There seems to be an increase in scalp concerns now that we are fully embracing our natural hair journeys. Whether you are loced, braided, or twisted, scalp care is very important. You don't have to suffer anymore; join me on this blog series as we both discover ways to bring our scalp relief.
Dandruff? Psoriasis? Dermatitis? Oh My!
Dandruff: Dandruff is a common scalp condition in which small pieces of dry skin flake off of the scalp. Dandruff may also make your scalp itch. (AAD)
Psoriasis: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes inflammation in the body. There may be visible signs of inflammation such as raised plaques (plaques may look different for different skin types) and scales on the skin. (NPF)
Seborrheic Dermatitis: A common skin condition that mainly affects your scalp. It causes scaly patches, inflamed skin and stubborn dandruff. It usually affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest. This condition can be irritating but it's not contagious, and it doesn't cause permanent hair loss. (Mayo Clinic)
Major Scalp Dont's
Don't use coconut oil or olive oil
Do not overly scratch your scalp (Don't beat your head with your hand either)
Avoid overusing products, especially those that cause dryness (alcohol based products)
Do not wait to cleanse your scalp ( a dirty scalp does not make your hair grow)
Don't use scalp-medicated shampoos on the rest of your hair (this will dry out your hair)
Don't give up on your hair's health (You may not get it right the first time, your remedy is unique to you. Try again!)
How can Nezy Hair Help You?
Education is my number one rule when trying to help my clients achieve their hair goals. I take time to search out this information so that I could share it all with you. However, it takes both of us working together to see results. The following tips are based on my research. You may need to do more research for your specific scalp needs.
Be sure you are not using oils such as coconut and olive oil that feed the yeast on your scalp. You may think you are soothing your dry scalp, but instead, this is making it worse, leading to more dandruff and itchiness.
When you are getting styled or styling your own hair, be careful not to slap the whole jar on your scalp. For example, prepart your hair with no gel. Once you are parted, apply the gel to the hair only. This gel leads to the clogging of your scalp's pores.
Use anti-inflammatory oils such as tea tree, peppermint, and chamomile. Be sure to dilute these oils with a carrier oil.
Keep your scalp clean. Protective styles are great for your hair strands, but your scalp still needs care. Keep it clean. Ever heard of scalp wipes? https://www.tressclean.com/
Use your medicated shampoo on a regular basis. You may need to use it once a week or biweekly. It all depends on your scalp's needs. Use the shampoo only on your scalp. This shampoo is very drying for the rest of your hair.
Book a scalp exfoliating treatment with Nezy Hair. During this appointment, your scalp will get my full attention. I will be using special products designed to help soothe and treat your scalp. However, this is only the first step. You may need to go see a dermatologist to get more detailed information. Try reaching out to Dr.Simone Stalling.
Trust the process. Eventually, you will develop your own specific scalp care regimen.
Resources: I strongly recommend clicking the links below!
https://byaaronwallace.com/en-us/blogs/grooming-guide/how-black-men-can-avoid-dry-itchy-scalp (A blog for black men dealing with dry scalp. Information in my blog works for all genders.)
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/scalp/treat-dandruff#:~:text=the%20best%20results.-,Dandruff%20is%20a%20common%20scalp%20condition%20in%20which%20small%20pieces,also%20make%20your%20scalp%20itch. (More scientific information on what dandruff is)
https://www.tressclean.com/ (These are scalp wipes for those with protective styles.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUAwMYRSP48 (How to treat flaky skin and scalp)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV2JtoOVJIU (Certain oils don't help dry scalp)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRB2DKlLu0o (Stop Dry Flaky Scalp)
https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/ (Info on Psoriasis)
https://avivaderm.com/simone-stalling/ (Black Dermatologist in Houston, Texas)