no flake hair gel

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR DRY SCALP & GENTLE HAIR CONDITIONING MASK

A dry, flaky scalp can be a harmless issue, but it can become bothersome if it leads to itchiness and embarrassing when others notice the white flakes. Here are some natural remedy suggestions, including essential oils that can help alleviate dry scalp.

TREATING DRY, ITCHY SCALP NATURALLY

First, it’s important to distinguish between dry skin and dandruff. While some remedies may help both conditions, dandruff is more complex and requires a different approach.

Dandruff is typically caused by excess oil, resulting in larger, yellowish flakes that are more difficult to remove. An unpleasant odor may also accompany dandruff. If this is your concern, you may need to consider more intensive treatments.

Once you’ve established that you’re dealing with a dry scalp, it’s helpful to identify the underlying cause of the dryness. While you can start using essential oils for dry scalp right away, understanding the root cause can help prevent recurring issues.

Some common causes of a dry scalp include:

  • Stress
  • Poor diet
  • Dehydration
  • Seasonal changes and climate (such as cold, dry winter air or excessive sunlight in summer)
  • Harsh chemicals in shampoos, conditioners, styling products, or other hair treatments
  • Hormonal changes

I recommend being cautious with dandruff shampoos, as the chemicals in these products may exacerbate dry scalp conditions. 

BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR DRY SCALP

These essential oils are renowned for their ability to cleanse the sensitive skin of the scalp and enhance hair conditioning. This list serves as an excellent starting point to discover which oils work best with your unique body chemistry.

  • Lavender: Known as one of the best oils for skin care, lavender essential oil is gentle yet potent, featuring antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
  • Tea Tree: This oil promotes healing of the scalp thanks to its antifungal properties and can also stimulate hair growth.
  • Rosemary: With its antioxidant and antibacterial characteristics, rosemary stimulates the scalp and may promote hair growth.
  • Cedarwood: This earthy oil combats bacteria and fungi with its antiseptic properties, adding shine to hair and serving as a heat protectant.
  • Lemongrass: A popular cleansing oil, lemongrass essential oil is effective for oily hair and helps strengthen hair follicles. It also boasts anti-inflammatory and detoxifying benefits.

A simple apple cider vinegar hair rinse can sometimes provide just what you need to balance your scalp’s skin, eliminate any bacteria contributing to dry scalp issues, and improve your hair’s texture. For many, this may be the only natural hair treatment needed in their routine. Here is a recipe for making apple cider vinegar at home that you can refer to.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Author: Mama Z

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
  • 1⅓ cups purified or distilled water
  • 30-48 drops of essential oils*

Instructions

  • Combine one part apple cider vinegar with four parts water and add your choice of essential oils.
  • Pour the mixture into a squeeze bottle or a repurposed shampoo bottle.
  • After shampooing, apply the rinse to clean, wet hair in the shower.
  • Gently massage it into your scalp and the roots of your hair, allowing it to soak for 3-5 minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly. You may find that you don’t need to use as much conditioner after this treatment.

Notes: The ratio for this recipe is 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Feel free to adjust the quantities as needed for your family.

*Recommended essential oils include lavender, tea tree, cedarwood, lemongrass, and rosemary. Use about 15-20 drops per cup.

If your dry scalp requires more intensive moisturizing, this natural hair and scalp treatment is just what you need! Customize the essential oils to find the perfect match for your skin. Keep in mind that it may take a few applications and some time to heal your scalp. Here’s Mama Z’s at-home hair mask recipe for you to try!

NATURAL HAIR MASK TREATMENT

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 tablespoons aloe vera gel
  • 2 tablespoons organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon carrier oil or raw organic local honey*
  • 24-30 drops of your choice of essential oils**

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Combine all the ingredients to create a hair treatment mixture.
  • Apply the natural hair mask to your scalp, ensuring it penetrates the skin to help eliminate bacteria and flakes.
  • Start at the crown of your head or your natural part, working the mask down your scalp. A wide-tooth comb can help distribute the mask effectively if needed.
  • Cover your head with a shower cap or a clean towel, allowing the mask to soak in for 15-20 minutes or as long as desired.
  • Rinse thoroughly and shampoo or condition as usual, though you may find you don’t need as much conditioner after this treatment.

Notes:

  • Follow this mask with my Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse to balance your hair’s pH and remove any excess product. Use an organic, unscented conditioner on the ends of your hair.
  • I recommend using a scalp massager to thoroughly work the hair mask into your scalp. For extra care, you can use a Nix lice comb to remove any leftover particles from your hair and scalp.
  • To complete your hair care routine, consider applying our Hair Regrowth Gel.

*Avoid coconut oil, as it can dry out the skin. Opt for jojoba, argan, almond, or olive oil instead; jojoba is particularly good for adding shine. Honey is also a great option for moisturizing and can help tame frizz.

