I was using it basically like shampoo, so not proper co-washing but washing my scalp with it, with the occasional mild shampoo afterwards if it needed it. What you wrote about body lotion I can echo your words!

My skin is oily but prone to dehydration and for me the solution was a shower filter (for the chlorine/chloramine), to minimise use of shower gel other than the necessary parts, and to moisturise as soon as possible after washing, while the skin is still hydrated and before it's dried out completely. Once my body skin was happier I've now reached the point of only needing to moisturise if I've washed with shower gel all over, which is generally once a week when I do my full hair wash. For my face I 'wash' (rinse, or use a cream cleanser to help get rid of the flakes from overnight) then moisturise while it's still juuust slightly damp, then when it needs the second or third lot of moisturiser, ideally I rinse it again before moisturising, to try to trap hydration in rather than putting cream on already-dried-out skin. (As for how that translates to the scalp, well if it were possible to moisturise in the same way I think we probably wouldn't be having problems!)


I don’t have eczema myself, that I know of. I have had family deal with it, though. The only thing I know of that helped them, aside from actual medication, was oatmeal. I wonder if it’s possible or feasible to make crushed up oatmeal rinses?

You know, interesting that you should mention oats because that was on my list of things to try if my scalp didn't get any better. I would think that soaking oats and straining them out to just use the water might be effective and easier to rinse out? Shorty89 if you've tried it I will be very interested to hear if it was any help.

My brother had terrible eczema as a child (had to have bandages to try to prevent total drying out and to prevent infection, and still stuck to his sheets overnight - poor kid :-() and the only thing that actually worked was aloe vera gel. Yet when I tried it on my face a few years ago for my first slight flare it made things worse - but the shampoo I use has aloe vera juice instead of water. Odd how that works!

[MusicalSpoons]

Oh nooo. It sounds like we have similar issues - utmost sympathies D: I really hear you on the "want to try things but daren't in case it flares up again" horror!

I've only recently realised that my scalp issues are SD (you know that grim SD smell? Yeah, that. ) The rest of my skin is dry like the desert and super reactive, so for years I thought the dandruff was my scalp being dry too, even though my hair gets lank the day after it's washed. The moisturiser I use on my face is ointment-based and has the consistency of lard, and it goes on several times a day, which is super great if you get dry scales around the hairline and also have fine straight hair that goes lank at a sniff of oil :rolleyes: But it's the first stuff I've used in a decade that my skin hasn't one day suddenly decided is basically napalm, so it's here to stay and I love it.

Thought I'd take advantage of lockdown to try and stretch washes a bit, acclimatise my scalp. Hahahaha. BIG MISTAKE. Coal tar shampoo and ACV rinse every other day is going some way to start getting the consequent flareup under control. My length is not appreciating it, especially as the instructions are to shampoo twice. :( Currently trying for coconut oil on the length before showering, then CWC for the second wash. So far it seems an acceptable compromise, but it's doing a number on the rest of my skin, which *is* dry, and cannot handle the harsh sulfates or the conditioner that often. I have a massive patch of eczema on my neck, and I've yet to find any way of stopping the suds and/or conditioner from making it flare up painfully. Anyone got any smart ideas? I'm starting to contemplate cannibalising a plastic bag into some kind of neck shield. I hate having to do a full wash every other day, it's exhausting, but needs must...

Realised I'd read your post a few times and not responded. The only thing I can think of, is are scalp-only washes at all possible, keeping the lengths dry? They may not be completely ideal with having to do double shampoo on the whole of your scalp, but if it protects your lengths AND more importantly your skin, it might be worth the trouble. If it's a real pain to dry having the mix of wet and dry hair, maybe you could scalp-wash, still keeping your lengths dry, then finish with an ACV rinse so it all dries together? It might be just as exhausting as full washes but if it helps your skin (and your lengths, as a bonus) then it may be worth it.

Btw, I feel you with it being hard to manage scales around the hairline. I think that's one of the worst parts of it for me, that I step out of the shower with freshly-washed hair, then the moisturiser goes on up and into the hairline so my hair never actually looks fresh and clean. The flakes that refuse to come out with combing are the second-biggest annoyance, and I hate combing my hair so often because it actually only wants to be combed every other day at most. I try to hold off and put up with the flakes at least the first day after washing because my hair Very Much Does Not Like being combed for the first couple of days, but there comes a point when I just have to - and with a fine-toothed comb, of all the indignity!

[I was mostly housebound before the pandemic anyway, but this is really making me hope that I can have my scalp issues under some kind of control for whenever I do have to leave the house again - actually I have an appointment this month, but if it goes ahead it's so inhumanly early in the morning I will be far too tired to care anyway :laugh:]

EDIT: Marymary thank you for that shampoo recommendation! Allantoin is a great ingredient; I shall add it to my list in case things don't get any better.

[Shorty89]

I don’t have eczema myself, that I know of. I have had family deal with it, though. The only thing I know of that helped them, aside from actual medication, was oatmeal. I wonder if it’s possible or feasible to make crushed up oatmeal rinses?

It might be worth a shot. Hopefully, I don't come back here complaining of lots of oatmeal stuck in my hair :lol:. Aloe vera is helpful for me, but right now it's super hard to find because everyone's buying it to make sanitizer.

[Elodea]

How interesting - I know c-b can be used to wash out silicones so I'm not overly surprised it was too harsh for my scalp but that others have the same experience is oddly comforting :o though of course I am sorry you both go through similar things!

Elodea is your skin dry-dry (as in, doesn't produce enough oil) or could it be dehydrated? Your experience sounds very similar to how mine was before the current troubles, and I found my skin doesn't like water-only (or could just be that it doesn't like the water) and that's why I used a light conditioner to help moisturise. At one point I was using it basically like shampoo, so not proper co-washing but washing my scalp with it, with the occasional mild shampoo afterwards if it needed it. What you wrote about body lotion I can echo your words!

My skin is oily but prone to dehydration and for me the solution was a shower filter (for the chlorine/chloramine), to minimise use of shower gel other than the necessary parts, and to moisturise as soon as possible after washing, while the skin is still hydrated and before it's dried out completely. Once my body skin was happier I've now reached the point of only needing to moisturise if I've washed with shower gel all over, which is generally once a week when I do my full hair wash. For my face I 'wash' (rinse, or use a cream cleanser to help get rid of the flakes from overnight) then moisturise while it's still juuust slightly damp, then when it needs the second or third lot of moisturiser, ideally I rinse it again before moisturising, to try to trap hydration in rather than putting cream on already-dried-out skin. (As for how that translates to the scalp, well if it were possible to moisturise in the same way I think we probably wouldn't be having problems!)


hm, I'm not sure about my skin -- though I've been trying to be more hydrated the last couple of years by drinking more water, that doesn't seem to make too much of a difference with my skin. Or rather, it hasn't made the dry skin issues go away completely. But I used to drink way less water than I do now, so perhaps my skin was even drier back then, but I don't really remember.

Moisturizing right after showering definitely seems to make a positive difference for me, but I usually shower at night and sometimes I just want to go to bed and don't feel like taking the time to slather my entire body in lotion. I think maybe I should try to find some lotion that I particularly like the scent of, which might make me feel more compelled to use it. Right now I just use one that has a rather neutral scent.

