Hair Regimen Advice for Naturals with Dandruff

I’ve had bouts with dandruff ever since I was in high school. I thought that when I went natural (stopped using chemical relaxers to straighten) that many of my issues with dryness, breakage and dandruff would go away. How wrong I was!  The chemicals weren’t the only culprit. Keep reading for a step-by-step hair care regimen for naturals with dandruff.

My natural hair and scalp are even more dry than I expected because

– I shampoo less frequently. I wear my hair in protective styles like twists and bantu knots so that I don’t have to manipulate it much during the week. While it seems to protect my hair, it’s not helping my scalp get the moisture it needs.

– Shampoo sessions add hydration and rinse the scalp. I’ve noticed more build up on my scalp because it’s not getting rinsed off as often.

– Stress. I’m a wife, a mother to an active boy and self-employed as a blogger and freelance writer. Need I say more?

– Diet. This is a work in progress. I recently started eating a more high protein/ low carb diet, so my fresh veggies are a part of my day. But a lot of the damage has already been done in terms of the impact a poor diet has had on my skin and hair.

– Water intake. Thanks to a week at the gym where I had to drink water or I’d pass out, I’m definitely more hydrated than usual. But my usual go-to water source is coffee and tea which is absolutely wrong. I’m trying to do better.

Are you a natural hair girl,  like me, who’d like some relief for your flaky scalp? Check out how I added Head & Shoulders Moisture Care products to my regimen.

Naturals with Dandruff

– Add co-washing to your regimen. Head & Shoulders Moisture Care for textured hair types offers a co-wash product made with vitamin e rich almond oil and coconut essence. On days you want to skip the shampoo, apply the co-wash to dry or wet hair, massage it in, rinse and repeat. Many naturals prefer co-washing because their hair doesn’t feel as dry or stripped.  Before I co-wash or shampoo my hair, I bring all my tools to the kitchen: a detangling comb, a shower comb to use after the conditioner is applied so I can comb it through, a scalp massager/detangler and hair clips for sectioning.

– Use a 2-in-1 shampoo conditioner. This product does a double duty. I can see myself bringing this to the gym to get rid of the salt and sweat, while adding moisture. Plus the shampoo and conditioner are all in one bottle.

– Treat your scalp. I’ve made the mistake of adding too much oil directly to my scalp which I believe led to clogged pores and build-up. Moisture Care Scalp Soother also has vitamin e and peppermint oil complex to soothe dry, itchy and inflamed scalp. Use it anytime, on wet or dry hair. When I pumped it into my hands to check the consistency I was pleased with the scent and lightness. It soaked into my scalp quickly.

– Drink water. Then drink some more water. And when you’re done drink some more. One tip I saw online was to drink water from a wine or champagne glass to make yourself feel fancy!

– Eat water-filled foods. Fruits and vegetables, especially vegetables.

My hair texture is extremely kinky so I have to section it off before I try to style or dry it. My go-to style to create a curly look is a bantu knot out. To lengthen it and create a bigger hair look, I blow dry my hair as straight as possible, then apply styling cream, twist and set it. If I can let it set overnight, that’s great. If I’m in a rush, I sit under the dryer for about 30 minutes. Here’s my finished look after a co-wash, scalp treatment and bantu knots under the dryer.