I have a dilemma in my reggie!

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

So my hair cannot go more than 3 days without being washed or my scalp starts to itch like CRAZY. I use tea tree oil to stop the dry scalp but that only lasts for 3 days lol which is why I wash again and reapply.

BUT I've noticed that my hair is over moisturized and it has been stretching and breaking like crazy!

So I decided to up my protein treatments to twice a month instead of once (DuoTex) and continue to use my weekly light protein conditioners. I also decided to cut back on washing to once a week. But I'm starting to itch so badly!!

What is a girl to do? I know the frequent co-washing is what got me here. Do you think upping the protein will be enough or do I NEED to cut out the co-washing as well and suffer from the itchies?

 

[JuiceMobsta]

I thought that tea tree oil can be drying to the skin though :scratchch

What does your cowashing routine consist of, do you apply leave-ins after? What condish do you use? Maybe you can try cowashing with a light protein conditioner, that might help Like Mane N Tail, maybe Aphogee 2min, Organix Coconut milk, etc.

 

[Hersheygurl]

Hi LFM,

I was having the itchies a while back from frequent CW's and my hair was mushy and stretchy. I have to wash frequently because I do a lot of cardio.

I still CW frequently, but tweaked my reggie a little. As a humble suggestion, I would say alternate your moisturizing con that you use to CW with a protein con so you don't overdue the moisture. Also, I found I was itching because I had been massaging it into my hair and scalp as sort of pre-poo and I think the brand, (Suave shea butter) just didn't agree with me. Now I alternate between M&T con for protein and HE Hello hydration for moisture. Maybe try switching brands to see if that brings relief. I also do a light protein once a week.

I also clarify 1-3 x a month and oil my hair and scalp with coconut oil.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

I've tried the Organix...hated it. Tried the Aphogee hated it. Tried the ORS, felt like pure moisture. Tried SE Hair Mayonnaise, hated it. Tried Organics Hair Mayonnaise, felt like pure moisture. I haven't tried Mane n Tail because I'm scared of wasting my money.

I co-wash just by drenching my hair with water and then I apply the conditioner, leave it in during my shower and then rinse out. I massage my scalp only if I use a conditioner with no cones like Vo5 and Suave. I just finished up a bottle of Naked Naturals Shea Butter and Avocado (somethin like that) which has hydrolyzed vegetable protein as like the 5th or 6th ingredient. I thought that would be a light protein but it wasn't. I have LeKair next up on my list to use, which I was gonna use as my weekly light protein. Should I use it during my co-washes as well? It's kind of thick.

Oh yeah, I normally just use a mix of shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil as my leave in.
Thanks for your help!

ETA: Nope the tea tree oil definitely helps. I used to have flakes after washing (all my life, even at salons). I started using the tea tree oil and the flakes went away.

 

[choctaw]

Can you add castor oil or a blend of castor & coconut oil to your tea tree oil? Or switch to castor/coconut oil blend to help with the dryness?

 

[JuiceMobsta]

I've tried the Organix...hated it. Tried the Aphogee hated it. Tried the ORS, felt like pure moisture. Tried SE Hair Mayonnaise, hated it. Tried Organics Hair Mayonnaise, felt like pure moisture. I haven't tried Mane n Tail because I'm scared of wasting my money.

I co-wash just by drenching my hair with water and then I apply the conditioner, leave it in during my shower and then rinse out. I massage my scalp only if I use a conditioner with no cones like Vo5 and Suave. I just finished up a bottle of Naked Naturals Shea Butter and Avocado (somethin like that) which has hydrolyzed vegetable protein as like the 5th or 6th ingredient. I thought that would be a light protein but it wasn't. I have LeKair next up on my list to use, which I was gonna use as my weekly light protein. Should I use it during my co-washes as well? It's kind of thick.

Oh yeah, I normally just use a mix of shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil as my leave in.
Thanks for your help!

Yeah like Choc said, maybe try diluting the tea tree oil if you are using it undiluted. The flakes might have gone away but that doesnt mean it isnt causing itchyness.

Lekair pink cholesterol?:scratchch I have used that and it is moisturizing yet it is kind of strenghtening as well.

And it is possible that when you do massage your scalp with those condishes they might be making your scalp itch. Do you apply th leave in on wet hair? Cause it sounds very moisturizing as well. That leave in would seal in all the moisture, coconut oil can cause mushyness, it happened to me.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

Yeah sorry. I meant to say I dilute my tea tree oil with olive oil and coconut oil. Didn't know I didn't mention that. I focused on tea tree oil because that's whats making my flakes go away. Ive tried castor oil by itself, evoo by itself, and coconut oil by itself.

Ok will stop massaging my scalp with the conditioners and hopefully that will stop the itchiness. How long should I try this before I expect to see improvement?

ETA: What's a good leave in? I've tried Aphogee Pro-vitamin leave in...hated it lol

 

[JuiceMobsta]

Hmmmm well Idk, was your scalp itching with the olive oil and coconut oil or just flaking?

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

I was washing every other day so I either didn't notice it or it wasn't itching at all. But I know I still had flakes every single day. I didn't stop getting flakes until I added the tea tree oil but it doesn't last. Do you think its ok to keep reapplying the oil every 3 days without washing? I thought that might clog my scalp.