My face is rather easygoing, thankfully. Occasionally it will be oilier than usual, but whenever that happens I use oil-free cleansing wipes to take care of that.

I kind of wonder if washing my hair more frequently (twice per week, maybe) would help at all. All things considered, I'm relatively happy with my current wash frequency, once a week, though I won't know if a change would be good unless I try it. What's stopping me is that whenever I wash my hair, then it dries out my scalp again until a day or two later after it's had some time to produce new oils. So it seems like washing it more often and therefore drying it out more often wouldn't necessarily turn out well. I just wish there were a good way to moisturize the scalp that doesn't entail getting body lotion all in the roots of your hair...

As for the oatmeal, you can buy packets of colloidal oatmeal that's already ground up into a powder and is supposed to be dissolved into bathwater (but could also be used for scalp/hair, depending on your washing methods). I found it at the grocery store in the baby supplies section. The kind I have is Aveeno brand.

[MusicalSpoons]

^Ah, by dehydrated I meant from the outside - it's always good to drink plenty of water but in this context it's more like, doesn't hold on to moisture very well or the outer layer stripped dry by washing/rinsing and needing water again before moisturising on top. In my mind it's similar to the difference between using leave-in conditioner or oil on dry hair, and using them on wet/damp hair. Obviously it's not a perfect comparison because dry hair is just dry hair, it doesn't produce its own oil along the shaft (beyond what the scalp produces) whereas skin should, but some people don't produce much sebum so their skin is properly classified as 'dry', whereas many of us produce sebum no problem yet the skin has problems holding on to moisture despite having plenty of sebum. (Maybe it's the composition of the sebum that's off? I don't know.) But yeah, that's the difference I mean between dry-dry and dehydrated-dry.

Lol my face is oily in the non-eczema patches, and until this flare, spots were my main problem. The eczema started off as somewhat of a novelty, to tell the truth, finally having a time without spots since I first got them 20 years ago ... and then they came back, between the patches of eczema, and they're really not helped by having to slather on thick oily moisturiser :rollin: but oh well, that's life for you!

Colloidal oatmeal, that's handy to know :)

[Shorty89]

Eczema with oily patches is always fun. It's so tricky to get the balance between moisturized and oil slick!

[Lady_Eowyn]

I have actually no issues with my scalp, but I've found out that stretching washes doesn't work for me, as I get more build up which can even result in a hair loss. So the best way for me has been washing every other/every 2 days, alternating sulfate and sulfate-free shampoos and doing scalp peelings every other week. I use oil on my scalp before washes occasionally.

[Ylva]

I have actually no issues with my scalp, but I've found out that stretching washes doesn't work for me, as I get more build up which can even result in a hair loss. So the best way for me has been washing every other/every 2 days, alternating sulfate and sulfate-free shampoos and doing scalp peelings every other week. I use oil on my scalp before washes occasionally.

I'm in the very same boat. I shed quite little anyway, but there is a world of difference between the amount of shedding when washing daily vs. every other day, for me. It could certainly be due to the scalp manipulation (more hair ready to go after 48 hours as opposed to 24) but it is such a big difference that it has me wondering if my scalp just really prefers to be washed very often even though I don't get any health issues per se even if I don't wash it for a week.

[Locksmith]

Realised I'd read your post a few times and not responded. The only thing I can think of, is are scalp-only washes at all possible, keeping the lengths dry? They may not be completely ideal with having to do double shampoo on the whole of your scalp, but if it protects your lengths AND more importantly your skin, it might be worth the trouble. If it's a real pain to dry having the mix of wet and dry hair, maybe you could scalp-wash, still keeping your lengths dry, then finish with an ACV rinse so it all dries together? It might be just as exhausting as full washes but if it helps your skin (and your lengths, as a bonus) then it may be worth it.

Btw, I feel you with it being hard to manage scales around the hairline. I think that's one of the worst parts of it for me, that I step out of the shower with freshly-washed hair, then the moisturiser goes on up and into the hairline so my hair never actually looks fresh and clean. The flakes that refuse to come out with combing are the second-biggest annoyance, and I hate combing my hair so often because it actually only wants to be combed every other day at most. I try to hold off and put up with the flakes at least the first day after washing because my hair Very Much Does Not Like being combed for the first couple of days, but there comes a point when I just have to - and with a fine-toothed comb, of all the indignity!

[I was mostly housebound before the pandemic anyway, but this is really making me hope that I can have my scalp issues under some kind of control for whenever I do have to leave the house again - actually I have an appointment this month, but if it goes ahead it's so inhumanly early in the morning I will be far too tired to care anyway :laugh:]

Hey, thanks for the reply - interesting thoughts! I sort of can't imagine *how* one does a scalp-only wash... do you wrap the length up in a plastic bag or something? :p I've been contemplating trying a "dry rinse" by dabbing on an ACV rinse to the worst problem spots without washing the rest of it, which is achievable. Not sure how much good it'll do, mind, but we'll see...

What I really need is one of those hairdressers' basins, and someone else to wash my hair while I keep my neck dry. That'd do it :D

[EdG]

Hey, thanks for the reply - interesting thoughts! I sort of can't imagine *how* one does a scalp-only wash... do you wrap the length up in a plastic bag or something? Wrap the hair around one's hand and hold it over one's head in the shower. Gravity does the rest.
Ed

[MusicalSpoons]

Hey, thanks for the reply - interesting thoughts! I sort of can't imagine *how* one does a scalp-only wash... do you wrap the length up in a plastic bag or something? :p I've been contemplating trying a "dry rinse" by dabbing on an ACV rinse to the worst problem spots without washing the rest of it, which is achievable. Not sure how much good it'll do, mind, but we'll see...

What I really need is one of those hairdressers' basins, and someone else to wash my hair while I keep my neck dry. That'd do it :D

There are various ways; my method for a thorough scalp wash is to do a loose plait (loose at the scalp is important, the rest not so much) hold it in place with a belt, then wash over the bathtub with either a jug or the shower head. It's not perfect and inevitably I end up with hair damp to about my neck (I could do better if I could hold my arms up for longer to be more careful but I sort of have to rush it a bit if I want my whole scalp to be thoroughly done), but the suds only go on the hair at my scalp so hair further down may get damp but doesn't have suds go down it.

[Using the jug I'll scoop out clean water from a washing-up bowl (which I put on my shower stool so it's at a better height) and that is gentler so causes fewer tangles - but it's also much slower than the shower head which my muscles really don't appreciate!]

My usual scalp wash method is quicker and easier but much, much less thorough - I think of it as a shortcut, tbh - so not much use for medicated shampoo needing to go on the whole scalp.

[Shorty89]

I don't have luck with scalp washes personally. I find that they cause tangles near the scalp and the wet roots, dry ends somehow makes everything snarled.

[NicoleLionne]

This is such an interesting thread!! Have been reading most of it over the past few days, since I am struggling with an itchy scalp as well.


