Mission: D.A.N.D.R.U.F.F.

I've been gone for a while because of spring break. I flew to Tennessee to stay at my grandma's house to visit her, my cousins, aunts and uncle.
Lately, my dandruff has really been bothering me. A lot. I know it has something to do with my hair not growing at the rate I think it should be growing. (Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Healthy scalps do not have dandruff). I really should have tackled this problem months ago, when I first started my hair journey. BUT I thought I did get rid of it.
When I started my HJ it was the first time I ever moisturized and sealed my hair. I thought I was supposed to use the oil directly on my scalp. Doing that didn't get rid of my dandruff, it just masked the issue. I've realized that to really get long healthy hair, I have to quit running from my scalp caring for my scalp.


I've stopped using oil directly on my scalp. (I actually don't think I need oil on my hair everyday-maybe a few days a week I'll moisturize and seal, other nights I'll just moisturize.)


1. What's causing the dandruff?
I've looked up causes of dandruff many times, and few causes apply to me.

1. overactive oil glands (maybe, but I never thought I had 'oily' hair. Especially since I'm black and black hair tends to be dry)
2.  food allergies (none that I know of)
3. stress (Nope...not this either)
4. excessive perspiration (No, I don't work out that often and I'm not a naturally sweaty person)
5. harsh shampoos (Maybe...? Not sure. But I've switched shampoos so often, I'm sure one wasn't that harsh)
6. dry skin (maybe on my scalp, not on my face though. Does your scalp and face have two different skin types?)

 2. Plan to get rid of the dandruff.
Easy. Pre-pooing. However, this time, I'm going to use Witch Hazel. Witch Hazel is a stinky plant that is good for everything! I originally bought witch hazel to be used as a facial toner (before clinique). (Tip for summer: I also use it as after shave to prevent razor burn) I've also read that it can help with dandruff. My plan is to put this directly on to my scalp to let it sit for at least thirty minutes then wash as normal, or then put what ever pre-poo mixture I want to use that day on my hair and let it sit for a while.

This is the brand I use.
I bought it at Target for around $3.

side note: witch hazel is also a crazy witch lady on looney tunes

There are other home-remedies that I want to try also, here are some that sound interesting to me:

-crushing aspirin into shampoo, letting it sit for two minutes, rinsing it out.
-returning to apple cider vinegar rinses
-cleaning my hair brushes more often

Next Target: Dandruff

Okay, so now I've found a good shampoo and conditioner for me, now I have to tackle another issue: dandruff. I've been dealing with dandruff for a while, since before my hair journey in September 2010. I thought taking care of my hair would also fix my dandruff problem.  Well nope, it didn't. Ever since last salon visit, I've been thinking about dandruff. I co-washed on Thursday and since then my scalp has been soo itchy! I never had a problem with an itchy scalp before, only flakes.

I know the only way to have healthy hair is to start with a healthy scalp, and since my scalp is obviously not healthy, neither is my hair. Which, I think, is one reason why my hair hasn't been growing the way I think it should. (I stopped posting length check pictures, I don't see the point if it's not growing)

In order to make your scalp healthy, it has to be clean. Simply put, my scalp is not clean. I always put oil directly onto my scalp. When I didn't do that on Thursday's co-wash, my scalp has been itching ever since. Also, I've never clarified my hair. Yea, I know. Terrible. Tomorrow's wash I'll clarify my hair with the sample-size 1st lather shampoo that came with the Keracare kit. That'll completely strip my hair of all the oils and build up of products that I've been causing.
Not getting rid of all the oils and products can accumulate on your scalp making it dirty. AKA, in my case, causing dandruff.

so, I guess I'm on the hunt for a dandruff conditioner for co-washes.
(can't use keracare dry and itchy scalp, contains mineral oil)

Oh Wait...There's more!

Continuing from my last post, The stylist also said I have dandruff! WHAT! I thought I got rid of that problem a long time ago! I've been mixing eucalyptus and rosemary oil into my DC's for months now so I thought I would be over that. Earlier this week I mixed castor oil and sweet almond oil together, I'm now going to mix some eucalyptus and rosemary oil into it also to get rid of this darn dandruff! UGHH!