Via MadameNoire.com
Of the many problems that plague women and hair care, a HUGE concern is how to alleviate or get rid of itchy scalp. Sometimes scalp irritations are minor annoyances due to product build-up or changes in the weather. While no one is excited to see loose flakes of dandruff dotting their clothing, most times this will clear up with a specially formulated shampoo for dandruff. But in other cases, itchy scalp goes from a mild inconvenience to a full-blown, scalp-on-fire, can’t-keep-your-hands-out-of your-head type disaster of epic proportions. Anyone who has experienced these symptoms knows the pain of scratching or even massaging your scalp to the point that your whole head begins to feel inflamed and tender to the touch. Chronic bouts of itchiness will leave you wondering which came first – are you frantically digging your nails in your scalp as a result of the inflammation, or is the inflammation a result of all the scratching? It is a chicken-or-the-egg conundrum of the worst kind, and at the end of the day, who really cares which came first? All we want is relief.
Luckily, there are a few natural remedies you can try to see if you can finally win the war against the “itchies and the scratchies.”
Apple Cider Vinegar
A staple in the world of hair care, when diluted with water apple cider vinegar is used for its clarifying properties as well as its ability to help reduce hair porosity as a rinse due to its low pH balance. It also has anti-bacterial qualities that make it particularly helpful in treating an itchy scalp that is caused by bacteria build-up, and against any fungal condition (yeast on the scalp). Yeast don’t like an acidic environment so swabbing the scalp with an ACV solution can be helpful. Just be careful to make sure that you dilute it enough to a level where it is comfortable enough to put on your scalp, or else it will sting like crazy, especially if you have any abraded skin. The raw, unfiltered organic ACV is the best kind.
Aloe Vera
In case you decide to try the ACV, consider having some aloe vera gel on hand to soothe any stinging sensations that you may get. Aloe Vera can be used straight from the plant, or the organic gel can be bought commercially. Naturally emollient and calming, it is a great balm for the scalp that will also soften the hair and feed your roots.
Tea Tree Oil
Melaleuca Alternifolia, or simply “Tea Tree Oil” is ubiquitous in shampoos and conditioners for this very condition in large part due to its highly antiseptic qualities. It’s a triple threat to scalp irritations because of its anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Again, Tea Tree Oil should not be used full strength and is best when used with a carrier oil. Which brings us to the next tried and true product…
Coconut Oil
Ever seen a moldy coconut? That’s because the capyrilic acid in coconuts inhibit the growth of fungus. Incidentally, caprylic acid is also an active ingredient in a lot of vitamin supplements for women who are trying to suppress an overgrowth of candida (yeast) throughout the body. As always, look for the unfiltered, unrefined, organic extra-virgin coconut oil, cold-pressed if possible. It’s especially effective when infused with a few drops of tea tree oil.
Stay Away From This
If you co-wash instead of using an actual shampoo, this might be a good time to take a break and use a product that won’t just leave more build-up on your already beleaguered scalp. Do try to avoid shampoos with harsh detergents that will strip your scalp (and hair) of its natural oils, further adding to that dreaded tight and dry feeling. If your shampoo has sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate as an ingredient, it probably won’t be doing you any favors. Look for shampoos without sulfates and parabens and with nourishing oils that will soothe your skin.
Word to the Wise
One final word of caution: itchy scalp can be caused for a variety of reasons that are not always easy to self-diagnose. If you are experiencing symptoms that don’t seem to be responding to any treatments, or have broken skin or open sores on the scalp, please see your dermatologist or a licensed trichologist for an accurate diagnosis of your condition. In some cases, professional care may be required, for a complete analysis and evaluation of your diet, as well as any medications
Ladies, how do you relieve your itchy scalp?
Is this TIDE or is the BGLH????
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I agree with the brak from co washing!
Now that i took a break for 2 months i definetely noticed my scalp is cleaner and at ease.
For me ‘Yes ‘to tomatoe’s shampoo works wonders for my hair and scalp.
Oh and i never used oils on my scalp.
Now that i do that for 2 months by massaging it on wednesday and saturday noticed even less itch!!
Good Luck BEAUTY’S
The only time I ever suffer from any itchy scalp is when I do something that will obviously cause bacteria to arise and don’t use my common sense.
1. When I don’t wash my hair with shampoo. I don’t care what anyone says, you need shampoo to kill the bacteria. Your choice on the shampoo. Most people will say, “I co wash only and don’t use shampoo and I suffer from an itchy scalp”. I shampoo once a week (sometimes once every two weeks, it just depends on my mood) and I rarely if ever am itching my scalp.
2. If I baggy for too long. Your head sweats and the sweat has nowhere to go when you baggy. It’s like wearing one of those black plastic sweat suits (wrestlers wear them to lose weight). They cause you to sweat and sweat = bacteria. Now I only baggy for 2 hours tops.
