4 Non-Oil Remedies for Common Scalp Ailments

Friday, September 30, 2016

FroBunni | 4 Remedies for Common Scalp Ailments

How many of us have had a severely itchy scalp and it seemed like nothing could soothe it? I'll raise both of my hands for this, and from personal experience, this isn't fun. When I was relaxed, my scalp was always itchy. From dandruff to follicultis, the caustic nature of a relaxer really tore my scalp apart. I remember scratching so much that I would break skin. Ugh! Thank goodness those days are over.

But even when I was natural, I would have scalp issues. About a year and a half ago, I switched from oiling my scalp to using aloe vera juice, and it has made a world of difference. Through a bit of research, I found out that oils can actually excerbate scalp issues, like itching and dandruff. Similar to our hair, if we continually apply oils to our scalp without any moisture, we can dry it out making it itchy and flaky. And oils can actually feed the fungus that causes dandruff. Yuck! Lucky for us, we don't have to use oil to have a healthy scalp

Itchy Scalp - If you have an itchy scalp with no other symptoms, try aloe vera juice or gel. Just like applying it to the skin to soothe irritation, aloe can also work on the scalp. It's healing properties moisturizes the scalp and prevents itching, and it can also help reduce excessive shedding.

Dandruff - Dandruff has a few causes, including not washing enough, allergic reaction to a product, and fungus. If you have dandruff, wash the scalp with a mild shampoo once a week, and instead of oiling the scalp, apply an apple cider vinegar rinse. Apple cider vinegar has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties; it will help clear up dandruff, as well as balance the ph of the scalp. Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 1/4 cup of water and apply to scalp after washing. Don't worry about the smell, it will dissipate when it dries.

Reducing Shedding - If you have excessive shedding, have some tea! Studies show that the caffeine from tea helps to regrow hair and prevent shedding. Seep black tea, which has the most caffeine, in hot water and let cool. Apply to the scalp and hair. You can also use coffee, which has the added bonus of boosting darker hair colors.

Dry Scalp - Dry scalp is never fun, but if it's something you suffer from, consider using glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant, which attracts water to the scalp helping to keep it moisturized. Mix glycerin with water (1 part glycerin to 4 parts water) and apply it to the scalp. If you don't have glycerin readily available, you can substitute honey.

One thing to remember, while these at home remedies can help alleviate scalp issues (aloe vera juice has been great for me), don't be afraid to go to the doctor. If your scalp is really itchy, severely flaking, or you are suffering from any other scalp ailment, you may have a more serious condition that needs medical intervention.

FroBunni | 4 Remedies for Common Scalp Ailments Infographic


Dear FroBunni: Is Cowashing Bad for Natural Hair?

Friday, September 23, 2016

FroBunni | Is Cowashing Bad for Natural Hair?

Dear FroBunni, I've been cowashing my hair for a few months now, but recently read that cowashing is bad for natural hair. I looked at your regimen and noticed that you occasionally cowash, but most of the time use shampoo. Should I stop cowashing and start shampooing, or is it ok to continue cowashing?

The first thing I am going to say is if cowashing has been working for you - your scalp isn't itchy, your hair is still properly moisturized, and you're seeing no ill effects since cowashing - keep cowashing. For some naturals, cowashing is an effect way to cleanse the hair and scalp, so if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Of course, if you're seeing bad signs, then stop and switch to a different method of cleansing, such as shampooing or clay washes.

The issue with cowashing is that it doesn't always effectively remove build up from the hair and scalp, even if it's a cleansing conditioner with mild surfactants. This is a problem because build up on the scalp can cause scalp conditions like dandruff and folliculitis, as well as stunt hair growth. While build up on the hair can prevent it from being effectively moisturized, which can cause breakage.

In terms of my own regimen, I shampoo for this very reason. Cowashing caused my scalp to be very itchy and tacky, and my hair, while it felt moisturized in the shower, would dry slightly crunchy and with an odor. I realized that it wasn't effectively cleaning my hair and scalp, and switched to Kinky Curly Come Clean* for my weekly wash, and occasionally cowash when my hair is particular dry or dirty, and I don't have time for a full wash day.

This works for me, but it may not work for you. So pay attention to the health of your hair, and only make one or two product changes at a time so that if your hair begins to suffer, you know specifically what it was that caused it.

*I will probably be removing Kinky Curly Come Clean from my regimen in the near future.


Yoga Teacher Training in T Minus 10 Days

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

FroBunni | Yoga Teacher Training

If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, you may have seen that I took the plunge and signed up for yoga teacher training. I have so many different emotions going through my mind - happiness, fear, nervousness, excitement, and more. Part of me is like "what have I done?!" and the other part of me is like "it's about time!"

I've been doing yoga for 13 years off and on, and it's always something that I have returned to. It strengthens my body and refreshes my spirit, so a progression from student to teacher was only natural. Even though I'm genuinely nervous, I am also excited and am really happy to know that the future will include me sharing my love of yoga with others.

I really want to track my progress during this journey so I have decided to do a weekly vlog on all the ups, downs, trials, and tribulations. And of course, I will be sharing it here (and on Facebook and YouTube...I don't even remember the last time I had a video on my YouTube channel)! So if you want to know how my week was, thinking about doing yoga training, want to take the journey with me, or just want to watch me talk for 5-10 minutes about something not hair related (let's be honest, hair will somehow be included), check it out!
