I have had a miserable week 7 and week 8 isn't starting off so well either. Why? My scalp has been such a pain! Basically, on Friday, at the end of week 6, I was overcome by an intense need to scratch my scalp. So I did, I scratched it all the way through an unauthorized shampoo! That's right, I washed my hair! It just happened... Luckily, I had products on hand because a part of me suspected they'd come in handy and that they did! I used Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo and Suave Naturals Conditioner. I did not use a stocking cap or any shield for my baby locs. I was in such a frenzy to get my scalp clean, I did not scrub gently and by the end of the episode, I had a fro staring back at me.
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| woo woo woo |
Trying not to think of the mess I had created, I proceeded to retwist right away. I started with the crown (rookie approach) which was the most unraveled. I had to guess at a few parts but it turns out most of the original sections survived despite the fro-like appearance. The sides and most of the back were intact. I'm so proud of my lil' fighters, standing up to that aggressive wash. I used Taliah Waajid Lock It Up, a comb and metal clips and simply finger coiled the unraveled portion/new growth. It took me 1 hour and 40 minutes. I sat under the dryer for about 35 minutes and was impressed with the results although they screamed, "amateur!" As long as the fro was gone and a semblance of individual twists was before me, I was stoked. In fact, it was alright by me since I'm not crazy about the "snatched" professional retwist look.
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| Not too bad, right? Crooked for sure but I'm thinking I can only get better! |
So my scalp was cool for another few days but didn't even make it a full week! By Thursday of week 7, I was experiencing the same discomfort that led me into my first shampoo and shampooing my hair once again. This time, I used a stocking cap, I was very gentle and I did my best to give my scalp the scrubbing it yearned for while minimizing the unraveling. I used the same shampoo, conditioner and retwist product. This time, I comb coiled the front and sides and finger coiled the back because comb coiling was hard enough without trying to do it blind. I was happy to use the comb coil method since that's what my loctician would be using and I'm guessing it makes a difference?
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| After comb coiling... Notice the ends are looking more "locked"... yes? I wonder if the back to back shampoos accelerated the process... I'm also thinking I can't tell the difference between the comb coiled front and the finger coiled back... |
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| View from the top after 2nd self retwist (4th total retwist) by comb coiling. See rookie mistake... I failed to clip that one properly. |
I'm now 4 days past my last shampoo and already negotiating delay tactics with my brat of a scalp. I never felt the need to shampoo this frequently when I had a relaxer. I could also go 5 weeks without a shampoo when I had braids and my scalp was a trouper then. I'm so disappointed that now a week or just a few days between shampoos and I'm falling apart. I don't even know if a shampoo is what I need or if I'm merely soothing without actually fixing the core issue. Why is my scalp being such a whiny child? They say an itchy scalp is an unhealthy scalp. I don't know what the remedy is. I've been using Eden Peppermint Tea Tree Hair Oil. I like the smell, I love the sensation and the fact that I'm nourishing my scalp with these pro scalp health oils. But does my scalp show any appreciation? No! I'm about to lose it. I'm determined to make it to my retwist appointment on Saturday, which will be at 8 weeks, without another shampoo. I won't be able to see Damian this month because I have an event on Sunday, the day he's in town. I'm optimistic that the loctician I'm seeing on Saturday will be a good fit for me. I also hope she has the remedy I need to keep my scalp in check so that I can be stress free and get back to enjoying my real babies, the locs. Sigh
Quick note: For the past couple of weeks, I've been using the
Eden Peppermint Tea Tree Hair Oil daily. I plan on sticking to it for consistency. I find I still have flakes that I'm calling dry scalp but I don't want to know what it would be like if I wasn't applying some oil daily. I started out with oiling every 3-4 days... That made me itchier. I'm challenging myself not to scratch with every urge, to nourish my scalp then ignore the majority of its complaints. Wish me luck... If you have counsel, please share!
Oh I remember this stage. It'll all be so much easier with 2-3 month growth and you're doing great things already especially that retwist. Your parts are scattered so they'll fill out wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteUsing oils is a delicate matter when controlling an itchy scalp. Both pepper mint and tea tree are too potent (essential oils) to be applied in high concentration. From my own experience, the tingling sensation cures the itch in the first few days but actually irritates the scalp by the end of the week. Tea tree in particular is actually very drying when applied directly even though it's an oil. When your scalp itches like that it's telling you to get rid of the last product you've used giving you the insatiable urge to wash and scrub.
After I read up on oils I started using a product with almond oil and only 5% tea tree which didn't dry my scalp out at all. IMO oils shouldn't need to be applied everyday because a little drop in 1 day accumulates to an excessive amount in 7 or 14 days. When you find an oil (or oil concentration) that your scalp agrees with you'll find you'll need it less and remember your scalp producing it's own oil every single day.
Have hope, there's always a solution!
Thanks so much for your comments and advice. You may just be the scalp whisperer! After reading this I calmed down and so did my scalp. I stopped using the Eden peppermint tea tree oil and started applying a tiny amount of my Kera Care essential oils every couple of days. I very easily made it to my retwist without the urge to shampoo. Score! What an improvement from the previous week. I'm still working it out but feel very hopeful. I'm one week past my last shampoo and have applied a light oil spray twice since(every 3 days). I'm also trying out the Shea Moisture Dandruff & Dry Scalp Elixir mainly on my crown (the problem area).
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