red to blonde (?), color oops, and seborrheic dermatitis

**captainjanuary** · February 2nd, 2014, 01:34 AM

I'm afraid this is going to be a bit dear diary, sorry!

My hair is light ash blonde (my hair colorist has looked at my roots and called them 8, and treats them like grays

) and I've been dying it red since fall 2012. I usually used boxes, but I went to the salon every once in a while. Lately I've been going to the salon every time.

The problem now is that I've developed seborrheic dermatitis and the keto shampoo that my dermatologist has given me is HORRIBLE for retaining my hair color. On the other hand, the SD is something I need to treat because it is causing hair loss around my hairline. I think I developed the SD when I started using sulfate free shampoos-- it seems that my scalp (if not my hair, sadly) really needs the thorough scrubbing that sulfates provide.

My hair was the healthiest when I graduated from college (four years ago) and was washing it vigorously with head and shoulders. This is what it looks like naturally:

*sigh* It was the product of several years of benign neglect (no highlights or heat styling).

I decided to go red again (I had red hair in my teens) in 2012, and I love it! So. so. much.

However, I started to have some hair loss from SD/stress:

And I've had to get it cut because it was so thin.

Right now I'm teetering on the edge of using a box of Color Oops to get rid of the red (I did a test and, surprisingly, it did this fairly well) and start going back to my natural color because:

1. I can't take care of my scalp properly and have a nice red color.

2. Red is SO high maintenance, and I'm sick of it looking nice for a while and then having my blonde roots grow out and make me look like I'm balding/there's nothing there.

3. I'm tired of going to the salon to get it done, even though it costs next to nothing as a hair model. The stylist is not gentle and I feel like I lose a lot of hair every time I go. I'd just like a nice full fistful of hair when I make a pony again!

I'm just sad to be having to make this decision because I think the red is so beautiful, and it contrasts so nicely with my skin (which the blonde DOES NOT do) and makes me feel pretty

. I never felt very pretty with blonde hair.

Anyways, comments, criticism, or advice on Color Oops, SD, or the transition from red to blonde?

Here are some photos of the red I have now:

Thanks, LHC

**Firefox7275** · February 2nd, 2014, 10:06 AM

I have intermittent mild dermatitis on my scalp which is triggered by both box dyes and Colour B4 (like Color Oops) - I assume due to the high alkalinity/ disruption of the skin flora. I suspect very mild SD tho never bothered to have it diagnosed (have contact dermatitis and atopic eczema diagnosed elsewhere on face/ body). Be cautious applying Color Oops if your SD is active/ irritated at present.

SD is believed to be a reaction to the oleic acid in your own sebum and released as a waste product by malassezia yeast. Treatments focus on stripping away the sebum (sulphates also damage the skin barrier) or reducing the population of malassezia or both.

Another option is to work on reducing the amount of sebum you produce, altering the composition so it contains less oleic acid, reducing the accompanying/ underlying inflammation, strengthening and repairing your skin barrier/ flora/ acid mantle. A major part of this is diet and lifestyle modification (anti inflammatory, anti stress).

There is a sulphate free ketoconazole shampoo called Regenepure. Haven't tried it so can't compare its skin and hair friendliness to harsh pharmacy type SD treatments. Another option backed by a published study is raw honey soaks.

Do be aware that oils and butters rich in oleic acid, stearic acid and palmitic acid can all worsen SD. Pure henna has some anti microbial properties and some do find it helps their SD: that would give you a similar red to what you have now.

**Anje** · February 2nd, 2014, 10:31 AM

I can't give you much advice on the SD, because different scalps do best with different things in response to it. If you need to wash frequently and with harsh shampoos, then that's what you've got to do to manage it.

What I did want to say is that you read like an excellent candidate for henna. Natural warm red dye, virtually impossible to remove, far more permanent than conventional dyes. Read up on it, do some research -- I think you'd like it if you would like to keep the red. (ETA: Many sites recommend mixing henna with acid such as lemon juice. Most of the people around here find that it works just fine with warm water and is far less irritating. Almost certainly, less irritating is better for your SD.)

**Rosetta** · February 4th, 2014, 08:06 AM

I really second what Anje said - your shade of red (gorgeous!) would be pretty easy to achieve with henna (or a mix of henna and cassia), I used to do that for years; and it might possibly even help with your SD. And it sounds like you don't really want to go back to your natural colour...

**Ambystoma** · February 4th, 2014, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Firefox7275

Do be aware that oils and butters rich in oleic acid, stearic acid and palmitic acid can all worsen SD.

