NOTHING gets rid of dry scalp flakes?

lizzieee · 04-07-2012, 10:14 PM

I'm new here, and also new to going CG.
I used to use waayy too much product in my hair, which is probably the cause of my dry scalp flakes. When I first discovered CG, I immediately went and bought an organic clarifying shampoo and a conditioner from Trader Joe's. Before I used my clarifying shampoo, my scalp was unbearably itchy and full of flakes. Once I used both clarifying shampoo and conditioner, the itch stopped but I still had a LOT of flakes. I stopped using the clarifying shampoo and began to co-wash. Very first time I co-washed, i had NO flakes at all whatsoever. But then one day, I had a build-up-y feeling in my hair so i used the clarifying shampoo. Worst mistake of my life. My dry flakes came back and now they won't go away! I've tried warm olive oil treatments, mayonnaise treatments (with and without egg), and an ACV wash but nothing seems to actually get RID of the flakes. Itching is not the problem anymore. I've also went and bought t/gel neutregena tar shampoo and selsun blue but I've seen no difference. I really did not want to use non-organic shampoos with sulfates in them but I felt like I had no choice. I have no idea what to do anymore! I really don't want to see a doctor, I honestly don't think there's any reason to if just simply co-washing got rid of it the first time. I just want an easy way to at least keep the flakes to a minimum. Any suggestions? I'm still co-washing, I co-wash every other day, and I've heard coconut oil and tea tree oil are really good.

AfroBuddhaDoll · 04-08-2012, 01:59 AM

Coconut oil and tea tree oil (I get the Hollywood one since it's not PURE tree oil, easier on the scalp, no burning for me) are good for dry/flaky scalp.

You can use one or both, lightly oil and rub your scalp with it. If you have higher problem areas such as the front of your hair verse the back then I would make sure to concentrate on that area first foremost.
Have you tried a protein treatment? Your hair could also be low on that.

Both oils are light so they won't make your hair feel greasy :-).

Touch.of.ink · 04-08-2012, 07:57 PM

Have you tried a brown sugar scrub? That might help with the flakes.

If you really feel you've tried everything, sometimes you just need to hit the reset button and start over. Use Suave Daily Clarifying and gently! massage your scalp to help get rid of any possible build up.

Then do a PT, followed by a DT and don't use any other products in your hair that day, just to see what your scalp looks like at baseline.

JRock · 04-08-2012, 08:31 PM

I second the brown sugar scrub, coconut oil and tea tree oil. These are all great for dry scalp. Mix a little brown sugar with your conditioner and massage gently. Rinse thoroughly. It works like magic. I do this once a week. I also use Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo & Conditioner. No sulfates, no cones and the tea tree oil calms your scalp immensely. I just started using coconut oil each week as well as a pre-poo treatment. Its really helping to calm my scalp.

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lizzieee · 04-08-2012, 10:02 PM

Thanks! I will try the brown sugar scrub. I'm also going to go invest in those oils.
I've heard Giovanni products are really amazing but too bad they don't sell them anywhere in my city.

Touch.of.ink · 04-09-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizzieee

Thanks! I will try the brown sugar scrub. I'm also going to go invest in those oils.
I've heard Giovanni products are really amazing but too bad they don't sell them anywhere in my city.

I found mine at Target! (Over in the body/bath section, with the "Yes To Carrots" and Nature's Gate stuff.)

Unfortunately, I picked up the "smooth as silk" one, which has cones

lizzieee · 04-09-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Touch.of.ink

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizzieee

Thanks! I will try the brown sugar scrub. I'm also going to go invest in those oils.
I've heard Giovanni products are really amazing but too bad they don't sell them anywhere in my city.

I found mine at Target! (Over in the body/bath section, with the "Yes To Carrots" and Nature's Gate stuff.)

Unfortunately, I picked up the "smooth as silk" one, which has cones

Oh really? I was checking all over the shampoo section...heheh. I'll go check it out next time I go =)

Gretchen · 04-11-2012, 09:05 AM

You ladies are so helpful!

lizzieee · 04-16-2012, 10:32 PM

Ok...here are pics of what my flakes look like. I had just recently started using Giovanni TTT Conditioner and this is how the flakes look like after. The more dandruff-y flakes I've been having for a while now so it's nothing new. Could this be some sort of condition? What should I do?

secret_karma · 04-17-2012, 03:58 AM

Did you try coconut oil? Try putting it on your scalp, cover with a plastic cap for a while then wash/cowash out.

