Tag: scalp

Homemade Formula’s for Over Processed Hair

~ Joseph Kellner ~ Leave a comment

Mayonnaise  Has long been used to help dry, brittle and damaged hair. On top of hairstyling tools causing damage, many products—like shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, gel—also contain alcohol which makes dry hair even worse. Surprisingly, it’s the cholesterol in the mayo that helps to soften your hair and reverse damage. Pour a cupful of mayo into a bowl and allow it to sit until it reaches room temperature. Add a few drops of vanilla to the mayo so it smells a little better. Add to the bowl three egg yolks and half a cup of olive oil. Throw 2 bath towels in the dryer to get them hot. Shampoo and condition the hair to get any product build up out! Apply the mixture throughout your entire hair, focusing on the ends. Wrap your head in plastic wrap to seal the mayo mix into your hair. Wrap one hot bath towel around your head for 10 minutes. Switch to the second hot bath towel for another 10 minutes. Rinse the mixture thoroughly out of your hair—if you’re going out, shampoo your hair thoroughly; if not, just rinse the mixture out without shampooing.

Apple Cider Rinse When products and hair chemicals settle on your scalp’s surface, two things happen: they reduce the shine and the mess up your hair’s pH. Hair is just slightly acidic, but most hair products are very alkaline. When product build-up happens, the hair will appear dull, lackluster and damaged. Cleanse your hair and restore its natural pH with an apple cider rinse. Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with one cup of warm water. Shampoo your hair as normal. While rinsing the shampoo out of your hair, pour the vinegar through your hair as well. Leave the vinegar in your hair for several minutes before rinsing out.

For All Hair Types  The [raw] egg is really the best of all worlds. The yolk, rich in fats and proteins, is naturally moisturizing, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, removes unwanted oils. For normal hair, use the entire egg to condition hair; use egg whites only to treat oily hair; use egg yolks only to moisturize dry, brittle hair, Cox says. Use 1/2 cup of whichever egg mixture is appropriate for you and apply to clean, damp hair. If there isn’t enough egg to coat scalp and hair, use more as needed. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water (to prevent egg from “cooking”) and shampoo hair. Whole egg and yolks-only treatments can be applied once a month; whites-only treatment can be applied every two weeks.

For Dull Hair Styling products (as well as air pollution) can leave a film that both saps moisture and dulls shine—but dairy products like sour cream and plain yogurt can help reverse this damage. Lactic acid gently strips away dirt while the milk fat moisturizes.  Massage 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt into damp hair and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by cool water, then shampoo hair as you normally would. Treatment can be applied every other week.

For Itchy Scalp To fight flakes—brought on by poor diet, stress and climate, among other factors—try a lemon juice and olive oil mixture in your hair. “The acidity in lemon juice helps rid your scalp of any loose, dry flakes of skin, while the olive oil moisturizes the [newly exposed] skin on your head. Mix 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp water, and massage into damp scalp. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every other week.

What Is Causing Your Itchy Scalp?

~ Joseph Kellner ~ Leave a comment

Having a dry, itchy scalp is an annoying skin condition. Find out why your scalp is itchy so you can take steps to get some relief.

Is itchy evera good thing? The answer has to be never. And when it comes to your scalp, this kind of irritation is often accompanied by embarrassing flakes. Here, skin and scalp experts explain what could be causing your scalp to itch.  Dandruff is the most common culprit to blame for an itchy scalp. The medical condition of dandruff is caused by an overgrowth of yeast.  The yeast normally live on your scalp and in other hairy areas, such as the eyebrows, the ears, and men’s beards. With changes in body chemistry, the yeast overgrow and feed on your dead skin cells and oils, which causes the itching and flaking.  To properly control dandruff, you need to eliminate its fungal component without creating more irritation and redness.

For mild cases,  use an over-the-counter shampoo that contains selenium, zinc pyrithione, or tea tree oil, all of which help control yeast. If your scalp is not itchy but more flaky, then try a salicylic acid shampoo to reduce buildup. More stubborn cases may require a prescription antifungal shampoo or cortisone foam, or, for especially severe cases, anti-yeast pills. Scalp itch can also result from trips to the hair salon. Repeated chemical hair treatments like permanent color, relaxers, and keratin treatments can sap your scalp of moisture.

Another culprit could be a daily blow-drying habit. The excessive heat can irritate and dry out the scalp. Avoid using the hair dryer at its hottest setting, especially when hair is very wet. That’s actually the hair’s most fragile state. 

An itchy scalp can also be an allergic reaction to certain hair products. Some products, such as hair sprays, contain ingredients that tighten as they dry. This causes a slight pulling sensation on the scalp, leading to itchiness. Sometimes the root of the problem is environmental. Other factors that contribute to scalp irritations include exposure to cool environments with low humidity, and the effects of wind and sun.

The way back to a healthy scalp (and healthy, shiny hair) begins with upping the moisture. Avoid hot water when washing your hair, because it can strip the natural oils from your scalp, making it very dry and sensitive. 

Sometimes an itchy scalp can be a red flag signaling other, more serious medical conditions. If your scalp develops thick, scaly patches that hurt, crack, or bleed, you may have psoriasis — a chronic autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. If, along with the itchiness, your hair is falling out or breaking, you may have ringworm. If any oozing occurs, or a crust develops or pus appears on the scalp, you could be suffering from a staph infection. Your safest bet is to consult your doctor with any concerns about an itchy scalp.

Look for moisturizing and protective ingredients like dimethicone, a silicone compound that smooths the hair surface, making it shiny also I recommend using a good conditioner to soothe the scalp and leave hair moisturized.