WHAT is going on with my hair??

tarc817 · 03-06-2012, 07:14 PM

So I've been CG since March of 2010, and recently I've noticed a ton of white flakes in my hair - 2 days ago it was like that right out of the shower! I don't think it's dandruff, because it's not gross yellowish flakes - they're white flakes. If I scratch my scalp throughout the day, and there is white gunk under my nails. I haven't changed my diet, haven't taken any new medicines or vitamins, haven't gained or lost weight, no lifestyle changes at all. My scalp is not itchy ever. I blow out my hair once in a while, and that's when it's like a snowstorm. I cowash often, always condition. I used a low poo shampoo the other night and it didn't help at all. So last night I used a baking soda rinse followed by an ACV rinse, and thought it did the trick, but when I conditioned tonight and blew out my hair, it was flaky again. I'm very frustrated because I don't understand what's happening! The only thing I can think of is that perhaps something I'm using that I think is CG is in fact, NOT CG...my signature is incorrect - I haven't updated it in a while. I'll take inventory and list what I use currently...thanks in advance, ladies!!

tarc817 · 03-06-2012, 07:35 PM

Ok, I've got: DevaCurl No Poo & One Conditioner, Whole Foods' 365 Citrus Grapefruit conditioner, Beautiful Curls Leave in Conditioner, Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Fortifying conditioner, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle shampoo & condish, KCCC, Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose condish, Bee Mine avocado cream condish, CJ curl assurance smoothing daily hair condish, and L'Oreal's Ever Sleek Smoothing line. Then I use HEBE, HETT, Aussie Instant Freeze gel, DevaCurl B'Leave-In, DevaCare Arc AnGel, Citre Shine Mega Hold gel, and INnersense Quiet Calm Curl Control Cream. HELP.

SaraNoH · 03-06-2012, 07:39 PM

I tend to get something similar to this, as far as the white gunk you described under your nails. For me, it's just product and some dead skin build up. If I were to wash my hair really thoroughly every day I know this wont happen, but I don't so it does. Primarily it's along my part, which is then exposed to the Arizona sun, so it's probably just dried up skin combined with natural hair oil, if that makes sense.

tarc817 · 03-07-2012, 04:49 PM

The problem is, I *do* wash my hair well nearly every day. I cowash every time I wash my hair. It's soooo very frustrating.

asianrunner · 03-07-2012, 08:11 PM

I get that sometimes as well. But unlike you I do get the itch every now and then. I figured out it was mostly due to certain products and the low dews/temps. I also cut out using leave-ins unless absolutely necessary.

I would go back to the basics and see if it's an ingredient. Stick to one cowash/low poo, rinse out and gel and see if they are causing trouble.

raindear · 03-08-2012, 11:02 AM

When I get the gunk under my fingernails, I consider it a sign that I haven't exfoliated well and have a buildup of dead skin cells on my scalp.

tarc817 · 03-11-2012, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raindear

When I get the gunk under my fingernails, I consider it a sign that I haven't exfoliated well and have a buildup of dead skin cells on my scalp.

How do you exfoliate your scalp, raindear?

raindear · 03-11-2012, 10:00 PM

We should be able to exfoliate with our massage when we co poo our hair, but I find I need to use a shampoo brush (from Walgreens) with short plastic bristles. I hope it is okay for my curls. I just use it while showering in small circles all over my scalp and don't brush through the length of my hair with it. Small circles, raise brush different spot, small circles, etc.

asianrunner · 03-12-2012, 09:16 AM

tarc you could also do a brown sugar scrub. Mix together about a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of brown sugar (can use a little more of the sugar). I also usually put in a few drops of rosemary oil.

Then I go into the bathroom, lean upside down over the tub and start massaging in the oil/sugar mixture into my scalp. Be sure to be over the tub since it gets a bit messy! When I'm finished, I hop into the shower and low poo it all out.

greekgoddess · 03-12-2012, 07:10 PM

I know that everyones hair is different, but this is the main reason that I stopped being full CG, and do a modified CG instead. I don't use any silicones on my hair, and I use a low-poo more than a sulphate, but at least once a week my hair needs a sulphate wash. I was having troubles with gunk under my fingernails a lot and nothing (I really mean nothing) was helping. I tried the brown sugar scrub, baking soda, you name it.