I have actually no issues with my scalp, but I've found out that stretching washes doesn't work for me, as I get more build up which can even result in a hair loss. So the best way for me has been washing every other/every 2 days, alternating sulfate and sulfate-free shampoos and doing scalp peelings every other week. I use oil on my scalp before washes occasionally.

I think this is my problem as well. When I wash my hair, first and second day are perfectly okay. On the third day my scalp gets extremely itchy and annoying. My skin is very oily and my scalp probably as well. Stretching washes is pretty much the first recommendation when you start your journey to long hair, but perhaps it just makes my hair and scalp really unhappy. I'm probably going to try a shampoo brush or scalp scrub soon and see if it helps to clean everything a little better, that might help with getting my washes to every 3 days.

[Bri-Chan]

Why. Again. Itch?! Now my safe shampoo seems too harsh (!), I'll dilute it the next time. My scalp feels so dry :/ at least, there is no dandruff.

[Shorty89]

My scalp isn't happy with me. I think it's partly because I've been active and my scalp has been sweaty. My scalp doesn't mind me not washing it after sweating but the act of sweating seems to aggravate things.

[Dee94]

I noticed lately when I scratch my scalp a bit, teenie tiny flakes drop, but only sometimes not everytime I do. Does it mean anything?

[Bri-Chan]

I noticed lately when I scratch my scalp a bit, teenie tiny flakes drop, but only sometimes not everytime I do. Does it mean anything?

Maybe you're scalp is dry? Mine is very dry at the touch and the more I manage it, more flakes it create.

Today I clarified. My hair definitely needed it and it feels a lot better. My scalp instead, has more dandruff than usual.

[lostchyld]

I switched to a soap bar style shampoo and my scalp lost all the flakes after 1 wash. I was washing with sls shampoo twice a day to manage itching and flakes have been an ongoing problem for as long as I can remember. Stretching washes was hell.

With the shampoo bar, I have no flakes, my roots have more volume so my scalp is breathing better because my hair isn't just plastered to my head, and my scalp doesn't start itching until 3 or 4 days after a wash. Those were immediate changes.

The difference in wash frequency is the most astonishing. Because I was washing twice a day and immediately dropped back to 3-4 days between with no greasy transition.

[BleachedBerry]

I have developed dry scalp over the years with no dandruff or flakes, just dry. It is especially dry in the crown area,
I do well with CO washing and I would CO wash only, but from time to time I like to deep condition or do hot oil treatments, and feel they do not work as well if the hair is not cleansed with a shampoo.
I grew out of my tender head years ago after horrible brushing sessions as a child and having chicken pox that mainly affected my scalp for some reason.

[godivawannabe]

I have an oily scalp with lots of dandruff :( I've been trying out neutrogena's salicylic acid shampoo to see if it works.

I guess the salicylic acid also exfoliates my scalp, which is good as well. Sometimes, I put a hyaluronic acid essence on my scalp after a shower for some hydration.

[AutobotsAttack]

I'm super happy about being able to wash my hair in my braids. It's really solved most, if not all of my scalp issues I had been struggling with for the longest time. And as a plus, I can pretty much stay in my long term protective style, without the need to completely take down all of my braids at once.

I am someone who needs to frequently wash, but It hadn't really dawned on me, nor had i found a style that could withstand washing, until i played around with braids, braid size, and where I made my parting.

So far so good.

[Bat]

I had oily scalp that flaked and now that i'm on accutane for my skin issues my scalp is now dry and still flakey I can't win LOL

[Trichypixie]

I have SD, and a huge trich trigger for me is itchy scalp. I have to wash my hair every other day, and I have to dilute my shampoo. It is a pain, as my hair is very dry, so I have to oil it carefully before I wash. Leaving oil on for a day or longer is not an option. My scalp likes to be clean... Its very picky!

[Jools69]

My GP diagnosed me with psoriasis on my scalp, but I think it’s more likely SD. When I’m stressed, my scalp itches. I scratch creating loads of dandruff, the skin becomes inflamed, then weeps and as it heals and dries, it becomes itchy again. A vicious cycle. :rolleyes: My GP prescribed Betacap ointment to apply directly onto the scalp which helps, but it smells and I only only apply it when it’s very bad. I was also advised to use a coal tar shampoo, which I have used in the past and also smells. I haven’t used it for years, but now I’m reluctant to use it again, as not sure whether this would be too harsh for my hair?

What I’ve found that has helped to control the dandruff is using a BB brush. I’ve noticed it removes the flakes quite well. Also, I’m thinking I may have to increase my hair washing. I’ve managed to stretch it out to once, but rarely, twice a week for the past 18 months. However, I’ve noticed my scalp is becoming more itchy much sooner recently. It could be due to summer, or stress from lockdown. :( So I may wash twice a week for now, as it seems to improve the itchiness and control the flakes. I guess it’s trial and error to find out what works for you.

[Trichypixie]

My GP diagnosed me with psoriasis on my scalp, but I think it’s more likely SD. When I’m stressed, my scalp itches. I scratch creating loads of dandruff, the skin becomes inflamed, then weeps and as it heals and dries, it becomes itchy again. A vicious cycle. :rolleyes: My GP prescribed Betacap ointment to apply directly onto the scalp which helps, but it smells and I only only apply it when it’s very bad. I was also advised to use a coal tar shampoo, which I have used in the past and also smells. I haven’t used it for years, but now I’m reluctant to use it again, as not sure whether this would be too harsh for my hair?

What I’ve found that has helped to control the dandruff is using a BB brush. I’ve noticed it removes the flakes quite well. Also, I’m thinking I may have to increase my hair washing. I’ve managed to stretch it out to once, but rarely, twice a week for the past 18 months. However, I’ve noticed my scalp is becoming more itchy much sooner recently. It could be due to summer, or stress from lockdown. :( So I may wash twice a week for now, as it seems to improve the itchiness and control the flakes. I guess it’s trial and error to find out what works for you.

GPs love coal tar, mine is always telling me to use it, but it only has minimal scalp benefits for me, and it DRIES my already very dry hair to the point of breakage. I try and use a little tea tree or oregano in my regular shampoo when my scalp is upset, they are both anti fungal, and as I understand SD can be a reaction to yeast on scalp...regardless of how accurate that is it seems to help. One thing I swear by on oozy sore patches is saline. It dries it right out and heals it, but it does make the surrounding hair dry and sticky so use with caution! Its great if you can catch an outbreak before it takes hold though. As far as stretching washes goes, I have zero luck with this, I cannot stretch more than a couple of days. Its so frustrating! I agree its just trial and error unfortunately!

