Care for Your Hair the Organic Way

THE PROBLEM DANDRUFF

An issue most African women come to me with: Dandruff. We buy all sort of medicated creams, salves, washes and ointments to battle this recurrent monster, and rarely take the time to read into the causes of dandruff.

TYPICAL CULPRITS:

1)      Using strong sulphate/sulfate shampoos:  Sodium Lauryl Sulphate/sulfate is a very common ingredient found in most shampoos and causes a strong lather, and is cheap. However this chemical can also be very drying and typically irritates the scalp. It is so strong in cleans out the natural oils on your scalp and in your hair(Sebum). When this happens, your scalp reacts by flaking. Switching to a Sulphate/Sulphate free shampoo will help to control dandruff is this is your culprit.

2)     Greasing your scalp: Contrary to popular belief and many an old wives tale, applying liberal amounts of “cream”or “Pomade”to your scalp WILL NOT HELP YOUR DANDRUFF ISSUE and in most cases causes dandruff. Most of the “hair creams”in the market have petroleum or mineral oil as their main ingredient. Mineral and Petroleum when applied to the scalp will build up and clog the pores. In turn the microbes which usually exist in low numbers on a healthy scalp, begin to multiply out of control, resulting in the excessive dandruff and flaking.

3)      Going Long periods without washing your hair: Hair extensions are the culprits here. The sad truth is we have come to revere our bought and paid for hair over the health of what was God-given. Most women will not wash or touch their hair once their finer-than-fine weave or braids are done. And then the hair-do stays in from 3-weeks to several months. No washing. No treatments. Just some occasional oil sheen/Serum FOR THE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR HAIR. Meanwhile our own hair and scalp suffer in silence.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

1) Use a sulfate/sulphate-free shampoo: These shampoos are out there in the market. Try: OurS by Juliada’s HYDRATE Organic Shampoo or Natural black Soap or Aubrey's Organic shampoo. (Look up other natural alternatives online or check out The kinky Apothecary in Lagos for options)

2)     Stay away from mineral oil/petroleum in products: if you do feel your scalp needs a little conditioning, try to use small amounts of natural oils: Coconut oil, Jojoba oil, Carrot oil, Shea butter. These oils do not cause as much clogging, but should be used in small quantities, or as a hot oil treatment for the scalp.

3)      Wash your hair regularly: Please, please and please ladies, do not go for weeks on end without cleaning your scalp. If you do not clean your scalp, the rate at which your hair grows will slow down, it will stay greasy, and you dandruff issues will not be resolved. Your scalp should be washed/ cleaned once a week or once every two weeks.

That's it for now folks! Keep it clean until next time! If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me:

info@oursbyjuliada.com