When it comes to hair, there are many problems that people have to deal with; it can become too greasy, too dry, too thin, too thick, too curly, and the list goes on. But one of the most significant that people face is the buildup of dandruff.
According to Medicalnewsdaily.com, dandruff is “a condition of the scalp that causes white flakes of skin to appear and is often accompanied by itching.” Dread Head HQ states that “the most likely cause of dandruff buildup, is washing the hair too infrequently, but there are other sites which claim that while it is an important factor, it is not so much how often it is washed, but how the hair is washed.
Getting rid of dandruff can be a task, even for "normal hair" and there are many ways that a person can have it removed, the most common of which is washing while combing it out. Depending on how much buildup there is, it can take multiple washes to remove the dandruff completely. But if you’re one of the many people who have dreadlocks, that’s not an option that you have. So how? How does someone with dreadlocks remove or treat dandruff?
Dreadlocks have been around for thousands of years, and as more time goes by, they are becoming increasingly popular. The versatile and relatively low maintenance style has been gaining mainstream acceptance, and many more celebrities, even those of non-African descent can be seen sporting the hairstyle. Like many other hairstyles, this one has its drawbacks, among them are the are the tension placed on the scalp and keeping them clean.
Because dreads are not like "normal hair," the ropelike strands of matted hair should be treated differently, and as such, should not be washed with “normal shampoo.” There are many products specifically created for this particular hairstyle, many of which have been proven to work well.
Dandrene’s Anti Dandruff Shampoo is one of the few shampoos which helps remove dandruff from the hair and scalp. With ingredients like zinc pyrithione, glycolic acid, and tioxolone, the shampoo is “specially formulated to treat flakes, itchiness, dryness, and redness.” Not only do the ingredients also help to control excessive grease production to prevent an oily scalp, but they also help soothe inflammation and irritation of the scalp, and are suitable for all hair types.
Just washing the hair for one to two minutes, three or four times a week, for a period of three months guarantee amazing results and dandruff free dreads. There is also a conditioner that goes hand in hand with the shampoo that helps control flaking, dryness, and the reoccurrence of dandruff.
In addition to the shampoo and conditioner, there are also quite a few number of home remedies which can be used to help managing and getting rid of dandruff. Crushing aspirin, which has the same active ingredient as some dandruff products and adding to your shampoo has been shown to decrease its occurrence. Oils such as tea tree oil, coconut oil, and olive oil have been shown to reduce dandruff and can be massaged into the scalp, left overnight and washed out the next morning. The acidity in apple cider vinegar makes it hard for yeast to grow and spraying it on the scalp for as little as 15 minutes can also help reduce the problem.
The longer the issue remains untreated and when combined with the constant itching, the chances of thinned out dreads and breakage, as well as bald spots increases. These simple remedies and great products will help with dandruff in dreadlocks no matter the user’s age, race, hair type or hair length.