[Flittingsis]

Hello! :waving:
I've been lurking for a few days, reading from the beginning. I am generally a WO (Water Only washing method). I like the feeling of my natural oils on my hair. When those oils get too much, I will occasionally spray the roots with a simple water-arrowroot solution and comb it through the length with my favorite horn comb. I have doctored that solution with witch hazel, rose water, and a couple EO's (eucalyptus and patchouli are my fav for that) in the past. I'm not sure if the witch hazel really works like chemical exfoliate or not, but that was what I was hoping it would do. I get a lot of sebum build up on my scalp and honestly I've always had a lot of sebum build up even before WO. So I've been reading this thread in hopes to learn some new techniques. I'm not ever going to go back to washing my hair every day or every other day but I am not a strict WO. The conversation about physical and chemical exfoliates was intriguing, so I looked up some DIY scalp scrubs and made one using Bentonite clay, a dusting of activated charcoal, and enough liquid to make a paste; aloe vera gel, water, witch hazel, a little sesame oil, a drop of rosemary, lavender, and eucalyptus. I sprayed my roots and scalp with just water to get them damp and got to work massaging my scalp gently with the clay. I didn't leave it on for too long, 5 min maybe, put some on my face, then got in the shower and rinsed everything off. I was extra careful to rinse out all the clay and did a citric acid/water rinse at the end. Today there is no scalp gunk. Everything feels good. There may have been a little too much sesame oil in the mix because mid-length is a little piece-y. All in all this was nice. I could see doing something like this every other week or so to clear things out. Also this was a good test of a homemade product before I went out and bought something.
Thanks for listening and thanks for all the advice and experiences that everyone has shared here!!

[bokeh]

I just want to mention some products that make my scalp feel good and seem to allow me to go an extra day or two before washing. Oh, and my hair seems nice and less frizzy using them. ‘As I Am, Dry, Itchy Scalp Care, Olive & Tea Tree Oil Dandruff Cowash’ followed by ‘Shea Moisture, Activated Charcoal & Mint Detox & Refresh Conditioner w/Ginger Extract’ have both been amazing for me. Sometimes I also use ‘Renpure, Tea Tree Lemon Sage Scalp Serum. I’ll mention for completeness that I almost always end with‘Kinky Curly Knot Today’ leave-in conditioner. Those four products are all I need except occasional oil. Unfortunately, I have some other products to use up before I can simplify my product line.

[Ylva]

I've had a flaking issue (at least I think that's what 'flaking' is - white "slabs" that come off by scratching) on my left sideburn for a while now. It came around during my forced 1.5-week no-washing period. That was about a month ago now, but the flakes keep coming back in that area. I've been washing my hair more normally for a while now, but still not daily. Any suggestions?

[baanoo]

I've had a flaking issue (at least I think that's what 'flaking' is - white "slabs" that come off by scratching) on my left sideburn for a while now. It came around during my forced 1.5-week no-washing period. That was about a month ago now, but the flakes keep coming back in that area. I've been washing my hair more normally for a while now, but still not daily. Any suggestions?

I had a little flare like that a while back and did a scalp massage with olive oil and a few drops of tea tree essential oil mixed into it - let it sit an hour or so and then washed it out, and that really took care of it. Might be worth a try?

[Ylva]

I had a little flare like that a while back and did a scalp massage with olive oil and a few drops of tea tree essential oil mixed into it - let it sit an hour or so and then washed it out, and that really took care of it. Might be worth a try?

I don't have olive oil right now but I do have tea tree EO and some other carrier oil options. I have a lot of alone time today so I might actually do an oil treatment and a scrub on my entire scalp. Thank you for the idea!

[Begemot]

Hello! :waving:
I've been lurking for a few days, reading from the beginning. I am generally a WO (Water Only washing method). I like the feeling of my natural oils on my hair. When those oils get too much, I will occasionally spray the roots with a simple water-arrowroot solution and comb it through the length with my favorite horn comb. I have doctored that solution with witch hazel, rose water, and a couple EO's (eucalyptus and patchouli are my fav for that) in the past. I'm not sure if the witch hazel really works like chemical exfoliate or not, but that was what I was hoping it would do. I get a lot of sebum build up on my scalp and honestly I've always had a lot of sebum build up even before WO. So I've been reading this thread in hopes to learn some new techniques. I'm not ever going to go back to washing my hair every day or every other day but I am not a strict WO. The conversation about physical and chemical exfoliates was intriguing, so I looked up some DIY scalp scrubs and made one using Bentonite clay, a dusting of activated charcoal, and enough liquid to make a paste; aloe vera gel, water, witch hazel, a little sesame oil, a drop of rosemary, lavender, and eucalyptus. I sprayed my roots and scalp with just water to get them damp and got to work massaging my scalp gently with the clay. I didn't leave it on for too long, 5 min maybe, put some on my face, then got in the shower and rinsed everything off. I was extra careful to rinse out all the clay and did a citric acid/water rinse at the end. Today there is no scalp gunk. Everything feels good. There may have been a little too much sesame oil in the mix because mid-length is a little piece-y. All in all this was nice. I could see doing something like this every other week or so to clear things out. Also this was a good test of a homemade product before I went out and bought something.
Thanks for listening and thanks for all the advice and experiences that everyone has shared here!!


I just want to mention some products that make my scalp feel good and seem to allow me to go an extra day or two before washing. Oh, and my hair seems nice and less frizzy using them. ‘As I Am, Dry, Itchy Scalp Care, Olive & Tea Tree Oil Dandruff Cowash’ followed by ‘Shea Moisture, Activated Charcoal & Mint Detox & Refresh Conditioner w/Ginger Extract’ have both been amazing for me. Sometimes I also use ‘Renpure, Tea Tree Lemon Sage Scalp Serum. I’ll mention for completeness that I almost always end with‘Kinky Curly Knot Today’ leave-in conditioner. Those four products are all I need except occasional oil. Unfortunately, I have some other products to use up before I can simplify my product line.

I'm loving these recipes and product recs! Glad to hear you both found things that work for you :blossom: :blossom:


I've had a flaking issue (at least I think that's what 'flaking' is - white "slabs" that come off by scratching) on my left sideburn for a while now. It came around during my forced 1.5-week no-washing period. That was about a month ago now, but the flakes keep coming back in that area. I've been washing my hair more normally for a while now, but still not daily. Any suggestions?

Sideburns and above my ears along the hair line are my problem area too. In the past my skin was probably just dry and maybe affected by skin care products (that I apply around my hairline also). Basic lotion from the pharmacy solved the issue. It could be a condition that needs more attention if moisturizing doesn't help.

[Ylva]

Sideburns and above my ears along the hair line are my problem area too. In the past my skin was probably just dry and maybe affected by skin care products (that I apply around my hairline also). Basic lotion from the pharmacy solved the issue. It could be a condition that needs more attention if moisturizing doesn't help.

I think it's definitely not dryness in my case. I produce sebum like mad. In the summer, my skin (scalp included) behaves mostly like oily skin, but towards the winter, the combination side of it (I suppose I have oily combination skin?) starts to show a bit more. Still, it seems to be strongly linked to not washing my scalp for the extended period of time. :hmm:

[Begemot]

I think it's definitely not dryness in my case. I produce sebum like mad. In the summer, my skin (scalp included) behaves mostly like oily skin, but towards the winter, the combination side of it (I suppose I have oily combination skin?) starts to show a bit more. Still, it seems to be strongly linked to not washing my scalp for the extended period of time. :hmm:

So the not washing threw things off... I wonder if getting back to regular washing will eventually solve it.

