By Ellen Brown
Note: Some recipes are not suitable for sensitive skin. Each person is different, so test on the inside arm or wrist for any possible allergic reactions before using these recipes.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have very dry scalp and hair problems. What are some homemade secrets to fix this? It is very embarrassing and I need help!
Chrissy
Chrissy, I use about 1/3 cup of white vinegar mixed in about 1/3 cup of water and pour it over my hair after I've already shampooed and rinsed with water. It will leave your hair very soft and the vinegar smell is gone once your hair is dried.
For dry scalp and hair, slightly warm mayonnaise (yes, you heard me right!) and rub into dry hair. Wrap with a towel for about 1/2 hour. Wash and rinse thoroughly. Repeat no often than every two weeks until noticable difference is seen and felt.
I thought I had dry scalp and since nothing helped I finally broke down and went to a dermatologist. She said that even though my scalp was very scaly it actually was oily. I was skeptical but did what she told me to anyway. She said that I had to wash my hair every day (I was already doing that), and I had to rotate my shampoo...NOT bottle to bottle but day to day. She said that all the dandruff and dry scalp shamopoos had a different main ingredient and she suggested four of them: Head and Shoulders, T-Gel, Denorex, and Selsun Blue. Generics are fine, just be sure to check the labels against the name brands. I've been doing this for almost a year now and it seems to have solved the problem. I labeled the bottles 1,2,3, and 4 so that I don't get confused and I switch every day. Any questions you can e-mail me at: margarett@juno.com. Good luck!!!
:-) Margaret
My earlier post should have said one fourth cup of vinegar to three fourths cup of water...or even a cull cup of water...won't matter that much.
I had dry scalp once or at least I thought it was dry scalp. A friend told me to first try rinsing my hair with vinegar. It removes all built soap residue. This made a big difference for me hope it helps you. Oh and it doesn't leave a vinegar smell on your hair.
I use a cap full of "listerine" type mouthwash after I shampoo my hair. I leave it on my head/hair until I finish my bath and then rinse it out.
I had dry scalp too (not dandruff, which is a more medical condition). I figured out that dry scalp occurs in drier climates and drier months (winter/fall). It's just your body (skin) asking for some moisture (like lotion for your skin). Nothing to be embarrassed about. What worked for me: SIMPLE. I heat 1/2 cup of olive oil in the microwave in a glass bowl. I rub this into my dry hair and scalp (get the scalp first--really get your fingers at the scalp, and at problem areas (where it itches most)). let this sit for a while (about 30min-1hour). Wash hair and dry as normal (you may want to shampoo 2x. Repeat if necessary--pretty cheap and very natural! Adds a nice shine to hair too!
The thing that works best is this:
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Just mix it all up and apply it to your hair for a few hours (you can do this while you watch T.V., do HW, or whatever else that requires a few hours (2-3). Just make sure you don't wet your hair.
I'm curious about the remedies using olive oil or vinegar and the effects on color treated hair. Has anyone had an adverse effect with their color after using one of these treatments?
Thanks! J
I have extremely dry scalp..I think its called Seborrheic Dermatitis...Anyhow, the best shampoo I have ever found is Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Shampoo or Meleleuca Natural shampoo. They are both basically the same thing. You can even make your own, by taking some Tea Tree Oil and mixing a little in your shampoo each time you shampoo your hair.
I HAD very dry flakes when I dried my hair. It looked like a winter wonderland on my shoulders and it would itch. I tried EVERYTHING. I bought PROACTIV shampoo and conditioner..this stuff is a MIRACLE. I also use proactiv for my face and this stuff is worth every penny.
my hair/scalp is saharrah desert dry. I'm a black american woman, 46, post menopausal for 3 years, paper thin hair at the crown, (my mama's hair was like this in her later years so this is obviously heredity), thick in the back and sides. I work out a lot and have to wash my hair more than normal for black women. This compounded with post menopause will be a challenge for anyone. My only hope is to probably see a dermatologist. Could someone offer some advice? If it is something I just have to live with, just keep it real.
Has anyone heard of using Milk of Magnesia for dry scalp? If so how is it used?
Did anyone try it, does it really work?
I highly recommend Neutrogena's Dry Scalp Moisturizer. It works very well, its inexpensive, and it's safe on colored hair.
Try Shang Cheng shampoo. It really works. Be sure to leave any dandruff shampoo on for 3 minutes before rinsing.
I live in Trinidad and have very dry skin and hair I've heard of the vinegar thing does it really work or are there any other products that I can use.