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JRock · 04-17-2012, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by secret_karma

Did you try coconut oil? Try putting it on your scalp, cover with a plastic cap for a while then wash/cowash out.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using CurlTalk App

+1. Leave the coconut oil on for an hour, overnight would be best. This helps immensely as do brown sugar scrubs, which should get rid of any residual flakes.

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lizzieee · 04-17-2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRock

Quote:

Originally Posted by secret_karma

Did you try coconut oil? Try putting it on your scalp, cover with a plastic cap for a while then wash/cowash out.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using CurlTalk App

+1. Leave the coconut oil on for an hour, overnight would be best. This helps immensely as do brown sugar scrubs, which should get rid of any residual flakes.

Fat Thumbs + iPhone = Errors 

Ok I'll try that next..thanks for all the help!

lizzieee · 05-15-2012, 09:42 PM

Disappointment..

I tried EVERYTHING you ladies suggested. I rinsed with brown sugar, no difference. I bought coconut oil but it didn't help much, it just made my hair oily and greasy after washing out. I also bought Rosemary oil...first time i used it it was great but afterwards it made my scalp EXTREMELY itchy. I stopped my CG regimen and went to generic brand T/Gel shampoo and Giovanni Tea Tree Conditioner but there's still many many flakes. When I break out into flakes, i just get a Q-tip and dip it in olive oil and scrub off the flakes but that usually results in oily hair/scalp. I've tried everything, so I guess I just give up and I'm gonna visit a dermatologist hopefully soon. But thank you everyone for helping!

yella · 05-15-2012, 10:35 PM

i kno im a lil late, but i was having horrible dandruff problems and thought nothing would work, but then i bought selsum blue shampoo and head and shoulders conditioner and i shampooed twice and conditioned once and then applied beautiful textures moisture butter and growth oil and every since then, i see a drastic change in my scalp and also the Flyaway flakes are gone!

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WurlyLox · 05-16-2012, 11:28 AM

I co-washed with GTTT for a couple of years with an occasion low-poo with the shampoo with great results, even though I'd always had seborrheic dermatitis.

The past couple of years it's developed into psoriasis, and I've found that using MG217 tar shampoo - sulfate-free - from the drugstore works pretty well most of the time. Better than the T-Gel tar shampoos (either strength) that I had used for years before trying to go CG.

Occasionally if I have a really bad flare-up, I have to resort to Aim2Health Theracream and shampoo. I don't like using it unless I have to as it makes my hair too soft, but it does help my scalp - this when no oils, coconut or otherwise, had helped. I use the theracream at night and then have to wash it out in the morning. The urea content is what makes the difference, plus it's otherwise just good, natural ingredients.

If you go to the dermatologist, I can almost guarantee you you'll be prescribed harsh medicated shampoo of some type full of sulfates, which always just exacerbated my problems. I've shared the Aim2Health results and ingredients with my dermatologist, and he's pretty impressed - I just happened on the stuff on the internet and tried it in desperation when nothing else was doing anything.

Whatever I'm doing, I'm as careful as possible not to get styling products on my scalp. Of course, I still always get some, but being careful about it helps.

curlsoul · 05-16-2012, 05:37 PM

Hi Lizzieee,

I have suffered from scalp problems for a long time both pre-CG and some still since starting it about a month ago. Some things that I have found helpful so far are using the brown sugar scrub, but first coating the sugar in a small amount of jojoba and tea tree oil, then blending it with my conditioner. Also, letting my CO-wash sit on my scalp for a little bit before rinsing seems to help too. And really massaging my scalp, gently, but thoroughly on the areas especially prone to dandruff—for me its my nape, temples, and right at the top of my forehead. I also sometimes add a few drops of pure Tea Tree Oil to my co-wash.

I have also noticed that the longer I have been on the CG routine, the better my scalp has gotten. Better than it has ever been. So maybe you're scalp with catch up some with time.

I know you've already gotten a lot of advice, but hope you find the right solution that works for your hair. Good luck with the dermatologist, but I would say if prescriptions aren't working well for you, try to test out a few more natural remedies. I've been on a few prescriptions and have found that the right balance of oils and some careful application works so much better for me. Hope you find a good solution!