I don't put a single thing on my scalp. I haven't for years. My scalp doesn't itch because of that. Ironically, the only time my scalp itches is if anything comes into contact with it and I leave it there. For instance, when I used to use a holding spray to hold the my style (like when I'd curl my braids all the way with a curling iron
), I'd itch like crazy. I'd hold the spray above my head and spray away, and for that I'd pay!
It wasn't terribly bad, but it was enough for me to get irritable. Lately, I've noticed that if I spray Dew without hanging my head down so the spray hits only my hair and not scalp; or if I don't hold my hair up in sections at a time to spray, my scalp will itch too. It just seems so much happier with nothing on it...and so am I.
I wash my hair twice a week, but this practice I only started a year ago after reading Brenda's report (
www.blackwomenrejoice.com) in which she encourages washing more often to combat dryness. Even when I washed my hair just once a week, my scalp didn't itch from having nothing on it.
In my younger days, used to believe you'd get dandruff and itch if you didn't apply something on your scalp. (Heck, my
back itches if I don't put lotion on my
legs.
Go figure.) But someone told me that putting oils etc is what causes dandruff. I thought it was the most ludicrous thing I ever heard, but I gave it a shot. Took a while to get used to it. I may have itched a bit during the experiment. But I persevered till it was time to wash my hair. Before I knew it, I'd forgotten all about the itching. And I've never looked back.
Hey, I wonder if itching can also be caused by not rinsing out all the conditioner and/or shampoo?
Does my hair grow faster because of nothing on the scalp? It's hard to tell for sure, since I started doing this about the same time I started wearing braids, which work well for me. I've heard it said that putting grease on the scalp does slow down growth, but that might just be an old wives' tale.
Oh, if I wear synthetic hair extensions and the ends touch my scalp when I'm trying to be frighteningly creative in styling, then I'll itch too.