Can you relate with this?
So all my life I have been battling with dandruff. I used to be so insecure about it that I wouldn’t even allow my boyfriend to get too close to my scalp or even lay on him if he had a black shirt on. I tried everything under the sun to understand my scalp. I realized one of the biggest reasons was using relaxers! Even when I became natural I had dandruff issues. I finally figured out what I was doing wrong. I currently do not get an excessive amount of dandruff anymore.
Head Ecology
Malassezia microbes can cause dandruff. These microbes damages and weakens the scalp. People that don’t use relaxers can still have dandruff. This is because their scalp has less moisture as well as a small number of sebum secretions.
Why do relaxers cause dandruff
Dandruff happens when the scalp is irritated. The chemicals found in relaxers can cause individuals to have skin irritations. Furthermore, these harsh chemicals (sodium hydroxide, sodium thiglycolate, and ammonium thioglycolate) not only break the protein bonds of your hair follicles to make them straighter it also weakens your scalp. This can cause people to have excessive dandruff.
How can you fix it
DEEP CONDITIONING! Your scalp needs to be moisture trained! I realized I never used deep conditioners while I was relaxed. Once I became natural I knew I had to use deep conditioners. Every week I made sure to incorporate deep conditioning during my wash day routine. This not only helped my hair grow but it also moisturized my scalp even through the winter months.
SCALP MASSAGES! Having dry scalp isn’t only about moisture it’s about helping that sebum to secrete! Sebum lubricates your scalp and is secreted from sebaceous glands. Massaging your scalp will bring blood flow to your scalp and stimulate the sebaceous glands on your scalp. Furthermore, scalp massages help to remove that dead skin cells layer on your scalp.
ACV RINSE! Apple cider vinegar helps to regulate the pH of your scalp. This strong acid will protect you from Malassezia. I usually use ACV Rinses when my scalp is extremely itchy. The apple cider vinegar is very acidic so mix it with water before applying it to the scalp and/or hair. I have a blog post all about ACV Rinses and what I mix it with when I use it.
DRINK WATER! You cannot only rely on massages and deep conditioners to do all the work. Drink water throughout the day. I’ve noticed that when I started to drink more water my scalp and hair improved tremendously.
Naturally tracy 