mamaherrera · 06-01-2012, 11:28 PM

I have this exact problem and it's chronic. I don't get itchies, but I 'll wash my hair/ cowash today but usually low poo or water wash and put in my stylers and after its' dry , if I get a little itch , white flakes come up. And just like someone else mentioned, it's mainly in my crown area, the sides don't do that. I almost always have this and it worries me that I"ll be suffocating my new baby hairs and go bald from this. Also, I shed a lot and I wonder if it's from this. I don't know what else to do. I would love to hear from the person who said they've cut out on a lot o f products. I would like to know what they use and how they manage and define their curls, going without a lot of products. thanks
__________________I could really use some help. I don't know if I"m just not washing good enough or if I should quit using leaveins and gels. It becomes so complicated. Oh and I also live in a dry area, in NM, and it's just in my crown area. And also, that hair brush from walgreens, that doesn't break or pull out hairs if you masssage with it while showering???
2c

princesspie · 06-02-2012, 04:25 AM

Yep. I have this problem with Garnier Fructis products... I think it might be the propylene glycol. In fact, it's even worse with their gel.

Have you moved recently? Water makes a difference and even within the same city.

Also, the easiest way I've found to do the sugar scrub is to mix the raw/brown sugar into your poo/cowash and rub that paste to your scalp when you wash your hair.

I guess you'll just have to start eliminating things till you find the culprit.

Good luck!

mamaherrera · 06-02-2012, 10:42 AM

what are things that help and do you know of any gels that for you don't cause this problem??

princesspie · 06-02-2012, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamaherrera

what are things that help and do you know of any gels that for you don't cause this problem??

ummm... I live in Australia and use brands that we get in the supermarket here so I can't help you with gel recommendations except for FSG.

I learnt about propylene glycol causing flakes from NC so maybe it's quite a common irritant. Why don't you check your conditioner/styler ingredients and try cut out products that have it for a few washes to see if that helps.

As long as I'm not using products/water that irritate my scalp I just add about 1/2 a teaspoon of raw sugar to 1/2 a teaspoon of conditioner and gently rub my scalp while I'm having a shower. I usually only need to do this once a fortnight/month. If I'm staying somewhere and the water is a problem I apply a few drops of coconut oil to my finger tips and massage that into my scalp just before I go for a shower.

If I'm using a product that irritates my scalp no amount of exfoliation helps and I just have to stop using it.

JadasCurlies · 06-03-2012, 08:15 AM

I get the same thing. Do you use any products in your hair? If you do its normally product build-up along with some dead skin. Its not irregular and its very normal.

mamaherrera · 07-19-2012, 05:16 PM

I know that's probably what it is, and I feel better knowing I"m not the only one. But still it drives me nuts to have flakes in my hair and then I just get out of the shower, and my scalp has a slight like burn,irritated and a half hour later, I have the itchies. But they're not yellow or green, so I dont' think it's dandruff. They say dry scalp can cause itchies just like dandruff. Also, about product buildup, I know. . .it makes me sick to think I have product buildup, I scrub so hard, I can't believe I just can't get it all off. There's no way of knowing! But I hate to think that product buildup is causing my high excess of shedding.

hambo02 · 07-19-2012, 11:12 PM

they say flakes are caused by many things. yeast is on top of your head. its on everyone's. if you have alot of stress in your life, more flakes will come. I use to have this problem bad when i transitioned and then when i started the cg method for months. I had bad ichys but i was only washing my hair once or twice a week. I now wash every day and stick to as natural as i can get with my hair products. I no longer am itchy. Once in a while ill get a ton of flakes but thats cos im stressed out. I wash my hair every other day cos build up gets bad for me. if its bad yellow and washing wont help it go away, id go see a docter

mamaherrera · 07-20-2012, 02:55 PM

I get the itchies too now that you all have mentioned it. Mine isn't yellow, it's white and my scalp just feels tight and like irritated after I shower, just after, whatever. It might be stress. I try to put jojoba oil in but I don't like to do that daily as it weighs my hair down. I think I Might be low-pooing, massaging too hard, and irritating my own scalp because it hurt after I washed with daily fix yesterday and it's sore and tight. I Think I'm doing the friction thing too hard. Should it be a light friction and only circular motions?? And no nails at all?? So complex!

earthnut · 07-20-2012, 05:26 PM

When this happens to me, I find a thorough scalp massage will do the trick. Basically exfoliating the scalp, as others said. I do this technique just before wetting my hair in the shower:
archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=15976

I use pretty good pressure, but no nails! If you scratch yourself, you may end up causing more irritation.
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2c/3a, M, ii, porous, good elasticity, APL, silvery dark brown.
Love coconut oil, olive oil, and Everyday Shea!