By Dominique Harris
on August 25, 2023
With 0 comments
A healthy and clean scalp and healthy clean hair makes us smile!!
Have you ever been excited to attend an event, got dressed, headed out, arrived and walked in like a boss only to realize that your outfit is filled with a layer of hair snow?!/! We can all, perhaps, relate to the horrors of product flaking and the embarrassment of scalp snow as a dead giveaway that our hair session was almost successful.
DANDRUFF VS. PRODUCT BUILDUP
First, lets discuss the difference between product buildup and dandruff, so we don't mistake one for the other. Dandruff is a contagious skin condition that is caused by yeast on the scalp. You see this more commonly on oily scalps that causes itchiness, dry patches of dead skin and flaking of that dead skin. Dandruff appears on the scalp as irregular sized yellow flakes that fall onto your shoulders or fall out of your scalp if you run your hands through your hair. Your hair will feel clean, but you can see the flakes. For more information on dandruff, check out my post HERE.
Product buildup up is an accumulation of hair products on your scalp or on your hair. This can occur when using products that are not water soluble. Basically, water alone cannot break up the product and successfully remove it from your hair. Since the water alone cannot break up the product, it will create a film on the hair that will begin to buildup and could eventually affect your scalp. Product buildup sticks to the hair and will have a slightly sticky feel and causes the hair to have a greasy feel.
Product flaking can be a mood kill. So, today, I'm going to share 5 tips that have been helpful for me as well as my customers when dealing with product flaking.
TIP 1: PRODUCT MIX TEST
Oftentimes, we layer products for the desired results for a hairstyle. Unfortunately, some products do not get along, and they're quick to let you know that they don't play well with other products. To pre test, apply a small amount of the desired products of use to your palms. Rub the palm of your hands together to see if the products mix together seamlessly without coagulating or bubbling. If the products mix together seamlessly, then they more than likely will mix together successfully in your hair. If the products do clump or bubbling when mixed together, those products will more than likely clump and flake in your hair when applied together. So, if using our Leave In Conditioner and Styling Creme, apply those products together to see if they clump or bubble. If they do, and you are wanting a more styled hair style, omit the Leave In Conditioner step and simply apply the Styling Creme to wet or damp hair. Some applications require the hair to be soaking wet for best results. Play around with product to see if applying to wet or damp hair works best for you. Our Styling Creme can work as a moisturizer as well as a light Styling Creme, so if best, using our Styling Creme solo may be the best for a go to style.
TIP 2: DON'T APPLY TOO MUCH PRODUCT
Ok, it is Hard not to over apply product. For some reason, our brains tell us that we always need MORE. Unfortunately, too much product can cause flaking, so start with little and gradually add a little more a very very little at a time.
TIP 3: APPLY STYLING PRODUCTS TO CLEAN HAIR
Another hair annoyance is product buildup. I don't care how clean and green or plant based the products are, buildup will occur. Because we do use many products, a good clarifying cleanse is good to incorporate into your hair routine once per month. Clarifying cleansers help breakdown product molecules and help to remove the buildup from the hair. Apple Cider Vinegar rinses are great for this as well. Or, apply our ACV Hair + Scalp Mist as a pre poo method to help lift some of the buildup on hair and scalp. Be sure to always rinse the hair thoroughly when cleansing and conditioning.
TIP 4: UNDERSTANDING YOUR HAIR POROSITY
For hair that is low porosity, products have a harder time penetrating the hair shaft. So, products can tend to sit on top of the hair strand instead of penetrating it, which can cause flaking. For low porosity hair, applying heat in the form of a heat cap or steamer is a great way to help products penetrate the hair shaft. For more information on hair porosity, check out my post HERE.
TIP 5: SECTION YOUR HAIR
Sectioning your hair is often necessary, especially if you have medium to longer natural hair. Sectioning allows you to ensure that you're covering the hair evenly. By sectioning the hair, it allows you to pay more attention to the amount of product being applied and where it is applied.
BONUS: When cleansing the hair, if you feel that your shampoo is not being distributed evenly, be sure to place the hair in sections and cleanse one section at a time. Use a scalp brush to help distribute the cleanser evenly and accurately and give a deeper clean working hard to remove product buildup, dandruff, and dirt.
Did these tips help? Do you have tips that you would like to share that I may have missed? Please feel free to share your tips
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