** Terrible product build up on the scalp! **

CharUK

CharUK

"Honestly, Truly"
Good evening all.

My daughter has thick 4b hair, very similar to mine.

The problem I'm having is that she has terrible product build up on her scalp and I cannot get it out!! I can literally rub the scalp and a creamy texture of stuff comes up after I've washed it.

I've tried baking soda and ACV and while these helped to clean her hair, the issue on her scalp remains the same! When I condition to detangle I try to stay away from the scalp area as much as I can.

Has anyone had this? Thanks for reading.
 
Maybe you could try a clarifying or chelating shampoo to remove the build-up. If you're in London, the water is very hard and can cause build-up for some people.
 
Try the neutrogena clarifying shampoo or some black soap, or some harsh sulfate shampoo, because your goal is to get the buildup out
 
It takes a while to remove build up, get some glover's mange both the shampoo and the grease. Oil the scalp, next day scratch up the build up and shampoo. Start using dandruff shampoo on your baby it sounds like she has an oily scalp like me. I never have to worry about stripped hair.
 
It may be time for some good old fashioned sulfate based shampoo. You may have to shampoo it more than twice to remove the buildup.
 
Use actual shampoo, probably a clarifying one if she has that much build up. Also wash in sections so you can make sure you're getting every section of scalp
 
Aaaah thank you all so much! I have made a list based on each reply!

We have never tried clay or black soap and we do reside in London. DD2 does tend to have an oily scalp, and I currently use Elasta QP creme conditioning shampoo as it doesn't dry the hair out, but that's only every other wash. Conditioners I use are normally herbal essence hello hydration or neutrogena moisturising conditioner. I've tried using Suave et al, but they don't agree with her hair and don't provide enough slip to detangle with ease.

Now I have the list I will try and make the best decision, but may go with black soap, dandruff or Chelating Shampoo. I like the idea of using a toothbrush as well!

I'll be sure to refer back to the list of recommendations if I'm not having success.

Oh and I only use better braids unbraid spray every other day on her hair and grease her scalp with organic virgin coconut oil, which I thought was best for the scalp. I occasionally moisturise the hair with wave nouveau finishing lotion.... Her hair is typically washed weekly, but sometimes fortnightly.

Thanks again all!
 
i don't think it's the product(shampoo), it may just be your technique. part her hair into fours. get a applicator bottle with a nozzle. pour shampoo into the bottle and dilute with some water. apply the shampoo directly to her scalp and massage firmly with the pads of your fingers. do not focus on her hair. the suds will take care of that. focus on each section for 5 mins. rinse each section and repeat. you may need to use a sulfate shampoo. also how often are you washing her hair and what products are you using? you shouldn't be putting anything directly on the scalp. and you need to wash her hair weekly.


no more cowashing with those products. since she has an oily scalp, cowashing is counterproductive. you need to clarify her hair and scalp. the cowashing and hydrating shampoo is causing more buildup. nothing is being removed.
 
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First of all, Heeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyy :wave: CharUK, my long lost idol! :notworthy

shortdub78 said:
i don't think it's the product(shampoo), it may just be your technique. part her hair into fours. get a applicator bottle with a nozzle. pour shampoo into the bottle and dilute with some water. apply the shampoo directly to her scalp and massage firmly with the pads of your fingers. do not focus on her hair. the suds will take care of that. focus on each section for 5 mins. rinse each section and repeat. you may need to use a sulfate shampoo. also how often are you washing her hair and what products are you using? you shouldn't be putting anything directly on the scalp. and you need to wash her hair weekly.

no more cowashing with those products. since she has an oily scalp, cowashing is counterproductive. you need to clarify her hair and scalp. the cowashing and hydrating shampoo is causing more buildup. nothing is being removed.
Click to expand...


I agree with @shortdub78. I would only change the part about diluting shampoo. I don't know why one would dilute shampoo. IMO that weakens its cleansing powers. I suggest applying it directly to the scalp neat. I also have a preference for gel-like shampoos. Creamy shampoos (eg Creme of Nature) seem to leave a coating on my hair and scalp--or it could just be in the mind. Gel shampoos leave my scalp squeaky clean. If you are totally against sulphates, I recommend Giovanni 50:50 Hydrating/Clarifying Shampoo. It's gentle yet leaves scalp feeling wonderful.

Also I suggest that when you apply conditioner, you avoid rubbing it into your scalp. Conditioners are supposed to leave a coating ON HAIR to protect and smooth out strands. THEY ARE NOT FOR USE ON THE SCALP. So skip about an inch of the hair closest to your scalp and apply it on the rest of the hair letting it hang down (preferably in plaits) so the conditioner drips down toward ends where it's most needed.

And then end your wash with a dunk in very dilute ACV solution and massage scalp to ensure it's product free. And do not apply anything to scalp.
 
I agree with the shampoo recommendations. What I do when I wash my scalp is dilute shampoo with a little water in a hair color bottle (with a narrow tip) and apply it to my scalp that way to (to protect my hair). Massage with fingers or use a soft toothbrush and rinse it all out.
 
yeah, use some diluted sulphate shampoo. it may take more than one wash. Also no conditioner on the scalp. If this build up is because she has a oily scalp, after her shampoo she needs absolutely nothing on her scalp anymore, her naturalsebum will take care of it.
 