I swear I'm not a spokes person or something but I love System 4 products, specifically the moisture lotion. I haven't had trouble with gunky dandruff since I started using it. I accidentally also got Climbazole scalp tonic and was a bit reluctant to try it since it has alcohol denat high on the inci list (but no colorants or fragrance). I haven't used it regularly so didn't see any negative side effects from all that alcohol. It could be an option for you if you're looking for OTC product(s) to try https://sim.fi/en/products/system-4/climbazole-scalp-tonic The moisture lotion also has climbazole and lots of great stuff in it and isn't as harsh as the tonic but the tonic is aimed for oily scalp, so go for that if you are suspecting your scalp isn't in need of moisture and reacting to that by producing too much sebum.

[Ylva]

So the not washing threw things off... I wonder if getting back to regular washing will eventually solve it.

I swear I'm not a spokes person or something but I love System 4 products, specifically the moisture lotion. I haven't had trouble with gunky dandruff since I started using it. I accidentally also got Climbazole scalp tonic and was a bit reluctant to try it since it has alcohol denat high on the inci list (but no colorants or fragrance). I haven't used it regularly so didn't see any negative side effects from all that alcohol. It could be an option for you if you're looking for OTC product(s) to try https://sim.fi/en/products/system-4/climbazole-scalp-tonic The moisture lotion also has climbazole and lots of great stuff in it and isn't as harsh as the tonic but the tonic is aimed for oily scalp, so go for that if you are suspecting your scalp isn't in need of moisture and reacting to that by producing too much sebum.

Thank you for the recommendation! I think I will first try to solve it with washing and things I already have at hand, because I really have to pay attention to my finances for the rest of the year, but I will definitely keep those products in mind.

[Begemot]

Thank you for the recommendation! I think I will first try to solve it with washing and things I already have at hand, because I really have to pay attention to my finances for the rest of the year, but I will definitely keep those products in mind.

I hope things return normal soon! Ideally you won't need any special product or medical intervention :) Just now I remembered that I used diluted ACV on my scalp years ago but can't remember if I stopped it because it didn't work for me or because I started using commercial products. I think it's recommended for possible issues with yeast so not sure if it could help with excess sebum. At least it's a cheap and mild DIY recipe to try (and the shine from ACV rinses is great!).

[lapushka]

I've had a flaking issue (at least I think that's what 'flaking' is - white "slabs" that come off by scratching) on my left sideburn for a while now. It came around during my forced 1.5-week no-washing period. That was about a month ago now, but the flakes keep coming back in that area. I've been washing my hair more normally for a while now, but still not daily. Any suggestions?

For me, when I get a flare-up (SD, seborrheic dermatitis) it always starts around the sides (above ears) or temple region.

Do you have Head & Shoulders on hand? If so, suds up, let it sit for about 2/3 minutes, suds some more (wash) and then rinse thoroughly. That should help if it's not too bad, otherwise you might have to throw Nizoral 2% at it!

But for me, if I use H&S early enough (so quite quickly), it for sure helps, but you gotta let it sit for a couple minutes!

[Ylva]

I hope things return normal soon! Ideally you won't need any special product or medical intervention :) Just now I remembered that I used diluted ACV on my scalp years ago but can't remember if I stopped it because it didn't work for me or because I started using commercial products. I think it's recommended for possible issues with yeast so not sure if it could help with excess sebum. At least it's a cheap and mild DIY recipe to try (and the shine from ACV rinses is great!).

Ah, I didn't know ACV could help with yeast issues as well! Cool stuff, for sure. I will keep that in mind, too. :)


For me, when I get a flare-up (SD, seborrheic dermatitis) it always starts around the sides (above ears) or temple region.

Do you have Head & Shoulders on hand? If so, suds up, let it sit for about 2/3 minutes, suds some more (wash) and then rinse thoroughly. That should help if it's not too bad, otherwise you might have to throw Nizoral 2% at it!

But for me, if I use H&S early enough (so quite quickly), it for sure helps, but you gotta let it sit for a couple minutes!

I don't have any H&S, but it's cheap so I could even pick some up! Thank you!

[ioanaxena]

For me, when I get a flare-up (SD, seborrheic dermatitis) it always starts around the sides (above ears) or temple region.

Do you have Head & Shoulders on hand? If so, suds up, let it sit for about 2/3 minutes, suds some more (wash) and then rinse thoroughly. That should help if it's not too bad, otherwise you might have to throw Nizoral 2% at it!

But for me, if I use H&S early enough (so quite quickly), it for sure helps, but you gotta let it sit for a couple minutes!

I agree. It really helps, especially if you let H&S shampoo sit for a few minutes on your scalp. My scalp was itchy a month ago and this method worked so well :).

[Ylva]

I found a tea tree shampoo in my stash, and I needed to open a new one anyway, so I chose that one. I also did a scalp scrub. I will continue using that shampoo for now. If it doesn't work, I will buy a bottle of H&S. :)

[lapushka]

I don't have any H&S, but it's cheap so I could even pick some up! Thank you!

Even the knock-offs will do if you have those! They do them at Lidl or Aldi for instance!

[Dark40]

Good idea for a thread!

I've noticed that I have scalp issues too. It's mostly just dandruff. To cure it I usually use Head&Shoulders Shampoo or Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo. But lately, I've been doing daily scalp massages and oiling it after every wash. I just love how it feels when I feel the blood circulating through it.

[Dark40]

I found a tea tree shampoo in my stash, and I needed to open a new one anyway, so I chose that one. I also did a scalp scrub. I will continue using that shampoo for now. If it doesn't work, I will buy a bottle of H&S. :)

Oh, I love tea tree shampoo. Especially, the one by Paul Mitchele. I love how his tea tree shampoo just makes your scalp tingle and it's a cool feeling. I haven't used it in 10 years though. That's because it's so pricey. Yes, opening up a new one in your stash would definitely be a good idea! :)

[Bri-Chan]

As I've written sometimes here and there, I've often struggles with my itchy scalp and dry dandruff. Reading another thread, I took inspiration to try a different way to wash my hair. I always knew that the scalp should be massaged very gently and slowly, so I did for all my life. But last time, I decided to try something new to me. Need to say, my hair was very dirty, way dirty than usual. I massaged my scalp longer and with a less gentle touch. I don't know if it's just a case, but after my scalp feel so good, just a minimum itch (I usually itch the most for the first days, and then almost nothing when dirty), and it started itching today, day 3. I also have less dandruff. My hair feels as usual, but I noticed that in some areas it seems like cleaner than usual.
If I need just to do this to reduce my scalp troubles, it would be revolutionary.

[knobbly]

I've never had scalp issues *touch wood* but I've been trying to stick to washing 1x a week over the past 6 months or so-- simply because it's easiest for me to maintain a regular schedule where I wash on Sundays-- and it's probably just a bit long for my scalp's liking. However I haven't had any trouble since I began to brush with a boar bristle brush a couple of times throughout the week in between washes. I use the technique TatsuOni shows in her great video here (https://youtu.be/kYIfilaRHTM), and I find it helps me move sebum down the hair shaft, keeps dead skin from building up, and just keeps itchies and sore hair follicles away. I really recommend doing this if you are having trouble stretching washes and your hair is somewhere near the straight end of the spectrum. I also shampoo my bbb regularly, often every week but definitely every two weeks (or 4-5 uses.) I remove shed hair/lint and bang out dead skin cells after every use.

