Last week I had the opportunity to join in on a conference call with Dr. Fran of Crème of Nature, where she answered many questions that are asked regarding hair & scalp issues. Here I will share some of the things that stuck out to me/ that I was able to relate to during the conference call.
I hope you all find this information useful, and hopefully it helps you with any scalp problems that you have or have had in the past.
Dandruff & Dry Scalp:
There is inflammation involved. To treat dandruff you use an anti inflammatory, which is a bit different from dry scalp. The most important part in preventing dry scalp is finding the right hair & scalp care products
Crème of Natures Argon Oil line, it includes a shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is a gentle hydrating sulfate free shampoo. This will provide a good amount of moisture, along with the conditioner
The Difference between Breakage & Hair loss:
Breakage & Normal shedding is considered a form of hair loss. Then there is also pathogenic hair loss meaning hair loss due to a specific problem (medical, nutrition, grooming, and some styles).
Breakage – look at the end of the hair, usually you can see splitting at the ends
Spotty/Uneven hair loss – Sign of another problem either external or internal; that is when you should see a dermatologist, the key to this is not waiting too long before getting help.
Oiling Scalp: Our bodies are set up to produce enough moisture for our scalp on a regular basis. There are instances that in the winter time, oiling the hair is appropriate. You want to avoid very heavy product to oil the scalp. Using something like the Gloss & Shine Polisher, a really light formulation that adds just the right amount of moisture without clogging the pores. That is an ideal product to start with when adding oil to the hair and scalp. Dr. Fran recommends to patients to apply it to the hair only, unless you have very severe dry scalp.
In the process of season changes, many people complain about dandruff, flaking of the scalp & itching. The medical diagnosis for this is Ceberic Dermatitis. It is a function of our oil production glands trying to adjust to the changes in the weather, and our scalp reacting to the changes, and it doesn’t quite get it right and it ends up with too much oil production which can build up, that dries, and you get the flaking and itching from the inflammation because that oil has built up and irritated the scalp. And normally, when we see the flaking build up, we tend to add more oil to those dry areas. That is not really dry scalp, but is actually dried up oil which has caused inflammation; what we should actually do in this case is treat our scalp with an anti inflammatory. During that time you can still use light oil on your hair if needed, but it is best to avoid applying oil to the scalp and just treat the scalp with the anti-inflammatory and sometimes its treated with an anti yeast preparation along with the anti inflammatory.
Dr. Fran stated that it is recommended to wash at least every 1-2 weeks.
Individuals with less curl or people that use a lot of product- Once a week
Prone to itchy/flaky scalp or product buildup - Once a week
Tightly Coiled/ Tight curls- Every two weeks are fine. Dr. Fran states “water can be drying to the hair and to the scalp itself, and that is why it is so important that after you wash your hair, that you condition. As long as you do that, then you really don’t have to worry about stripping or over drying your hair.
If your hair is very tightly coiled and you suffer from breakage and other hair care concerns, it is suggested that you wash your hair one week, and co wash the next week.
Moisturize at least once a week, a recommended product is the Gloss and Shine Polisher with Argan oil. When applying it to the ends, to avoid weighing them down, use just a small amount and then rub it into the ends. Note: Crème of Nature Shampoos is known to provide nutrients.
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