My daughter is the same. Does your daughter's hair smell not quite clean after awhile or even right after? I think it's sebum buildup.
 
shortdub78 You are probably right re: Technique, I have four kids and always on the rush, so tend to hurry hair washing along! I like the idea of the nozzle to target the scalp. I iuse Elasta QP and HE Hello hydration. Her hair is washed every 7-10 days.

Nonie Heeeey! How's you!? :) I never use conditioner on the scalp, just coconut oil after all is done. I like the idea of braids, that should help and thanks for all your other suggestions!

Royalq I never considered an oily scalp before, but it seems she definitely has it! Are you suggestion not using conditioner at all? I normally use to detangle and occasionally to deep condition...

auparavant Yes!! It smells (in my opinion) a bit like stale sick and this could be as little as three or four days after washing. Tea tree or peppermint oil with water helps. Ugh

Oh and this is the soap I would like to get, but I will physically be visiting stores after work tomorrow.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320693969909

Thanks again for all the replies! So appreciated. Can't wait to wash her hair now! LOL.
 
CharUK yes, you can use conditioner but make sure to use it on the hair and not the scalp. some conditioners tend to leave residue, and if the residue gets mixed up with a lot of oil from the scalp it can cause unsightly build up.
 
Thank you all Charla that's an interesting point now that I have googled the symptoms.

If the black soap doesn't help I'll take her along to the docs just in case, but she doesn't get itchy scalp. She suffers from eczema as well,s o I know she would be prone to it.

xx
 
A lot of good suggestions, diluting shampoo in color applicator bottle is honorable mention. I don't think coconut oil on scalp is a good idea. That may be exacerbating any existing problems.
 
A lot of good suggestions, diluting shampoo in color applicator bottle is honorable mention. I don't think coconut oil on scalp is a good idea. That may be exacerbating any existing problems and making it worse. It's not a good scalp product nor is it a good leave in. Coconut oil is best for pre-poo's and DC rinse outs.
 
CharUK said:
Thank you all Charla that's an interesting point now that I have googled the symptoms.

If the black soap doesn't help I'll take her along to the docs just in case, but she doesn't get itchy scalp. She suffers from eczema as well,s o I know she would be prone to it.

xx
Click to expand...

virtuenow said:
A lot of good suggestions, diluting shampoo in color applicator bottle is honorable mention. I don't think coconut oil on scalp is a good idea. That may be exacerbating any existing problems.
Click to expand...



virtuenow Any particular reason why you don't think coconut oil is good for the scalp? I've been using it on my scalp for 2 years now consistently, straight up and mixed with other oils. Plenty of ladies on this site do aswell.

In fact, CharUK that's a good idea to let her see a dermatologist. And after years of ineffective prescription stuff for my seborrheic dermatitis, coconut oil is the only thing that has me symptom free. Sulfur is a second runner up for me.
 
The coconut oil may be ok for your scalp but not such agood thing for her's... at least not now while she is having this issue especially everyother day, that may be too often.
ETA:
If it is a sebum/product build up then it doesnt seem like adding more oil to the scalp would help. Like adding olive oil on top of your butter.
 
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Charla said:
@virtuenow Any particular reason why you don't think coconut oil is good for the scalp? I've been using it on my scalp for 2 years now consistently, straight up and mixed with other oils. Plenty of ladies on this site do aswell.

In fact, @CharUK that's a good idea to let her see a dermatologist. And after years of ineffective prescription stuff for my seborrheic dermatitis, coconut oil is the only thing that has me symptom free. Sulfur is a second runner up for me.
Click to expand...
I know you weren't asking me, but I had a problem with coconut oil solidifying and caking up in my hair (I live in a colder climate) and adding to the buildup.
 
Thanks all! Just a quick update. The black soap didn't arrive in time, so I searched my stash and came across some wella raspberry shampoo satchets (which contain sulphates), so I concentrated on the scalp and gave it a much longer than normal massage. I did this twice, so each section of the scalp got about 7 minutes worth of massage. This worked REALLY well and all the build up has gone!

I detangled away from the scalp and this meant minimum conditioner came into contact with the scalp.

What I will say though is that the hair was stripped badly even though I didn't really wash the hair. but I guess this is what will happen when you use this type of shampoo, so I'm hoping the black soap doesn't have this effect. In any case her hair retained moisture afterwards and that's the main thing!!

I'm going to smell her hair tomorrow, cos by then her scalp starts having a horrible smell and see what there is to see.

I have a spare nozzle at the ready to dilute some more sulphate shampoo that I have lying around in case of emergencies :)

Thank you all so much!
xx
 
Hi all, just to update, my daughters hair has now developed a lot of crusts on the scalp since no longer oiling, like yellow and white deep crusts of scalp. I'm going to take her to the doctors for my medicated shampoo, but I'm just wondering now how I balance out the build up, if her scalp also reacts to not being oiled regularly!

*sigh*

Thanks guys, it seems she does have a scalp condition.
 
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