As far as washing, I have been alternating a sulfate-y wash (Suave Essentials, nothing fancy) with a sulfate-free shampoo bar. I don't love the shampoo (syndet) bar (not for scalp-related reasons) so when that is gone I'll likely just keep on with a basic sulfate-full shampoo for my weekly wash. I dilute it in warm water and apply on dry hair with a squeezy bottle, which helps me get it evenly all over my scalp since my hair is quite dense in places. Applying dry also helps me really take the time to massage all the suds into my scalp evenly and thoroughly, since I'm not sitting there feeling guilty about letting shower water go down the drain while I'm working it through.

[ExpectoPatronum]

As I've written sometimes here and there, I've often struggles with my itchy scalp and dry dandruff. Reading another thread, I took inspiration to try a different way to wash my hair. I always knew that the scalp should be massaged very gently and slowly, so I did for all my life. But last time, I decided to try something new to me. Need to say, my hair was very dirty, way dirty than usual. I massaged my scalp longer and with a less gentle touch. I don't know if it's just a case, but after my scalp feel so good, just a minimum itch (I usually itch the most for the first days, and then almost nothing when dirty), and it started itching today, day 3. I also have less dandruff. My hair feels as usual, but I noticed that in some areas it seems like cleaner than usual.
If I need just to do this to reduce my scalp troubles, it would be revolutionary.

I find that my scalp issues are helped by a more aggressive scrubbing approach too, so you're not alone with that!

[andreea_since95]

I sometimes get flakes and I don't know if it's dandruff of just a dry scalp. But I've noticed that my scalp gets better if I keep a balance. So I try to use a non-sulfate shampoo most of the time, but when I start getting flakes I use a clarifying shampoo and my scalp feels clean and nice again. However, if I use a sulfate shampoo too often, I get flakes again, because my scalp gets dry. So moderation is key, at least in my case.
Also, when I get too much buildup, I start shedding more.

[Ylva]

My scalp and hair under a microscope!

Some of the photos might be disgusting to some. :D I tried to capture all sorts of oddities.

https://i.ibb.co/6ZjFfmQ/2020-11-25-1.png

https://i.ibb.co/9vY2Fjz/2020-11-25-2.png

https://i.ibb.co/RyjP3mc/2020-11-25-4.png

https://i.ibb.co/d7fsshj/2020-11-25-6.png

https://i.ibb.co/x2BZGHg/2020-11-25-8.png

https://i.ibb.co/2PzJq5X/2020-11-25-11.png

https://i.ibb.co/YTMFD8s/2020-11-25-15.png

[Ylva]

More...

https://i.ibb.co/kXMxPfK/2020-11-25-16.png

https://i.ibb.co/CmyPvPV/2020-11-25-17.png

https://i.ibb.co/TTY8Cmn/2020-11-25-18.png

https://i.ibb.co/Z2MtkTM/2020-11-25-19.png

https://i.ibb.co/CV6NW6r/2020-11-25-21.png

https://i.ibb.co/gyRQWWx/2020-11-25-22.png

https://i.ibb.co/qpX2JpR/2020-11-25-26.png

https://i.ibb.co/nDQJ6mY/2020-11-25.png

[Belgrade Beauty]

My scalp and hair under a microscope!

Some of the photos might be disgusting to some. :D I tried to capture all sorts of oddities.

https://i.ibb.co/6ZjFfmQ/2020-11-25-1.png

https://i.ibb.co/9vY2Fjz/2020-11-25-2.png

https://i.ibb.co/RyjP3mc/2020-11-25-4.png

https://i.ibb.co/d7fsshj/2020-11-25-6.png

https://i.ibb.co/x2BZGHg/2020-11-25-8.png

https://i.ibb.co/2PzJq5X/2020-11-25-11.png

https://i.ibb.co/YTMFD8s/2020-11-25-15.png

Damn this is spooky! Had the same thing done to me by some pharmacy doctor , I just washed my hair and she found lumps of oil :shrug:

[Ylva]

Damn this is spooky! Had the same thing done to me by some pharmacy doctor , I just washed my hair and she found lumps of oil :shrug:

Haha :D

I forgot to mention that these were taken of my unwashed scalp. I will have another look with a fresh scalp as well as after I've exfoliated! When the time comes, that is.

[lapushka]

I figured that especially the last ones where builduppy ones. :) I see you have 2 hairs poking out of one follicle multiple times. :D

[MusicalSpoons]

Haha, I thought 'wow that's a lot of oil' in some of the ones in your second post, but realise mine probably would have even more because I don't wash as soon as it gets greasy :lol:

Interesting to see the different colours of hair right from the scalp :D

[Ylva]

I swear I could power the world with my sebum if they came up with a way to make fuel out of it.

That was still less than 24 hours since my previous wash even though it was "unwashed". :D

[WitchyM]

Ooh, these images are very cool!

[EdG]

https://i.ibb.co/2PzJq5X/2020-11-25-11.png

https://i.ibb.co/YTMFD8s/2020-11-25-15.pngYour hair is thudworthy even under a microscope. :thud:
Ed

[Ylva]

Ooh, these images are very cool!

Thank you! :D


Your hair is thudworthy even under a microscope. :thud:
Ed

Thank you, Ed! :heart:

[Bri-Chan]

I find this pics very fascinating in some way.

[ioanaxena]

I love this kind of pictures, Ylva.

[Ylva]

Glad you guys enjoyed them! :)

[Feral_]

Ylva those pics are so cool. I have a normal to dry scalp (not flaky or itchy) so seeing the sebum yours produces makes me envious! The inflamed parts look quite sore though :confused:

[Ylva]

Ylva those pics are so cool. I have a normal to dry scalp (not flaky or itchy) so seeing the sebum yours produces makes me envious! The inflamed parts look quite sore though :confused:

And I am equally envious of your scalp!!

The red parts were around my hairline, where I'd been scratching, which I admit I should just... stop. But I am struggling (am I? Is there need?) to get rid of sebum balls, which seem to be a thing for some people (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=151887), so I often find myself scratching them off of my hairline. I can't exactly be physically exfoliating my scalp every other day either so I'm not sure what to do about them. :|

[Feral_]

And I am equally envious of your scalp!!

The red parts were around my hairline, where I'd been scratching, which I admit I should just... stop. But I am struggling (am I? Is there need?) to get rid of sebum balls, which seem to be a thing for some people (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=151887), so I often find myself scratching them off of my hairline. I can't exactly be physically exfoliating my scalp every other day either so I'm not sure what to do about them. :|

Well it seems every day is a school day.. I’ve just learned about sebum balls! I had no idea, nor that some people exfoliate their scalps. Does it affect them if you BBB or similar? Have you tried a thin comb, like a lice comb to remove them? I realise they show up as they’re magnified, but in normal sight are they noticeable? Sorry lots of questions!

