DIY Jo: Treating my Scalp Inflammation

Well, I broke the cardinal rule for scalp eczema, girls, and used the wrong shampoo and suffered for it but I mixed my way back to a healthy scalp.

My cousin had recommended a shampoo for me to try because it worked wonders on her hair. Now the shampoo claimed that it was paraben free and I assumed it was mineral oil-free too, but I was wrong.

I used the shampoo and it worked amazingly on my hair. My hair felt silky smooth and I was just too excited to use it again. But then my scalp started to itch. I thought it was my regular dry scalp, but no, my scalp was inflamed. Within two weeks, it was like I could peel my scalp. I did everything. I stripped it with apple cider vinegar, I washed it with a black soap shampoo, I deep conditioned, I hot-oil treated, but everything failed.

ITCHING LIKE CRAZY

To be honest, I was started to freak out because it itched to the point that I even cut my scalp with my nails and I was beginning to wonder if I would have to cut my hair to treat it. But I went back to my research. I knew that glycerin was a humectant that helps to hold in moisture and great for chapped and flaky skin, so I crossed my fingers and hoped it worked for scalp, too. Then I grabbed a new oil choice of mine - lemongrass essential oil.

Lemongrass oil is an anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal oil. This helps to heal and the scalp and, at this point, I wanted to try anything. Since neither the tea tree nor the peppermint oil was working, I did not use it in the mixture. I did not want any excessive build-up so I also decided to opt for one carrier oil which, of course, was Jamaican Black Castor oil. So I chose glycerine, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, lemongrass essential oil and rosemary oil for its scalp benefit. I shook the oils together with faith.

After two weeks, my scalp had cleared up. I did not use it as a hot oil treatment but as a daily treatment. I applied a small amount to my scalp daily and massaged it. By the third week, I moisturised my scalp with this mixture every other day and currently two to three times per week. I have not seen even a flake since.

Ingredients

1tbs glycerin

2 tbs Jamaican Black Castor Oil

15 drops lemongrass essential oil

10 drops rosemary essential oil

Directions:

Mix together and use sparingly. A little goes a far way.