 

[Hersheygurl]

[QUOTE

Ok will stop massaging my scalp with the conditioners and hopefully that will stop the itchiness. How long should I try this before I expect to see improvement? For me, once I stopped massaging the conditioner on my scalp and stopped using the SUAVE Shea butter, the improvement was pretty much immediate.

ETA: What's a good leave in? I've tried Aphogee Pro-vitamin leave in...hated it lol[/QUOTE] I personally like HE LTR.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

I hate HELTR lol my hair doesn't like most of the leave ins I've tried that's why I've been sticking to my oils. I hate Suave Shea Butter as well lol I'm eventually gonna use only natural products because I think that's what my hair likes best.

But I am going to stop with the conditioners on my scalp, wash once a week, and hopefully my hair and my scalp improves. I will also maybe apply the oil twice a week.

 

[JuiceMobsta]

I was washing every other day so I either didn't notice it or it wasn't itching at all. But I know I still had flakes every single day. I didn't stop getting flakes until I added the tea tree oil but it doesn't last. Do you think its ok to keep reapplying the oil every 3 days without washing? I thought that might clog my scalp.

Well the coconut oil shouldnt clog your scalp, and I dont know if the olive oil will but I think your oil mix should be fine though.

How often do you shampoo? You could try shampooing your scalp ONLY and meanwhile cowashing the rest of your hair. Get one of those empty color applicator bottles and put shampoo in there and then apply it directly to your scalp and massage, that might help the itchies. If you diluted that Dr. Bronners Peppermint castille soap and used it on your scalp that might feel good.

I tried that Aphogee leave-iin one time and I gave it away, HE LTR is good, and if you want a cheapie leave-in that has a little protein in it, Profectiv has a growth lotion...lol

 

[lovelexi]

maybe its not just about what you're using on your hair but what you're putting in your body. maybe some vitamin A,B Complex,C and E as well as some fish oils could help with both dry skin and hair

 

[sheedahp]

I dont cowash and I wash once a week, I used to have the dry flaky itchy scalp and I started using Neutrogena t/sal shampoo for about 2 or 3 months and that helped but the last 3 months or so Ive been rinsing with ACV and I dont have the scalp problem anymore, but I noticed the problem went away after I got my last relaxer and a black color rinse about 3 months ago, its kind of weird but I think its the ACV that really helped.

 

[natural_one]

I always have an itchy scalp after cowashing, and I find it is because I am not rinsing my hair well enough. I am not sure if you are natural or not, but with natural hair you really have to take time to rinse your scalp.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

maybe its not just about what you're using on your hair but what you're putting in your body. maybe some vitamin A,B Complex,C and E as well as some fish oils could help with both dry skin and hair

Hmm....I'm not so sure it's internal. I DO have skin problems but they only come around when I use certain products or hard water. I've been eating healthy all my life and have been taking multi-vitamins and b-complex. I eat fish nearly everyday and I take flaxseed oil so I think as far as my skin goes, it's certain things that just irritate my scalp. But my head itches and is dry no matter what I use EXCEPT this tea tree oil. It's gotten better over the years which I think is because I wash more frequently but sometimes I have itching fits.....hmmm....now that I think about it maybe the itching IS random and not all the time and it just seems that way. MAYBE its that sucky Creme of Nature green label that I've been trying to use up. I do use that on my scalp because its shampoo but that can very well be causing buildup and irritating my scalp.

I dont cowash and I wash once a week, I used to have the dry flaky itchy scalp and I started using Neutrogena t/sal shampoo for about 2 or 3 months and that helped but the last 3 months or so Ive been rinsing with ACV and I dont have the scalp problem anymore, but I noticed the problem went away after I got my last relaxer and a black color rinse about 3 months ago, its kind of weird but I think its the ACV that really helped.

ACV hmmm? I shall try that for my scalp. Do you rinse the acv back out? Can I mix a couple of drops of acv with my tea tree oil and evoo and leave it on or does the acv need to be rinsed out?

I always have an itchy scalp after cowashing, and I find it is because I am not rinsing my hair well enough. I am not sure if you are natural or not, but with natural hair you really have to take time to rinse your scalp.

I'm transitioning but I've had this problem all my life. I was natural for 17 years and relaxed for 3. But I THINK I rinse my scalp very well. I will stop with the massaging the scalp during co-washing and will only do so during my shampoo sessions and see if that works.

Thanks everyone!

 

[sheedahp]

i googled ACV rinse and learned what to do from there but I have a big bowl and i fill it with cold water and put about 1-2 tblspoons of ACV an d after I rinse the dc out i pour the bowl over my hair leave it on for a few mins then rinse it out. People do it different ways but I always make it my final step and rinse afterwards

 

[divachyk]

What does HE LTR stand for? TIA!

 

[Hersheygurl]

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship. It's one of the fave leave-ins.

 

[sheedahp]

I just bought HE LTR and used it once and it didnt work as well as Silk Elements foam/wrap lotion. Do you airdry, blowdry or rollerset?

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

I always airdry in either a bun, pony, or 1-4 braids