Why does my Hair Feel Like Straw?

This one is a little harder to explain as their are a lot of opinions on the matter.  For this purpose your hair feeling like straw relates to the way your hair feels when it is wet (squishy) and how to reverse the problem.  In the hair world if your hair feels squishy and fat like wet straw it is due to a large amount of product build up on the hair.  This is most common in people who use lots of styling products or some types of shampoos, and yes I said shampoo!

Let me address the first issue of product build up.  A lot of the products out there right now have silicone to make the hair smooth or other products that help build body by swelling the hair shaft are very hard to cleanse out of your hair with just shampoo.  Even those of you that use hairspray everyday are most likely not really getting all that product out with each shampoo and it doesn't matter how many times you shampoo because there are only certain shampoos that are good at removing product buildup.  Keep in mind that the term product buildup is not referring to the everyday dirt and oil in our hair.

The best cure I have found for removing product buildup in hair and taking away that straw like feeling that results is by using Baking Soda.  You want to wash your hair with it and it will eat the buildup off your hair letting you shampoo the rest of it clean.  It can get very clumpy so you want to apply it to wet hair and scrub it on by rolling the hair between the palms of you hands like you were rolling a pretzel.  This will aid in removing the buildup.  Massage it good around the roots of your hair and rinse.  It will feel dry while you are scrubbing but remember it is a powdery substance that gets thicker with water, so after rinsing go ahead and shampoo with your normal shampoo unless it is for more volume or extra body or anything like that.  These shampoos coat the hair and make it swell so you are defeating the purpose if you use them after the baking soda, you want to clean the rest of the baking Soda out of your hair.  The best option may be a clarifying shampoo.  Another good option for removing product buildup is using Tea Tree Products.  I have mentioned these before but they have many good properties and can do many things.  They work especially good in African American hair to remove the dirt buildup that can result from braiding or irregular washing.  You can find these product at a local salon or at a Paul Mitchell School near you! Remember if you buy Tea Tree Paul Mitchell plants a tree!!  Hope this is the hair therapy you need! 

What is the difference between Dry Scalp and Dandruff?

This one can get complicated but I will try to break down the science and give you some good treatments.

Dandruff and Dry Scalp are commonly confused because they both produce white flakes and can cause itching.  However Dandruff is the result from a naturally occurring fungus (malassezia). Stress, age, hormones, and poor hygiene can make the fungus worse.  Dandruff produces large clumps of flakes and they are generally oily.  Dry Scalp on the other hand produces small clumps of flakes that are often very hard to see in comparison to Dandruff.  Dry scalp can be caused by several factors such as:  Contact Dermatitis- allergic reaction, Sunburn, or Extreme Age.  The symptoms can be made worse by cold or dry climate.  So neither of these are contagious to anyone else and can be easily treated.  Dandruff comes in two forms and I will define them and then give the Course of treatment.

1) Classic Dandruff (Pityriasis capitis simplex)- is scalp irritation, large flakes, and and itchy scalp.  The scales of the scalp can attach themselves in masses and scatter to the hair and shoulders.  Regular antidandruf shampoos are the best course of treatment.

2) Pityriasis steatoides - is the more severe case of dandruff and is usually has more greasy or waxy scales that mix with sebum that will stick to the scalp in crusts. There might also be redness and inflammation and in this case you need to see a physician.

So for the treatment of basic dandruff most antidandruff shampoos contain some kind of antifungal agent (pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, or ketoconazole) that control dandruff by supressing the growth of the fungus.  If it contains pyrithione zinc you can get treatment for all hair types and even for color treated hair!  Frequent use of these products is essential to controlling the problem as is good hygiene and proper sanitation.

As for Dry Scalp what I have found to work the best is Tea Tree Products.  Tea Tree is a natural anti-inflammatory and can help to calm the scalp as well as reduce the amount of lose skin on the scalp.  Keep in mind that you REALLY want to use professional products so you know you are getting what you pay for.  A lot of over the counter shampoos and conditioners as I call it are watered down and have harsh sulfates.  Your money should go to good quality products if you want it to work.  Paul Mitchell has a line of Tea Tree Products that you can buy at most salons or a Paul Mitchell School near you!  If you buy some of these products Paul Mitchell will plant a tree!! As always I hope this helps to give your hair a little more therapy! 

Why is my hair so dry?

A lot of times we think our hair is dry and it needs moisture?  Sounds about right considering what we have been taught by the commercials on TV.  Well, that's not always the case!  Through all the coloring and highlighting and blow drying and straightening we break down the integrity of our hair and strip it of the valuable proteins it needs.  When these proteins are gone the hair can feel lifeless and be frizzy and feel and look dry!  It's a pretty easy fix but that's based on the individual client's condition of their hair.  You will want to go to your local salon and ask for a protein treatment  this should be done by taking you to the shampoo bowl wetting and ringing the hair and then applying the treatment to the hair.  At this point a cap should be placed on and you should sit under the dryer for 15-20 minutes.  This is an extra service so most salons will charge an extra fee for this service, however if you live near a Paul Mitchell School you can get it done there pretty inexpensively.  If you get heavy highlights or color regularly done you would want this treatment after every highlight or color service as to protect your hair.  You must replace what you take out and some clients will require additional treatments to be determined by your stylist!  Don't think that just using conditioner at home will help all it does is lay on top of the hair to make it appear smooth.  You have to get professional treatment to restore your hair. Nothing at any beauty store you can buy will make a difference that's why you have to go to a salon!  Also make sure you are using quality professional products you by at a salon!  If you buy them any where else they are not guaranteed by the maker and could be old or watered down!!