Why Does My Scalp Continue to Itch After a Massage
Itchy Scalp After Braiding and How To Heal it…
Protective styling is a great way of letting your hair rest from constant manipulation, heat styling and use of chemicals to relax it which add stressors to the scalp and health of the hair in general. More and more unique protective styling keeps coming up year after year as hair braiding is part of art and stylists are constantly innovating. Not to mention how it helps save time for your 'morning hair routines' while in protective styling. We are talking of faux locks, box braids, spring twists, nyasuba locks and more of these low-maintenance looks that unfortunately may lead to that itchy scalp situation. Patting your head may offer a temporary relief but the best solution is to get to the root cause of the problem. Here is to why the scalp gets itchy after braiding and how to heal the situation;
Synthetic hair extensions
Most of hair extensions are made with synthetic fibers that can irritate the scalp and cause it to be itchy and inflamed. To avoid such allergic reactions to the scalp purpose to use 100% human hair extensions. The coating used in synthetic fibers is responsible for the irritation caused on scalps. Human hair on the other hand does not have any of these coatings, making it gentle for use on your scalp.
However if you must use the synthetic ones since they are more cost-effective compared to human hair extensions, you can reduce the irritability by giving the extension an' apple cider vinegar wash. Immerse the extension in a basin that has 3 parts hot water and 1 part ACV and let it soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Proceed to rinse thoroughly with warm water and let it air dry. This will ensure the coating from the manufacturer is washed off and will not affect your scalp.
Tight Braiding..
Sometimes the irritated scalp is due to tight braiding by the hairstylist. Some hairdressers believe that the tight the styling, the longer the style will last. The tension caused by the tight braiding will cause red inflamed bumps that can lead to further hair loss and thinning not to mention how painful it is. If your hairdresser likes plaiting tightly, kindly do yourself a favor and speak up before its too late or change to one who is gentle while plaiting.
Condition regularly…
A dry scalp is another factor that can lead to an itchy scalp. Get to the habit of applying a leave in conditioning treatment daily for a hydrated scalp. We highly recommend our 3 in 1 Moisture Rich Leave in Conditioner that is highly nourishing and will seal in the moisture. Massage it gently in circular motion with your fingertips on the scalp daily. The leave in conditioner acts as a nourishing treatment, hydrating the scalp and opening up the follicles. The aloe vera incorporated in it offers soothing effect to the scalp.
Add oils to your regimen
Look for oils that have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to incorporate in your regimen. Essential oils such as rosemary, peppermint and lavender are great for healing tension bumps and inflammation. Add the essential oil to a carrier oil such as castor oil and massage gently on affected areas. Some carrier oils such as Baobab, Coconut oils are great for conditioning and repairing hair.
Cleanse regularly
Using oils and conditioners to balance a dry scalp is great and effective but it can also lead up to product build up which leads to blockage of the hair follicle causing itchy scalp. A good wash with a sulfate free mild/gentle shampoo such as our 3 in 1 Revitalizing Clay Cleansing shampoo is highly recommended. Some people feel uneasy with the idea of lathering up while in protective styling afraid of the strands loosening up on the braids or extensions. However you can use the shampoo to massage gently directly to the scalp before adding any water. This will ensure the scalp is cleansed and your extensions are not fuzzy, then once done you can rinse off the poo.
Spot clean using an ACV rinse
You can still achieve a clean scalp without compromising the hair styling. Dip a cotton wool ball into an ACV rinse (3:1 ratio) and dab it gently on affected areas of the scalp to help with dissolving build up and soothe the itches. Once done follow up with another cotton wool that has been dipped into water or rinse off thoroughly. This technique will allow you to deal with the build up and itch without having to do a shampoo cleanse. You can then use our Moringa & lemongrass Hydrating Frizz-free spritz to keep the scalp healthy and hydrated.
Do not overstay with the extensions
How long should you stay with the protective styling? For box braids and faux locs, 8 weeks is long enough and not recommended past 2 months. When protective styling is left longer than required it will grow in and cause tangling which irritates the scalp. Avoid the temptation of going back to back with the protective styling because this can cause thinning of the hair and excessive shedding.
If the above recommendations fail, kindly take them out. We know the pain of having to loose your hard earned cash for the style but frankly the trauma of hair loss, alopecia and scalp issues is far much worse and can take much more of your time, emotions, finances to heal and reverse the situation. Check out our offer on the scalp health bundle and your scalp will thank you.
PS: For hair loss, receding hairline, thinning hair we highly recommend our highly transformative Scalp & Hairfluence Growth Stimulant Oil. Massage regularly on scalp for effective results.
Author: Mkamboi Mwakale ( Founder and Chief Formulator at Saru Organics).
Source: https://saruorganics.com/itchy-scalp-during-protective-styling/
0 Response to "Why Does My Scalp Continue to Itch After a Massage"
Post a Comment