How to Fix Your Itchy, Flakey Scalp!

Tis the time of year when our skin freaks out because the air is cold and dry and everything that skin hates.  We love jumping into a nice, hot shower and standing there while letting the warmth of the water seep into our skin to warm us while we linger there groggy and cold.  But then you notice...  your scalp is itchier than heck and there are...  FLAKES?!?!?!?!  Good god, man. Why?!

Turns out that just about everything we do in the fall/winter months is anti-healthy hair and scalp.  Steaming hot showers, ponytails and stocking hats are all extreme obstacle courses for your noggin.  However, the good news is that there are ways around it.

New Solid Shampoo Bar from LUSH.  (Photo from LUSHUSA website)

Giving your hair a good what's-up with a peppermint scrub once a week can help tame the itchiness in your scalp.  LUSH's New (that's the name!) solid shampoo bar contains cinnamon, clove and bay oils, as well as nettle and peppermint.  It smells amazing (especially if you are a ho for cinnamon and clove, like I am) and you'll notice the difference on your scalp after only one treatment.  This can be used as a daily shampoo, but if you are in lurve with another product just pop this into your regimen once a week and you'll be set.

Soak and Float Shampoo Bar from LUSH (photo from LUSHUSA website)

If you have a more intense problem, using a daily anti-dandruff shampoo may be a good option for you.  Soak and Float is another solid shampoo bar from LUSH made specifically to fight the flakes.  Cade oil is the primary ingredient and works to zap the microbes that cause dandruff in the first place.  The smell is a bit intense due to the cade oil, and it's kind of one of those love it or hate it scents. Personally I love it because it smells JUST like a campfire.  For those that might hate it, the good news is that the smell does not linger on your hair after you wash.

I love shampoo bars because they last for months and they don't require any plastic packaging.  Yay, earth friendly!  Just make sure to keep it out of direct water when you're not using it (LUSH also sells little containers for them if you want.  I only use them when I'm traveling).  To use these bars, just swirl it in your hair once or twice and you'll get a HUGE lather.  Work it into your scalp and rinse.

I prefer not to follow with a conditioner too often since I feel that it gunks up my scalp a little too much.  Instead, to further help my hair and scalp, I'll take about a dime size of oil and run it through my hair and massage it into my scalp while my hair is still wet.  Do not comb your hair when wet.  Then, either let it air dry or use your blow dryer and add the tiniest bit more at the end for extra shine when dry.  Less than a pea sized amount, work it into your hairs, and distribute through your hair starting at the thickest point first and ending at the front so you don't end up with greasy looking tresses.  I prefer MorocanOil, Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss, Garnier Anti-Frizz Serum, or straight up coconut oil.  There is an oil for every budget and preference!

Good Luck!  Leave a comment if you have any other remedies to share!

PRICE:  LUSH Solid Shampoo Bars, $10.95 for 1.9oz bar;  MorocanOil, $20.00 for .85oz;  Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss, $26.00 for 2.5oz;   Garnier Anti-Friz Serum, $6.29;  Coconut Oil, roughly $6-$10