**Suggested essential oils include cedarwood, lavender, lemongrass, tea tree, and rosemary. My favorite blend is equal parts peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree.

This treatment makes for a wonderful weekly ritual, especially while you unwind in a detox bath or simply to rejuvenate your scalp’s skin.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, essential oils offer a natural and effective solution for addressing dry scalp and promoting healthy hair. By carefully selecting oils like lavender, rosemary, tea tree, and peppermint, you can create a gentle yet potent hair conditioning mask tailored to your specific needs. Remember to always conduct a patch test before using essential oils on your scalp, and dilute them properly with a carrier oil to avoid irritation. With consistent use, this DIY hair mask can help nourish your scalp, reduce dandruff, and leave your hair feeling soft, shiny, and revitalized. Embrace the power of nature and unlock the transformative potential of essential oils for your hair care routine.

THE 15 BEST CURLY HAIR PRODUCTS

When it comes to curls, kinks, and coils, the greatest curly hair products leave no room for error. What are the must-haves on our shopping list? Hydrating products that hydrate and revive dry strands, stylers with added grip and hold, and clarifying cleansers that make wash days a breeze.

Every curly girl knows that finding the proper combination of products takes effort, but once you’ve discovered it, there’s no going back. Here’s our pick of the top curly hair products of 2024 to help you show off your bouncy, gleaming curls. 

BRIOGEO CURL CHARISMA

Briogeo’s leave-in cream does double duty by defining and protecting your curls from humidity. The composition contains rice amino acids and avocado oil, which help your hair retain moisture and decrease frizz. The creamy texture is soft and never flakes or feels sticky. Isn’t it also nice? This cream is manufactured with 96 percent naturally derived components and does not contain colors or silicones, making it suitable for all hair types. Many clients reported that it has a long-lasting effect on their hair. However, when it comes to weight, it is quite pricey. 

RIZOS HYDRATING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

This Hydrating Shampoo cleanses softly, intensely hydrates, and nourishes the scalp and hair. Natural components such as Shea Butter and Moringa Oil are used to create soft, glossy, and healthy hair. This nutritious shampoo relieves dry and irritated scalp. This pair excels at retaining moisture and preventing dandruff and split ends while being silicone, sulfate, and cruelty-free. Rizos, formed by Latinx women, was founded to highlight the natural texture of curls, coils, and waves everywhere. If you have thick, dense hair that detangles best in the shower, this is a must-try. 

SEEN MAGIC SERUM

If your curls can’t handle heavy oils—or any oils at all—let me introduce you to my favorite oil substitute: this fragrance-free, silicone-free, three-ingredient serum. It employs a silky solvent and a combination of lightweight moisturizers (squalane and fatty acids) to smooth your curls and define your ends without feeling as heavy as typical hair oils. The texture is water-like, making it simple to apply to hair. To use it effectively, have a few drops on your hair and then massage the hair and scalp gently. You would see the difference after few days. 

PATTERN BEAUTY CONDITIONER

This is the Intensive Conditioner, the richest of PATTERN’s ultra-hydrating conditioner products, ideal for tighter textures. The powerful recipe is packed with ingredients like Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Safflower Oil, and Acacia Decurrens Flower to help protect against breakage and dryness while leaving definition behind after rinse-out, making it ideal for low porosity hair fighting to get moisture to enter into strands. This nourishing blend of coconut, jojoba, avocado, and sweet almond oils hydrates curls restores bounce and locking in moisture. It can be used following the washing and conditioning steps. If you prefer to detangle outside of the shower, this leave-in has a lot of slip and will do the job without pulling. Furthermore, the aromas in this Pattern product are soothing – they’re fresh but not overpowering. 

AMIKA DEFINING CREAM

This is a curl-controlling smoothing crème that adds bounce and shape to hair. The ingredients in Amika’s Curl Corps are top-notch, according to the company, with tapioca starch providing definition and oat peptide forming a protective barrier, intensifying your hair’s shine. The inclusion of these components helps to control curls, fight frizzy and lightly condition the hair. The product claims to keep hair curled and defined all day long with little to no frizz. It is formulated free of paraben and sulfates, making it suitable for the most sensitive scalps.

SHEAMOISTURE CURL &=STYLE MILK

The key ingredient in this leave-in conditioner is coconut oil, which acts to detangle and nourish hair. It’s great for letting your hair air dry and saves time. Curls are left silky and swingy while being shielded from frizz and humidity. The natural formula contains ethically traded and sustainably produced ingredients. Its effects on hair are excellent, but it can be difficult to get the product out of the bottle. 

