Treating Dandruff with Oils: Correct? or Incorrect?

Anytime our skin is flakey or ashy, that indicates that we need to apply oil/lotions. Our scalp is the ONE exception. Dandruff is a normal reaction to yeast on the scalp. WE ALL HAVE YEAST on the scalp; however, some of our scalps hate this, which will result in flaking up. The yeast loves the oils on our scalp, and if you are oiling your scalp instead of treating it, ultimately, you are feeding the yeast. Dandruff must be treated, not oiled.

Dandruff is treated one of two ways

1. Treating inflammatory reaction with a topic oil is the best option for BLACK WOMEN with thick and long hair. I say that because almost all antifungal agents are shampoos and must be used daily. Using an antifungal agent daily will strip our hair of all its nutrients, whereas the topic agent can be applied directly to the scalp, not requiring daily washes. Both medications are prescription-based and must be prescribed by a health care professional.
2. Get rid of the yeast- This can be done with a prescription antifungal shampoo. For people with a hair texture that can withstand daily hair shampooing, this option may work best for you.

Once the dandruff is treated/under control, oil your scalp with an ESSENTIAL oil, NOT a CARRIER oil. Carrier oils are meant for LENGTH RETENTION, whereas essential oils have active ingredients with medicinal properties to stimulate the scalp promoting hair growth.

• Essential oils- Rosemary oil, lavender oil, castor oils tea, tree oil, peppermint oil
• Carrier oils- grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil

If you are a fan of hair grease, do not apply directly to the scalp. It’s highly recommended that you apply hair grease DIRECTLY onto DAMP HAIR and massage it well. This will trap the moisture in the hair.

NOTICE I didn’t mention COCONUT OIL. That is because coconut oil has the unique ability to strengthen the hair if used correctly. It’s highly recommended that coconut oil be used as a prewash agent or post-wash agent. As a prewash agent, it protects the hair from the harshness of the shampoo, and if used as a post-wash (on damp hair) agent, it acts as a protein treatment and protects the hair the rest of the week.

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