View Full Version : Scalp pain
neko_kawaii
July 29th, 2012, 04:19 PM
I have to be careful with new updos because if the hairs are not used to leaning in that particular direction, ouch! they let me know. We aren't talking pulled tightly either.
I'll take it down as soon as I notice a protest but sometimes it isn't soon enough and that spot on my scalp will ache for hours. I've tried massages, I'll change my hair around every couple minutes hoping something helps but eventually give up and wash it. I'd just wet it but without condish it is so tangly!
I can get my scalp used to new things but I have to do it gradually.
Anyone else experience this? Any other suggestions for things to try?
Madora
July 29th, 2012, 04:25 PM
Yes, exactly. You have to change the direction of your hair in little increments when wearing updos. Start with an hour then take it down. The next day, increase the time up to 65 minutes..and so forth and so on. Gradually, your follicles will accustomize themselves to being taken in a new direction.
You might want to try gentle scalp massage after you've taken down the style.
It's always best to start slowly when wearing your hair a different way and then work towards your goal. Of course, if you've got the fortitude, you can go for "all day"...but the scalp pain when you take down your hair might make you flinch...and then some!
Shiranshoku
July 29th, 2012, 04:27 PM
Before I came to LHC, I never even realised that this was possible!
What causes the pain, exactly? Anyone know?
I hope the OP doesn't mind me asking this. I can't really offer any advice, as it's a completely foreign idea to me!
Windflower
July 29th, 2012, 04:33 PM
Yes, I experience this pain also. I just do what the others said: take it down when it hurts, and only put updos in for a short time. I remember my first time French braiding- I thought I was going to faint when the hair came down. Now, several years later, they can be in all day with no problems. I didn't really do anything for the pain, just tolerated it. I always figured it was because the hair is being pulled in a different direction and it was unused to that position- kind of like getting sore muscles if you haven't exercised in a while.
neko_kawaii
July 29th, 2012, 04:40 PM
Thank you Madora, I will take it slower. Y'd think my head would be accustomed to a braided bun, but I sectioned the braid differently this morning. *mutters* stupid hair follicles.
Before I came to LHC, I never even realised that this was possible!
What causes the pain, exactly? Anyone know?
I hope the OP doesn't mind me asking this. I can't really offer any advice, as it's a completely foreign idea to me!
I wish I knew too! It took me about a week of doing a crown braid every day and then taking it down to accustom my scalp those directional changes. My guess is that wetting my hair puts everything back into the positions they are most comfortable with and then the pain is gone instantly. Why I can't just comb it and massage the spot? Dumb sensitive scalp.
Madora
July 29th, 2012, 04:41 PM
Before I came to LHC, I never even realised that this was possible!
What causes the pain, exactly? Anyone know?
I hope the OP doesn't mind me asking this. I can't really offer any advice, as it's a completely foreign idea to me!
The hair in the follicles is being drawn in a direction that it is not used to...and pain results. The same thing happens when you change your part.
neko_kawaii
July 29th, 2012, 04:42 PM
Yes, I experience this pain also. I just do what the others said: take it down when it hurts, and only put updos in for a short time. I remember my first time French braiding- I thought I was going to faint when the hair came down. Now, several years later, they can be in all day with no problems. I didn't really do anything for the pain, just tolerated it. I always figured it was because the hair is being pulled in a different direction and it was unused to that position- kind of like getting sore muscles if you haven't exercised in a while.
I like the analogy to sore muscles. Glad to know I'm not alone!
Madora
July 29th, 2012, 04:44 PM
[quote=neko_kawaii;2237774]Thank you Madora, I will take it slower. Y'd think my head would be accustomed to a braided bun, but I sectioned the braid differently this morning. *mutters* stupid hair follicles.
quote]
Hmmm. How did you do the sectioning, neko_kawaii? I'm curious.
johnnystiletto
July 29th, 2012, 04:52 PM
This happens to me, too! I just make sure to do different updos each day, to keep the hair from getting "stuck" in position. Seems to help. I also give myself a nice scalp massage when I take my hair down - I don't know if it helps, but it DOES feel nice!
neko_kawaii
July 29th, 2012, 05:13 PM
Hmmm. How did you do the sectioning, neko_kawaii? I'm curious.
A front section and two back sections. I wanted the braid to start higher up because that is where I wanted to bun to end up. On a side note I did my first four strand french braid last night and slept in it without any trouble.
Daily variety is a good idea johnnystiletto.
browneyedsusan
July 29th, 2012, 05:38 PM
I'm going through this too. My hair was too short to put up for a lot of years, and when it got finally long enough to pin up the bangs, my scalp protested! Really?? How could one little bobby pin cause that much pain? TLHCers advised: normal for follicles to ache when you pull them a different way.
Madora and Windflower's advice is right on: wear it up for a while, then take it down. Put your hair up again the next day for a little longer. Repeat. Eventually, you get used to having your hair moved in a different direction.
Dorothy
July 29th, 2012, 06:17 PM
I have this as well, and I'm not quite patient enough to practice hairstyles. I do find that aloe vera gel, applied directly to the scalp, soothes it immediatly, I do this the night before a wash. When it's not 110 degrees in Kansas, I like to wear my hair down first day after a wash, up second day, resulting in bun pain, as I call it, then do the aloe vera overnight and wash again in the morning. Right now it's bun, bun, bun, I can't stand so much as a whisker laying on my neck in this heat.
Madora
July 29th, 2012, 07:22 PM
A front section and two back sections. I wanted the braid to start higher up because that is where I wanted to bun to end up. On a side note I did my first four strand french braid last night and slept in it without any trouble.
Thanks for explaining. Good to hear your 4 strand braid was comfortable enough to sleep in. Always a plus!
Sarahlabyrinth
July 30th, 2012, 12:45 AM
Yes I get this too. But just persevere and after a while your follicles will be well-trained and stop protesting, then you will have won, lol!
mamaherrera
August 2nd, 2012, 09:38 AM
I have this too. good thing I'm not alone, I thought I was. :yumm:Since going curly and wearing it down so much, now I can't put it up (I used to always do updos since it was poofy and big) but now, I can't even sleep with a pineapple or put my hair up over my pillow because it bothers me. I can't do side braids to sleep because my cowlick in back has those hairs wanting to go in another direction. That's neat how you all say to keep at it in small amounts. I thought I should just stop doing updos, because it will make my hair fall out. I thought that pain meant I was putting too much pressure on my scalp and it could make clumps fall out. i can't handle bobby pins either, and if I ptu them in loosely, the pulling of them on my scalp when I walk/movement, causes pain as well. So I don't know the answer either. Plus I've heard with curlies, it's not good to do updos a lot because of the breakage and manipulation. So if I"m to do them infrequently, how will I ever get used to them?
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