DPHUE ACV

Unlike shampoo, which can strip hair of its natural oils, our rinse is prepared with artisanal crafted Apple Cider Vinegar from George Paul Vinegar, which helps seal the hair cuticle, improve shine, and keep the scalp and hair pH-balanced. Allowing your hair’s natural oils to do their job for a while is a vital aspect of any good hair-care routine. However, using too much oil can result in weighed-down curls, scalp discomfort, and the appearance of having gone swimming when you most certainly did not. When you need a clarifying boost, DpHue’s ACV Rinse replaces your regular shampoo.

LUS LOVE UR CURLS ALL-IN-ONE STYLER

LUS’ products are straightforward and uncomplicated, free of silicones, sulfates, and mineral oils, and created with the best hydrating components. This all-in-one styler is a cross between a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream, with moringa oil and shea butter to mildly hydrate, define, and improve your curls. Plus, it’s adjustable for different curl types, so you can find the ideal fit for your hair. 

VERNON FRANCOIS CURL SHAMPOO

This Curl Shampoo has been a favorite for years due to the way it hydrates while cleansing. Most shampoos contain sulfates, which remove filth and generate the sudsy foam we’ve come to expect when we want to feel our scalps clean, but sulfates also strip natural oils from hair. Sulfate-free shampoos are softer but more expensive. This Vernon François recipe is not only reasonably priced, but it also contains healthy components like tea tree oil, seaweed extract, olive oil, and shea butter that work double duty to clear and hydrate.

KÉRASTASE CURL MANIFESTO

This shampoo mix checks all of the boxes for curly hair shampoo. First and foremost, it is sulfate-free, so you won’t have to worry about it removing your natural moisture. The creamy composition softly cleanses while also including moisturizing elements (manuka honey and ceramides) to keep your curls in great shape. It’s also a fantastic choice for wavy, curly, or highly curly hair. To use, apply it to wet hair. Then, thoroughly massage and rinse. If you come into touch with your eyes, rinse them promptly and thoroughly.

KRISTIN ESS CURL CO-WASH CLEANSING CONDITIONER

This mixture contains hydrating glycerin and hydrolyzed linseed, which is high in omega fatty acids and prevents curls from drying out while cleaning your hair and scalp. The non-sudsy product, which is devoid of drying alcohols, sulfates, and parabens, is ideal for curly and kinky hair. This hair product moisturizes and preserves coarse, curly, kinky, frizzy, and/or natural texture hair. This soothing co-wash will cleanse your hair and scalp gently while preserving your natural oils.

Pantene GOLD SERIES SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

Pantene’s Gold Series Root Stimulating Shampoo and Conditioner cleanse and condition hair while promoting and sustaining new length. The star ingredients in this sulfate-free combination are apricot oil and green tea extract, which work their magic by detoxifying the scalp and nourishing the hair for long-term growth with frequent application. According to many customers, this shampoo does help with their dry and damaged hair, leaving it feeling clean, smooth and more manageable with extra bounce.

MOROCCANOIL CURL DEFINING CREAM

Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream is a hair product that aids in the definition of curls while combating frizz. It is paraben-free and ideal for colored, curly/permed, dry, and regular hair types. It’s also enriched with argan oil, which results in hair velvety smooth curls with extra shine. This product is suitable for the majority of waves and curls. While most creams weigh down finer curl types, this lightweight solution contains just a hint of argan oil, which works to smooth flyaways and define waves and curls without feeling greasy, heavy, or sticky.

AG CARE RE:COIL CURL ACTIVATOR

Re:Coil is a vegan, silicone-free styling cream for curly hair that also works as a curl enhancer for wavy hair. Amino acid curly hair solutions for damaged curls infuse each strand with critical nutrients, giving worn hair new energy.This curl-friendly gel product, as the name suggests, helps define, tighten, and moisturize coils so they look and feel their best. It’s not too heavy on the hair, and it’s a salt-free composition, so it’s less drying. To use, run a small amount into damp hair and dry as usual. Then sit back and wait for the compliments to come in.

KINKY CURLY KNOT TODAY DETANGLE

With this herbal conditioner, you can say goodbye to knots that cause breakage and grow your hair longer and stronger. It’s made with organic components including slippery elm, marshmallow root, lemongrass, and mango fruit extract. This hydrating product’s slide makes detangling easy by smoothing the cuticle and reducing knots. It can be used as a standard rinse-out conditioner for individuals with waves and loose curls, or as a leave-in conditioner for those with tighter textures.

CONCLUSION

Curly hair products that are loaded with nourishing nutrients are redefining hair care. These products, which range from a gentle cleaning shampoo to a hydrating conditioner, and from a defining curl cream to a volumizing mousse, change curls, banish frizz, and celebrate the beauty of various hair types. A game-changer for curly-haired people all over the world. Curly hair products that are loaded with nourishing nutrients are redefining hair care. These products, which range from a gentle cleaning shampoo to a hydrating conditioner, and from a defining curl cream to a volumizing mousse, change curls, banish frizz, and celebrate the beauty of various hair types. A game-changer for curly-haired people all over the world.