Banish Itchy Scalp from Your Protective Hair Styles
Banish Itchy Scalp from Your Protective Hair Styles
By Tiffani Douglas
For many of us, protective styles are life. And though they are cute, fun and easy to maintain, we love to hate them because of the difficulty they can bring – the itch. For many natty girls, the itching, dryness, formation of small bumps around the hairline and scalp irritation caused by wearing synthetic hair for protective styles can be unbearable, but luckily there is a solution. A Little Lesson… All retail hair is treated with some sort of chemical, but we’re going to focus specifically on synthetic hair because it is a popular, inexpensive choice for braids, feed-ins, ponytails and other protective styles. Synthetic hair is coated with an alkaline base or alkaline lye that makes it heat resistant and prevents the strands from clumping together. The alkaline coating is what causes our scalps to flake, become irritated and itch like crazy! Bet you thought it was because your style was snatched too tight, didn't you? And although hair tension can be a factor and can certainly make things worse, the chemical on the hair is the main culprit. In order to fix the itch and decrease the severity from it, you must wash and treat synthetic hair before using it. How to Treat Synthetic Hair and Prevent Itchy Scalp 1. Remove the synthetic hair from the package but keep it in place with whatever type of tie or rubber band that is it holding it together. 2. In a large bowl, add 1/2 to a 1 cup of either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Fill the bowl the rest of the way with warm water. 3. Place the hair in the bowl about 20 minutes to an hour. After several minutes, you will notice a milky white film in the water. The acidity of the vinegar is removing the alkaline coating from the hair. The longer you soak the synthetic hair the better. A longer soak time ensures all the chemical is removed. 4. Next, rinse thoroughly and squeeze out any excess water. Apply a gentle shampoo and wash until the vinegar smell has dissipated. 5. Lastly, hang the hair out to dry completely, preferably overnight or a day or two in advance to ensure that it is fully dry when you are ready to use it. Bonus Tip: If you’re currently wearing a style with synthetic hair and the itch is driving you crazy, add a teaspoon of vinegar to a spray bottle filled with warm water to relieve irritation. Now It’s Your Turn…Natural Hair Care in Protective Styles Natural hair care is important even when your hair is in a protective style. After you’ve treated your synthetic hair, it’s time to treat your own hair and scalp. To eliminate itchy scalp, cleanse your own hair and scalp with Hair Under There Detox Tea Cleansing Shampoo before installing extensions, braids or other protective styles. This gentle cleanser is formulated with activated charcoal, a natural purifier that removes buildup yet leaves hair feeling silky and hydrated. To ensure maximum moisture and strengthen your hair at its core, follow up with the Hair Under There Strengthen Me Moisture Mask to continue conditioning the hair and scalp even after the style is completed. When your hair is done, and you’re looking cute and fly, apply Hair Under There Soothe & Cool Scalp Potion to soothe any irritation caused by tension. Go to www.curls.com for more all-natural curly hair products.