Have you noticed more talk of essential oils recently? It’s starting to feel impossible to ignore advertisements and influencers touting diffusers, lotions, and supplements that include these natural ingredients. Many claim they’re the cure-all for hair care issues like a dry scalp or strand breakage. Wondering if they’re worth the hype? The truth is everyone is different and our scalps and hair react to products in different ways.
What we can tell you is what the science says on how essential oils can help soothe the effects of a dry scalp. Keep reading to discover which essential oils can relieve itchiness, flaking, and irritation.
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Why Is My Head So Itchy? A Guide to Your Dry Scalp
Ever gone through a phase where your head just won’t stop itching? It can be maddening to constantly scratch away at your hairline. Before we get into essential oils to soothe those symptoms, let’s explore what makes our scalp dry, as it can be different for everyone.
The health of our head depends on many factors like your skin and hair type, the climate around you, your diet, how often you shower, and the products you use. Knowing what triggers your dry scalp can help inform how you choose to treat it.
So take a look at the list of questions below and see what applies to you:
Are you using a shampoo with sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate?
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The first step in hair care is to take a walk to the shower and read the ingredients label on your products. Sulfates are found in most drugstore shampoos. They’re what make the product lather and they’re pretty good at cleaning out the roots of your hair.
In fact, they’re a little too good, often stripping your scalp of the natural oils it needs to maintain balance in its microbiome.
Are you washing too often?
As you can imagine, especially if you’re using a shampoo that includes sulfates, washing your hair too often can lead to dryness and breakage. As the sulfates strip your scalp of the natural oils wash after wash, your scalp can dry out.
Are you washing too little?
On the other hand, washing infrequently can allow for a build-up of oils. This can be uncomfortable and when paired with a yeast overgrowth can actually cause dandruff, itching, and general scalp discomfort.
Are you eating differently or not enough?
Like the rest of our body, our scalp relies on the nutrition our diet provides it. When we’re stressed and eating unhealthily, our head knows it and it can result in dryness and flaking. Our hair is mostly protein and a protein-rich diet can help fortify and strengthen hair.
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Regardless of what’s causing the itch, the good news is that there are many known soothing solutions, and essential oils are probably the best smelling options out there.
Quick Reminder: A Dry Scalp Does Not Necessarily Mean Dandruff
While they can manifest in a lot of the same ways, dandruff and a dry scalp aren’t one and the same. Dandruff is what happens when your body’s natural process of shedding skin cells gets out of balance. Usually associated with an overgrowth of the naturally occurring yeast called Malassezia, skin cells build up and flake off in larger chunks.
Dry scalp can be a contributing factor in dandruff but it’s not necessarily the same condition.
Most people who experience a dry scalp will feel itching, irritation, and yes, flaking. But these flakes will be lighter and smaller than those experiencing dandruff. For the purposes of this post, we’re going to focus on dry scalp.
The truth is, no homemade remedy can treat dandruff. If you’re experiencing those big, oily flakes, you should instead search for a Zinc Pyrithione-based dandruff shampoo.
(Like Jupiter’s Balancing Shampoo formulated with Zinc Pyrithione and a host of natural ingredients that support a healthy scalp. Check it out here..)
Source: https://gardencourte.com
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