[Ylva]

Well it seems every day is a school day.. I’ve just learned about sebum balls! I had no idea, nor that some people exfoliate their scalps. Does it affect them if you BBB or similar? Have you tried a thin comb, like a lice comb to remove them? I realise they show up as they’re magnified, but in normal sight are they noticeable? Sorry lots of questions!

I dare not touch my scalp with a BBB as I've heard it can exacerbate sebum production. Physical exfoliation (I use the scalp scrub by Natura Siberica) is about the only thing that keeps my hair clean a tiny bit longer but the instructions say to not use it more often than once a week.

They are noticeable in normal sight, too - actually, they look exactly like the bulbs at the roots of shed hairs except that there's no hair, just a ball. They come out without issues; the issue seems to be that my scalp produces an abundance of them. I've not tried a comb to remove them but either way I think it requires touching the scalp in some manner, which again spreads sebum everywhere! Agh! That's why I've resorted to just scratching them off before a wash.

[Ylva]

Here are some new microscope photos of my freshly washed & exfoliated scalp. I'm thinking that the white stuff probably isn't oil even though it looks a bit oily and shiny. But surely it can't be a whole layer of oil after exfoliation, or? Anyway, looks much neater than on the previous pics. :D

https://i.ibb.co/j3f6p3Z/2020-12-02-3.png

https://i.ibb.co/Z2Rtf7y/2020-12-02.png

https://i.ibb.co/THxSmDq/2020-12-02-2.png

[MusicalSpoons]

Oh wow! No, I think it's just shiny, clean, new skin :D it looks like the kind of shiny just like when I used to be able to thoroughly scrub my face, and for those few minutes before it overcompensated with extra oil it would be all nicely shiny.

[Shorty89]

Those pictures are super cool, Yliva! What did you use to take them?

[Ylva]

Oh wow! No, I think it's just shiny, clean, new skin :D it looks like the kind of shiny just like when I used to be able to thoroughly scrub my face, and for those few minutes before it overcompensated with extra oil it would be all nicely shiny.

Of course, it's possible that my scalp produced a layer of oil in an hour or two. :D Never underestimate!


Those pictures are super cool, Yliva! What did you use to take them?

Glad you liked! :) I used a cheap USB microscope that I'd ordered from China. It just says "Digital Microscope" on it, no brand. On the PC I have a program called Amcap for viewing the image. It was very easy to set up once I found a program I could actually use!

[cestlavie]

For the ones who are looking for a scalp scrub: Umberto Giannini's anti dandruff treatment scalp scrub. Smells like piña colada and is super creamy! It exfoliates really well but it doesn't dry out the scalp. It's like a pre-wash treatment so you have to use it on wet hair, scrub and leave it for 10 minutes, rinse out and shampoo. Plus, it doesn't contain any surfactants.

[Shorty89]

Of course, it's possible that my scalp produced a layer of oil in an hour or two. :D Never underestimate!



Glad you liked! :) I used a cheap USB microscope that I'd ordered from China. It just says "Digital Microscope" on it, no brand. On the PC I have a program called Amcap for viewing the image. It was very easy to set up once I found a program I could actually use!

I'm tempted to get one. Those pictures are cool.

[WitchyM]

Hmm, I am definitely developing a scalp issue right now. I’ve always had issues with flakiness, from the time I was a kid. Last winter, I was finally able to go three or four days between washes, and then over the summer I found it was two days at the most before the oil build-up was just too much.

Now, I don’t seem to have much issue with oily roots - instead, I’m having terrible flaking, even immediately after washing. I could probably go three or four days between washes were it only due to the oil production. But the flaking is just too much. There is an especially bad patch right in the middle of my forehead at the very front of the hairline. It isn’t red, and the flakes are small and dry, but sometimes it almost aches.

I’ve been using the Curlsmith scalp care line, but I’m wondering if something with tea tree might help - I can only guess that it’s sebhorrheic dermatitis, and I’d rather treat at home than pester my doctor with such a thing in the time of COVID.

Does anyone know of anything that works especially well?

[RebekahE]

WitchyM, I deal with a flaky scalp a lot. Nizoral is the only thing that has helped. If I notice flakes or I'm extra itchy, I use that to calm things down. In the summer I don't have to use it very often, but in the winter I probably have to use it every other wash to keep the flakes at bay and even then I still get itchy.

[WitchyM]

WitchyM, I deal with a flaky scalp a lot. Nizoral is the only thing that has helped. If I notice flakes or I'm extra itchy, I use that to calm things down. In the summer I don't have to use it very often, but in the winter I probably have to use it every other wash to keep the flakes at bay and even then I still get itchy.

Thank you, I will check that out! I feel like I had it pretty under control for a couple of years, but 2020 - has been 2020.

[1990bzb]

A cheapie empty spray bottle from the dollar store is great for the scalp!

For getting in nooks you don't have access to + don't wanna take down your pins/hairstyle/rewash.

I use it to spray my simple little mixes on scalp and hair, which soothes my scalp immensely! I used relatively freshly made (i do NOT do old/fermented rice water) rice water

with chamomile tea mixed with some honey and EOs (lemongrass, cassia, roman chamomile) in very small amounts, as well as very small amount of MSM powder (a couple of pinches) + several drops of camellia oil. It's really nice!

I refrigerate and do NOT use 'scalp sprays' longer than a couple of days, I would rather toss or make small batches than risk germs even if an EO or ingredient I was using is anti-bacterial or whatever.


If I had aloe vera gel, I'd mix that in too. I used to use (refrigerated, never older than 2 days) rice water on my scalp + length of my hair, when my hair was at its longest and healthiest! I only chopped off because I was going through some really awful experiences, for the 'psychological' boost that really short hair gave me.
Sense of starting over - but if I hadn't, and had continued, my hair'd be at knee-length right now.
It grew so well with the rice water.

So I'm re-starting that again

I don't use castor oil even if it helps tremendously in growth, because it irritates my skin. I used to use it but my scalp always felt a bit inflamed from it.

[baggs30]

I'm not sure if it's okay to post this thread on the Mane forum, mods feel free to move it where it belongs!

It seems that discussion about scalp care is scattered across the board here and I thought to try bring it in one place. Taking care of your scalp is mostly a skin issue but a bit of a hair issue too. Most scalp care products are lumped together with hair care products and the products you use on your scalp should cater both your skin and your hair. Some hairdresser and trichologist likened the scalp to "the flower bed and soil from which your hair grows." Generally speaking, healthy hair grows from healthy scalp. There are already discussions about common things like dandruff and medical conditions like SD here, but this thread can address many more things also: scalp massages, oiling, tonics, serums, product reviews, exfoliating, DIY stuff, shedding, scalp pain, maybe sharing updates about scalp health etc. Just figuring out what are our individual needs and experiences with scalp care.

I don't mean to imply that everyone out there needs to have some kind of special routine and a dozen of products to have healthy scalp, since many people have no trouble what so ever with their scalp and like they say, why try fixing something that ain't broken? I happen to be one of those unlucky people that experiences problems with my scalp time to time and I just like to fuss over it. It makes sense to me to show some special care for my scalp's skin since I care for the skin of my face and body pretty much daily. I believe it benefits my hair in the long run.