That's interesting - would coconut oil fall into that category? My partner used to get some nasty SD and we would deal with the plaques and bad dry patches by massaging his scalp with coconut oil and leaving it overnight - he prevents it now by avoiding sulphates (which not everyone can do, but it works well for him) and only occasionally gets the odd mild dry patch now which we use the oil for. My hair tends to shed more if I put oil on my scalp, and it seems to hate oils in general, so clearly it's not the right treatment for everyone - perhaps try a "patch test" on a small part of your scalp before wash day and see how it goes?

**Firefox7275** · February 4th, 2014, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by Ambystoma

That's interesting - would coconut oil fall into that category? My partner used to get some nasty SD and we would deal with the plaques and bad dry patches by massaging his scalp with coconut oil and leaving it overnight - he prevents it now by avoiding sulphates (which not everyone can do, but it works well for him) and only occasionally gets the odd mild dry patch now which we use the oil for. My hair tends to shed more if I put oil on my scalp, and it seems to hate oils in general, so clearly it's not the right treatment for everyone - perhaps try a "patch test" on a small part of your scalp before wash day and see how it goes?

I am sulphate sensitive too: the week I switched to co-washing and lotion cleansing my face my elbow patch of atopic eczema cleared and my face and scalp became less greasy. It's a common contributory factor in many common dermatological disorders. I've since had my mother switch off sulphates and her SD reduced by roughly half. Also eliminated all sulphates myself, including those in toothpaste (better lips and gums) and hand wash (few hangnails).

Pure oconut oil (solid at cooler room temps) is very rich in lauric acid, with some smaller fatty acids. Fractionated (liquid) coconut oil contains more of the very small molecules. Coconut oil does have mild anti microbial activity but not convinced that is enough to deal with most cases of SD. What it may do is act as a simple occlusive, potentially protecting from water loss or contact with allergens or irritants.

SD is greasy dandruff BTW, if your husband is getting dry patches I'd query the diagnosis.

**Ambystoma** · February 5th, 2014, 05:46 PM

Cool - thanks for the info! He was getting greasy, plaquelike patches as well as dryness when he saw a doctor about it, but this was just a GP and not a dermatologist. The plaques are gone now and a little scalp dryness is the only problem he deals with these days. It sounds like going sulphate free may have been the useful part here, (going pretty much WO on his sensitive skin has been a big hit too) and the oil massages might have been the "icing on the cake" so to speak, as well as just being plain enjoyable for him

I always look forward to reading your posts, you're such a great resource to have around on the forums!

(and sorry to partially thread hijack, captainjanuary, I hope you manage to make your scalp happy soon

)

**Firefox7275** · February 5th, 2014, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ambystoma

Cool - thanks for the info! He was getting greasy, plaquelike patches as well as dryness when he saw a doctor about it, but this was just a GP and not a dermatologist. The plaques are gone now and a little scalp dryness is the only problem he deals with these days. It sounds like going sulphate free may have been the useful part here, (going pretty much WO on his sensitive skin has been a big hit too) and the oil massages might have been the "icing on the cake" so to speak, as well as just being plain enjoyable for him

I always look forward to reading your posts, you're such a great resource to have around on the forums!

Thank you that is really sweet of you to say, I'm not having the best week so you really made my day.

I have learned (and am still learning!) loads from LHC so its good to be able to contribute something a little different. I never would have considered mechanical damage from grooming, hair toys/ secures and even the pillow so significant if it wasn't for this place. And the up dos, oh my!!

**anitacs9101** · February 5th, 2014, 07:40 PM

I have a cousin who has the same hair color as you, light blonde. She made a last second decision to dye it dark red, and immediately hated it. She tried color oops on it with a regular non-lightening blonde dye afterwards. I didn't think it would work since her dyed color was so dark but it actually worked quite well.

If I were you, I'd grow out natural, because it's very pretty.

But, if you're really determined to go red, then as everyone else has suggested, you could try henna. Just beware, henna is very, very permanent, and you're not going to just be able to use color oops and go back to blonde on command like you could with red box dye. And you'd probably want to try a henna/cassia mix to get the color you have now. If you use straight henna, it could look like the color you want, but when you keep dying it again, it will get darker. Alternately, you could use it at whatever strength/dilution gives you the color you want, and then just do your roots, or do roots regularly with very infrequent whole-head applications.

**maborosi** · February 5th, 2014, 07:46 PM

I would probably say you and I are similar natural colors. I think I'm a level 7 ash blonde, and I, too, like dyeing my hair red. I like your natural color, but I also think the red is very flattering on you and looks great.

Red is just a really high-maintenance color. That's how it is, unfortunately. It tends to fade or not stick at all.

You might do really well with henna or a henna/cassia blend. But you have to be 100% certain that you want to have red hair for pretty much the forseeable future. It is permanent and does not come out like other dyes, but dyes my hair such a beautiful red color that I find it worth it. I do have to touch up every other week. It looks a bit odd on me, too, when my roots start coming in, so I feel your pain there.

~maborosi~