Braids are my favorite protective style. They give my hair a break from constant manipulation and failed styling attempts. Braids can last me between two weeks to six weeks depending on different factors. A flaky scalp is one of the factors that often forces me to take down my braids sooner than than I wished to. I am a thrifty person and taking down braids in two weeks really hurts me. After many years of getting braids I have noticed the major factors that cause scalp flakiness and how to prevent it.
causes of flaky scalp:
Dry or unmoisturized scalp
just as our face and body need moisture so does our scalp. Dry scalp often becomes scaly and starts to shed producing those annoying flakes that you see floating on the root of your braids.
Try as much as possible to keep your scalp moisturized. Speaking of moisturized, this brings me to the next point.
Product build-up
In our efforts to keep our scalps moisturized we might find our selves just packing excess product on our hair causing formation of build up. The build up forms around the root of the braids and appears white-ish and oily which is definately not pleasant to look at. Keeping the scalp moisturized while avoiding product build-up can be tricky. Using light or( liquid-like) oils such as jojoba oil will reduce the chances of having build up as opposed to using greasy solid-like products which solidify on your roots to form build up. Build up is greasy and sticky therefore it tends to collect small particles from your surroundings .
Braiding gels and jams
These products are meant to help us achieve neat and clean parts. In as much as they make the hair seem well laid in the first couple of days they can later be your braids' worst enemy, flakes! sometimes spraying the scalp with some water and gently rubbing it helps dissolve those gel-fakes but this is a short-term solution. If you have found a braiding jam that does not flake, good for you because they are very few out here. Alternatively, you can just have your hair braided without the gels and see whether that works for you. BTL braiding gel is worth trying, I have had a bad relationship with most braiding gels but this one has not formed flakes for the few times I have used it.
Scalp reaction to chemicals on the braiding hair
Most braiding hair contains chemicals mostly dyes and others to maintain its appearance. These chemicals can cause scalp irritation which makes the scalp itchy and flaky. To be safe, soak your braiding hair in apple cider vinegar for 20 minutes , rinse it and dry before use. This gets rid of the chemicals and saves the scalp from irritation.
Dandruffs
While the actual cause of dandruffs is not clear, a fungus called "malassezia" is said to contribute to it. In most cases dandruffs are the main cause of itchy and flaky scalp. My main solution to dandruffs is using anti-dandruff shampoo as often as possible, using sulfur8 medicated formula and surprisingly, apple cider vinegar (again) in a cotton pad and pat it on the affected area. Some cases of dandruff may require professional help. I will be writing a more detailed article on dandruffs soon.
Mizani scalp care shampoo is my favorite when it comes to cleansing, soothing and fighting dandruffs. It leaves that cool, clean, minty feeling that is very pleasing
Thanks for reading through, I hope it helps.