So discuss anything related to scalp care here :)

Great idea for a thread! I actually have been looking for a scalp thread. I want to make my scalp happy. I have dandruff but also possibly psoriasis or other skin irritation issue on my skin. It has random intense itchy every now and again and when I do scratch I get flakes but also a plaque like substance under my nails. I am worried that my scalp problem could lead to hair loss or other things. It also just drives me insane :taz: having to be aware of what I am doing what I am wearing etc. I'm sure you all know that feeling. I do use a silicone massager to scrape my scalp every week before my shower then use a scalp scrub that keeps the itching at bay for a few days but then it comes back. I do get red bumps that will bleed if scratched to hard. Also I get scalp pain with migraines sometimes.

Anyone have any tips or tricks that I can try to make my scalp healthy?

Thank you!

[ArtOfNoot]

Thank you for bringing this thread to the top! Currently scouring through this because my scalp isn't very happy with me ATM.

[knobbly]

Great idea for a thread! I actually have been looking for a scalp thread. I want to make my scalp happy. I have dandruff but also possibly psoriasis or other skin irritation issue on my skin. It has random intense itchy every now and again and when I do scratch I get flakes but also a plaque like substance under my nails. I am worried that my scalp problem could lead to hair loss or other things. It also just drives me insane :taz: having to be aware of what I am doing what I am wearing etc. I'm sure you all know that feeling. I do use a silicone massager to scrape my scalp every week before my shower then use a scalp scrub that keeps the itching at bay for a few days but then it comes back. I do get red bumps that will bleed if scratched to hard. Also I get scalp pain with migraines sometimes.

Anyone have any tips or tricks that I can try to make my scalp healthy?

Thank you!

Because it’s skin, the first thing I would do if I was having a scalp issue is go see a dermatologist. Like psoriasis is super different than seborrheic dermatitis, for instance, so you wouldn’t deal with them the same way at all even though they both can make one’s scalp itchy and flaky.

[JasminxCat]

Great idea for a thread! I actually have been looking for a scalp thread. I want to make my scalp happy. I have dandruff but also possibly psoriasis or other skin irritation issue on my skin. It has random intense itchy every now and again and when I do scratch I get flakes but also a plaque like substance under my nails. I am worried that my scalp problem could lead to hair loss or other things. It also just drives me insane :taz: having to be aware of what I am doing what I am wearing etc. I'm sure you all know that feeling. I do use a silicone massager to scrape my scalp every week before my shower then use a scalp scrub that keeps the itching at bay for a few days but then it comes back. I do get red bumps that will bleed if scratched to hard. Also I get scalp pain with migraines sometimes

Anyone have any tips or tricks that I can try to make my scalp healthy?

Thank you!

Yes, see a dermatologist
Like your skin, your scalp needs a protective barrier to stay healthy. If you have eczema or are experiencing seborrheic dermatitis on your scalp and constantly scrubbing away this protective layer, this can only make it worse. There's no need for a scalp scrub every week, that's too much. If you need to, a clarifying shampoo will do just as good without scrubbing away your skin but still does the job at removing itchy build up. Let it heal, provide moisture with natural oils, and wash it when it feels it needs to be washed. Have you tried anything with ketoconazole or Nizoral shampoo?

[foreveryours]

Yes, see a dermatologist
Like your skin, your scalp needs a protective barrier to stay healthy. If you have eczema or are experiencing seborrheic dermatitis on your scalp and constantly scrubbing away this protective layer, this can only make it worse. There's no need for a scalp scrub every week, that's too much. If you need to, a clarifying shampoo will do just as good without scrubbing away your skin but still does the job at removing itchy build up. Let it heal, provide moisture with natural oils, and wash it when it feels it needs to be washed. Have you tried anything with ketoconazole or Nizoral shampoo?

This. Yeast overgrowth will definitely cause itching like you describe where it disappears temporarily after washing but returns. I keep a bottle of VetWell's KetoWELL shampoo if the extended itching ever strikes again. It's for dogs, cats, and horses but it's worked for me too. You can buy it on amazon/ebay.

[Flittingsis]

A cheapie empty spray bottle from the dollar store is great for the scalp!

For getting in nooks you don't have access to + don't wanna take down your pins/hairstyle/rewash.

I use it to spray my simple little mixes on scalp and hair, which soothes my scalp immensely! I used relatively freshly made (i do NOT do old/fermented rice water) rice water

with chamomile tea mixed with some honey and EOs (lemongrass, cassia, roman chamomile) in very small amounts, as well as very small amount of MSM powder (a couple of pinches) + several drops of camellia oil. It's really nice!

I refrigerate and do NOT use 'scalp sprays' longer than a couple of days, I would rather toss or make small batches than risk germs even if an EO or ingredient I was using is anti-bacterial or whatever.


If I had aloe vera gel, I'd mix that in too. I used to use (refrigerated, never older than 2 days) rice water on my scalp + length of my hair, when my hair was at its longest and healthiest! I only chopped off because I was going through some really awful experiences, for the 'psychological' boost that really short hair gave me.
Sense of starting over - but if I hadn't, and had continued, my hair'd be at knee-length right now.
It grew so well with the rice water.

So I'm re-starting that again

I don't use castor oil even if it helps tremendously in growth, because it irritates my skin. I used to use it but my scalp always felt a bit inflamed from it.

OMG I love this post! I have a couple different cheap spray bottles that I use for different sprays. I want to try your fresh rice water. I've never been interested in the fermented one. Can you explain how you make it? Wow, that sounds like a silly question.
I see you use a bit of honey, too. I like using honey to cleanse and in even smaller amount to condition.
I do have aloe vera hell in the fridge. I actually have aloe plants, but they have small leaves and it is a pain to harvest. I use the fridge gell sparingly.
My skin doesn't seem to have any inflammation from any oils, but if I use any I'll need to wash my length so I try to stay away from them.
Last week I purposefully did an oil scalp massage because I had a scalp wash I wanted to try. The scalp wash was lovely but there was still so much oil I had to wash the length and it dried it all out. I sprayed it with a mixture 4oz of water a drop of honey and a teaspoon of aloe gell. Nice hair again.

[MusicalSpoons]

My skin doesn't seem to have any inflammation from any oils, but if I use any I'll need to wash my length so I try to stay away from them.
Last week I purposefully did an oil scalp massage because I had a scalp wash I wanted to try. The scalp wash was lovely but there was still so much oil I had to wash the length and it dried it all out. I sprayed it with a mixture 4oz of water a drop of honey and a teaspoon of aloe gell. Nice hair again.

Conditioner is better for getting oil out :)

[Flittingsis]

Conditioner is better for getting oil out :)
Oh, thanks! Conventional conditioner or do you have a homemade conditioner that you use?

[MusicalSpoons]

Oh, thanks! Conventional conditioner or do you have a homemade conditioner that you use?

Conventional conditioner, easy peasy :thumbsup: Just let it sit for a while; the heavier the oiling the longer it needs. The fatty conditioning agents emulsify the oil without stripping like shampoo can do, especially if you'd otherwise have to shampoo multiple times to get it out :)