3. When I don’t moisturize my scalp. I’m convinced that my scalp produces less sebum than it should, so it gets dry. When it gets dry it gets itchy, when I moisturize it feels normal again
Now, I’m not saying that anyone who has dandruff or an itchy scalp isn’t using their common sense. Obviously there are a lot of health issues that an affect your scalp. I am convinced that a lot of people can help prevent an itchy scalp though by washing, moisturizing and doing what they can to prevent bacterial growth.
looking back i realize i suffered the most when i used too many products, both relaxed and at the beginning of being natural. i was surprised to learn that the answer is just by making things simpler. watch the products you use especially if they are products that cause buildup. watch how you manipulate your hair, especially if you touch it often. you are transferring dirt and goodness knows what else may be on your hands onto your strands and scalp. make sure your is dry, whether you air dry it or you heat tools. if you dont allow your hair to dry especially the scalp, it would itch.
i dont think there is anything wrong with cowashing if you watch how its done. i dont use conditioners with silicons or products with mineral oil. i have nothing against it, but i try and avoid buildup. i also dont use gels or sprays. i seal my hair with oil. i only wash once a week and make sure my hair is fully air dried. i have been doing this for months now and havnt had problems with my hair.
ACV doesn’t clarify. Kills the fungus responsible for dandruff but it doesn’t clarify.
i use acv.
i also sometimes take a 1/4 teaspoon of castor oil and rub it into my scalp.
i clean my hair/scalp with herbs.
I massage a mixture of castor, olive and coconut oils with a few drops of both tea tree and rosemary oils added to it.
shampoo and water works every time.
not for everyone
Yoghurt helped me once too
My scalp gets irritated really easily and I’ve tried the tea tree oil and I use mother acv but sometimes I say eff it and just use head and shoulders. Works fine for me
I have ezcema. A few days after using tea tree oil on my scalp with a carrior oil like grapeseed oil, my scalp rarely itches. My scalp used to have soars, so painful and uncomfortable, I was afraid it would stunt hair growth because of the severity. BUT NOT ANYMORE. been using tea tree oil for about 3 weeks now
Why does it seem like my scalp seems to itch more when I use shampoos without sulfates in it as opposed to those with sulfates in them?
Good solutions. I will try your suggestions and diet has a lot to do with it.
I love this website, I might mix coconut oil and tea tree oil together and use that. I’m ready to take these braids out, I am missing my hair :( .
I agree with the missing the hair part!! I’m transitioning, scalp only seems to do the fool as the air gets colder…..warmer times I have no problem ??? I too am using braids as my protectice style and trying to hold out until the end of the month – Good luck!
omg this came right on time for me.
my scalp was actually itching like CRAZY when I was reading this yesterday. In the past, I had added tea tree oil to my shampoo and it was gone but I had already done this twice in the past week. So yesterday, I first tried mixing TTO with so many oils and my hair was still itching! I think it’s because the TTO I now have is alot less strong.
Anyway, I then tried swabbing my scalp with diluted ACV and it was very refreshing and thankfully when it dried, my scalp stopped itching! ACV normally does nothing for my hair in terms of clarifying so I was happily surprised!
Thank you so much for this info! Peace&Love
Everyone has something that works for them. For me, it’s necessary that I shampoo my hair & scalp once a week. Afterward I massage my hair and scalp with olive oil mixed with tea tree and lavender oil. My scalp needs a little help with moisture, since I have dry skin in general. If my dandruff is acting up, I’ll do an ACV rinse.
Ohhhhh my goodness this is good to see. My braids are just itching so badly! I want to wash them but I can’t because they’re comming down this weekend. But I just about want to put my head on a piece of carpet and rub it at this point. I WILL be trying that apple cider rinse.
I relieve my itchy scalp by washing my hair with my favorite sulfate free shampoo. Its Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Anti-Dandruff shampoo with scrubbing beads
I have found that regardless of what I do (I have tried several of the items listed above), my scalp still itches. I clarify (wash)my hair once a month with ACV and Bentonite clay and after deep conditioning and applying Tea Tree oil and sometimes peppermint oil (helps for a day or two) my scalp still itches. I do not use a lot of produce and co-wash once per week. However,right after I wash my hair (as described above)it still itches. I do not have dandruff (flakes) and my scalp does not feel or look dry. But, my scalp itches so badly that I had to ask my husband to look through my hair to see if something was in it. It feels like something is biting and crawling on my scalp. It is annoying. I will be seeing my dermatologist soon, so I will be inquiring about my scalp. But any suggestions are welcome.
As many of the comments above noted, you may want to lay off the co-washing for a while and see how it works for you. Co-washing once a week may keep your hair soft, but if the conditioner build-up is causing your scalp to itch and stay irritated it’s not beneficial to your overal hair health. I massage aloe vera gel on my scalp during my pre-poo and let it sit for an hour or two, this seems to clear my scalp and gets the healthy stuff right down to my hair folicles. I also spray a mixture of liquid leave in conditioner/ aloe vera gel/ rosemary oil/ eucalyptus oil/ jojoba oil/ and rose water directly on my scalp after rinsing out my conditioner on wash day, it has really helped my hair and scalp thrive!
thnku