How to Relieve an Itchy Scalp on Natural Hair in the Summer
Getting an itchy scalp is common in the summer, but it can be very irritating. It’s hot, and you may be more physically active than usual. Plus, you’re more likely to be outside in the warm sun, creating a build-up of sweat on your scalp.
Itching the scalp too much or too hard can hurt your hair follicles and impede hair growth. Plus, it’s embarrassing to be constantly scratching in public.
Ready for some relief? In this post, you’ll find ways of relieving your itchy scalp, so you can go back to growing long, healthy hair.
Wash Your Scalp More Often and Do it Well
This one is obvious, yet overlooked by many curlies. If your scalp is itching too much, it may just be dirty. It might help to add an extra wash day to your regimen during the summer, but you may be reluctant to do it.
One fear is that if you wash your hair too much, dryness will follow. It’s true that most shampoos dry out your hair and leave it in a tangled mess.
However, if you use slippery shampoos, like Mango Moringa Moisture Max Shampoo, and good techniques, you may be able to steer clear of dryness.
Follow these guidelines to make sure your hair doesn’t get too dry when you increase the amount of washes:
Use Moisturizing Products. Avoid products that contain a lot of drying chemicals. Check the label for sulfates, bad alcohols, and petroleum byproducts. SwirlyCurly's Mango Moringa Moisture Max helps you retain moisture so you're not drying out the scalp when you wash.
Co-Wash or Do a Rinse Only. You may choose to do a co-wash only on the additional day. Other options include rice rinses and plain water.
Experiment with Frequency. Your extra wash day doesn’t have to come at the exact midpoint. Take note of which day your scalp begins to itch. For instance, you could try washing every five days instead of seven.
Focus on Scalp When Shampooing. The scalp needs to be cleaned well when you have curly hair. Use Mango Moringa Shampoo to cleanse the scalp without stripping the hair of needed moisture.
Don’t Condition Your Scalp. Avoid the temptation to massage conditioner into your scalp. You want your follicles to be clean and unhindered. Conditioners could clog the follicles and irritate your scalp. Use shampoo only on your scalp and allow your scalp's natural oils to flourish.
Refresh Your Natural Hair At least Once During the Week
Seven days is too long to make your hair wait for hydration. The SwirlyCurly Method recommends you hydrate and moisturize during the week.
You can either wet your hair in the shower for hydration, or simply use a water spray bottle to dampen your hair. If you want more than water, try a detangler, a leave-in conditioner, or aloe vera juice.
Then follow the hydration with the rest of the steps inside The SwirlyCurly Method book.
Use Essential Oils to Heal the Scalp
Applying oils to the scalp isn’t usually recommended unless you’re suffering from a dry scalp. Greasing the scalp can clog hair follicles and impede them from growing hair.
However, some essential oils may heal the scalp, and some are even scientifically proven to speed hair growth. So, you’ll need to experiment and evaluate whether you want to go this route.
You may consider applying the oils to relieve some itch and to give you an extra 1-2 days before the next wash. But if the oils begin to comingle with dirt that results in grime, you should wash your scalp as soon as you can.
Here are some oils that may work to soothe an itchy scalp:
Tea Tree Oil. This essential oil acts almost like natural turpentine, and it is very cleansing. That said, you may want to avoid adding it to products because it can quickly dry out your hair. Instead, massage it directly into your scalp.
Peppermint and Eucalyptus Essential Oils. Both peppermint and eucalyptus contain cooling menthol that will immediately soothe your scalp. These two oils are scientifically proven to grow hair, and they are very potent. Consider diluting them with a small amount of castor oil.
Lavender Essential Oil. Like many essential oils, lavender helps to kill any fungus or bacteria that is growing on your scalp. It can be very beneficial to use it for preventing fungal and bacteria overgrowth and treating scalp microbes.
Massage Aloe Vera into the Scalp
Using aloe vera is a sneaky way of wetting the scalp without fully immersing the hair. Aloe is one of the most healing resources on the planet.
Aloe has hydration properties and it can even be used in place of water. It nourishes the skin and soothes scalp itching and irritation better than water will too.
However, aloe costs a lot more than water and it doesn’t make sense to use only aloe vera instead of H20. But you can use it to cleanse and relieve itching by massaging a small amount of the gel into your scalp.
Washing your scalp regularly is important in the hot months. And you should never go too long without hydrating your hair, but it’s a good idea to keep a good arsenal of ingredients in your bathroom cabinet for itchy days.
Wipe the Scalp with a Natural Antiseptic
Using a natural baby wipe or face pad on the scalp may help relieve some of the itch. Antiseptics are typically made of drying ingredients that could potentially dry out your roots, so you won’t want to use this method more than 1-2 times per month.
Some naturals like to apply an antiseptic like Sea Breeze to a cotton ball or paper towel to clear conditions like scalp acne. However, be gentle when you wipe your scalp. Harsh rubbing can lead to soreness.
You’ll find antiseptic pads helpful for clearing scalp acne and unclogging the follicles just like you’d use them on your face to unclog pores.
If you're trying to relieve itchy scalp on natural hair in the summer, you might also be interested in ways to grow healthy natural hair. Come to my masterclass and I'll show you how to grow your natural hair healthy, long, thick, and strong. Click here to sign up now.