Everything you don’t know about dandruff and itchy scalps
We’d rather not have to deal with an itchy, peeling scalp or flakes galore. We’re all for a bit of Christmas spirit, but no snow on our hair, please! While taking care of our hair is second nature, let’s not neglect our scalps. Let’s look after them like they’re our crowning glory! We explain all in this article.
What is dandruff?
As it’s often seen as unattractive, dandruff can be an embarrassing and annoying issue. It can affect anyone at any age. The scalp sheds little snowflake-like dead cells, which stick in the hair. As the day goes on, they can also accumulate on your shoulders and clothes (what fun!).
There are two types of dandruff:
- Oily dandruff, which is caused by excess sebum. This type of dandruff looks sticky. It is white or yellowish in colour and tends to stick to the head and roots. It’s sometimes responsible for excessive hair loss as it stops the scalp from breathing. If it occurs alongside red blotches, it’s best to see a dermatologist as it could be seborrhoeic dermatitis.
- Dry dandruff, on the other hand, is due to a dehydrated scalp. This type of dandruff is small and flaky. Unlike oily dandruff, it doesn’t obstruct the scalp and falls readily. It often occurs alongside discomfort and feelings of dryness and tightness.
Why do I have dandruff?
Whether it’s oily or dry, dandruff is caused by a scalp imbalance.
This imbalance can be due to:
- A hormonal imbalance: Our hormones are in charge of sebum production. When they’re imbalanced they may increase sebum production, increasing the onset of oily dandruff. Remember that a certain amount of sebum is normal. Without it, our skin, hair and scalp would be as dry as the Sahara desert!
- Hard water: If you have dandruff and itching, the water from your shower could be to blame! If your water is hard, it contains too many calcium and magnesium ions. When this type of water is heated, its constituents crystallise and end up being deposited on your hair. These micro-crystals irritate and upset the balance of your scalp, causing tightness, irritation, itching and dry dandruff (not again!).
- Using chemicals: Products containing sulphates and silicones are very often the cause of dandruff. These chemicals irritate and dry the scalp out and have a stripping effect: the perfect conditions for dandruff…
- Bad haircare habits: For example, if you use a brush that has never been washed, you’re unintentionally promoting scalp issues! Imagine everything on your brush: hair, dead cells, sebum, pollution... you name it!
- Using a hairdryer that’s too hot and too close to your scalp: Drying your hair with a hairdryer that’s too hot increases sebum production and promotes oily dandruff. Take the time to adjust the temperature of your hairdryer and avoid using it too close to your scalp. The experts swear by it!
These many factors have brought your scalp to its knees. It’s itchy, prickly and annoying – a real snowball effect (no pun intended)! Not to mention that hair growing on an afflicted scalp is also somewhat weakened and has surface damage.
What are the solutions?
So, you need to restore the balance that your scalp has unwittingly lost. To do this:
- Use a shampoo that’s as natural as possible! To purify your scalp more quickly, choose one with purifying anti-dandruff ingredients like peppermint or white clay. If you want to nurse your scalp back to health, our Vegan Stick Shampoo Detox is the shampoo you need! It’s formulated with peppermint to purify the scalp while leaving an intense and long-lasting feeling of freshness.
- We also recommend adding in a specific treatment for problem scalps. With its blend of carefully selected natural ingredients, our Vegan Scalp Potion is a deep treatment that will not only soothe redness and itching and reduce dry dandruff, but will also stimulate the scalp and therefore hair growth. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