Hi. I have what I think is called "soriasis"? but my scalps real dry, and i have tons of flakes, which is really gross! Do you any suggestions? Thanks!
After doing these remedies. Should we dry our hair with a hair dryer or let it air dry? I have heard mixed responses on what helps the best.
I went to my dermatologist and he prescribed a cream for my severe dry patches. Then he told me that the main ingredient in this cream (KETO-someting) is in NIZORAL. It costs about $13.00 a bottle but well worth it. I believe that is how it's spelled. The cream contains 2% and the NIZORAL contains 1%. You can use it daily and it really helps with the "DEEP" itchiness feeling and the patches are almost gone. I use a good moisturizing conditioner after each shampoo. Good luck.
I have very dry scalp and I itch it then comes dandruff.
It's hard sometimes to come up with the money to see a Dermatologist and the pay for a script to treat dry, itchy, flacky scalp. I have the worst dry scalp and winter time is always the worst, I would get those huge flakes and I would never wear my hair down so nobody could possibly see any... But I found the best stuff ever! You can get it in a beauty supply store like Sally's. Its called "Hair One" but get the kind for dry scalp. Its a totally new way of cleaning your hair, its NOT shampoo.
All shampoo even the most expensive salon brands all contain the one ingredient that makes dry itchy scalp worse, yes even the (dry scalp anti dandruff) has it to. Its (Sulfate) this is the stuff that makes the suds and lather, but this stuff strips your scalp of all the moisture which actually irritate your scalp even more... I haven't used shampoo in 6 moths, this stuff is Awesome! I have gotten all my female coworkers and family using it and loving it as much as I do. Its about $10.00 for a bottle and it lasts me 3-4 weeks.
Can olive oil which is used for preparing food be used as hair massage therapy for dry flaky scalp? If so, how long do you need to massage it in? After how many minutes do you wash it off?
By neena
I'm interested to see what kind of responses you get. I've heard of using jojoba for this (it's supposed to be very similar to the oil our own skin produces, and very readily absorbed).
During biblical times I know that women used olive oil for conditioning their hair. Use the Google search engine. You will be surprised at the websites that will come up.
Yes, you can use olive oil. Mediterrean women have used it for centuries (skin also). You can also use Almond oil (smells yummy) or virtually any kind of oil. Vegetable oil, whatever. Just don't use motor oil :). Remember any kind of oil is absorbed from your skin into your body! Oh another good one is coconut oil (health food stores). It will also kill germs! (works great on killing germs inside your mouth)(It smothers head lice also). It goes a long way, use sparingly. It also smells yummy.
Yes, it works very well! I could give you a long, drawn-out story about what a salvation it was for me many years ago when I had 2 surgeries in 3 weeks & my body went so haywire that I went from oily scalp & skin to absolutely bone dry,flaky,itchy & very painful! Nothing worked until I read about using olive oil like a hot-oil treatment & boy did it work!
What you do is to heat a little oil in the microwave & massage it into your hair (I think it works better on damp hair, but it can be dry too). Put a shower cap on, or better yet wrap your head in plastic wrap. Let it sit anywhere from 20 minutes, an hour or longer,depending on how bad your hair is & how long you can stand it. You can wrap a towel over that if you want(the heat makes it absorb better).You can let it penetrate while you soak in the tub too.Shampoo it out. Might have to repeat shampoo to get it all out, or if you hair is really dry,it might absorb so much of the oil you only need shampoo once. Cider vinegar rinse helps too.
I went a little overboard. My head was so dry it hurt. the hot oil felt wonderful! I wrapped my head in plastic wrap, put a towel over my pillow & slept that way all night then washed it out. My hair was beautiful! I had to repeat this weekely until my body recovered & went back to it's normal,oily self.
We've used this for years since on various family members & it works better than any hot-oil treatment you buy.
Also can be used to soak fingernails in. Put it in little bowls and soak for strong healthy nails. I have been using olive oil on my scalp for a while now, it works great. Jenny
Olive oil works wonderfully on dry hair and scalp. if your natural hair color is light (eg. blonde) then ypu can wash it off after an hour, but if you have dark colored hair, then I would suggest to keep it on longer, maybe overnight, and wash it off next morning. That's because dark hair is more coarse than light hair. I would agree with the others who have suggested to warm the oil first, as it will be absorbed easily.
If you want to try something else, you can mix 1 egg, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 cup of room temperature olive oil. mix well and saturate your hair with it. then wash it after 1 hour. Hair will be amazingly soft and shiny. (Do not heat the oil as that will cook the eggs!) Good Luck!
