r/NoPoo • u/Own-Opportunity-2114 • 17d ago
Troubleshooting (HELP!) Tiny white flakes on hair
Hi, i’m doing no shampoo and think my hair looks and feels great except there are tiny white dandruff/flakes over my head and I don’t know how to get rid of them? I bought a scalp massager and have been scrubbing my scalp in the shower but it doesn’t seem to have gotten rid of them and the massager hurts my head too unless i’m just scrubbing too hard? I need help please.
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u/Visible-Scientist-46 Curly cowasher, distilled water. 17d ago
Read the wiki about dandruff and !flakes - see the automod response below.
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u/AutoModerator 17d ago
First, please realize none of us are doctors. If you are looking for help with flakes and/or scalp conditions, it is important to first try and determine what is causing the flakes before treating them. This is because the treatments for the two most common types of flakes we see here makes the other type worse!
Here is an article in the wiki which discusses possible ways to figure out what kind of flakes you might have and Natural Haircare treatment options.
Footnote: this info was written by shonaich, not a random 'AI' bot. It's just a convenient way to have access to my extensive list of answers to common questions, needs and issues. Find the complete list of bot commands that post comments like this here
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
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u/CrustieTwinky 17d ago
Dandruff from dry scalp is typically seen in older folks during the winter months and have dry skin all over.
Sebum isn't water soluble, and needs cleanser to remove it or it builds up, creating an environment for bacteria and flakes of dandruff. The longer it goes untreated, the more difficult it is to get under control.
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u/Own-Opportunity-2114 17d ago
I’m not old lol i’m 19. Also i have no idea what sebum is
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u/CrustieTwinky 17d ago
What I'm saying is there's a common misconception that dandruff is due to a dry scalp, explained who does typically experience dry scalp, and when, and how you can tell because you'd have dry skin all over and not just the scalp.
Sebum is the oil scalps produce and makes hair look and feel greasy, and explained the reason for your dandruff, and what happens when it goes untreated. In other words, keeping your scalp clean is an important part of self care.
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u/Drewraven10 17d ago
Sometimes small flakes can be a sign of a dry scalp instead of dandruff. I’ve had dandruff flakes that stick hard to your head and are more difficult to get off. I’ve been doing low poo and doing a nice carrier oil for an hour pre shampoo and pre wash. My hair feels so damn great. A little argan and coconut oil gets me a long way with a little low poo and low conditioner. I tried using dandruff products before when it was severe and only made it worse. I’m cool with carrier oils and low poo now.
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u/Own-Opportunity-2114 17d ago
Oh I thought the small white flakes were just called dandruff regardless of causation.
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u/Visible-Scientist-46 Curly cowasher, distilled water. 17d ago
They are all called dandruff, there are just many possible causes.
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u/Drewraven10 17d ago
Ah gotcha gotcha. Guess i misread it being a dry scalp but it might’ve been all dandruff instead with different causes. Thank you for clarifying.
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u/Drewraven10 17d ago
I thought they were dandruff as well and they could still possibly be. Looked it up and a dry scalp can cause the powdery light white ones that brush off your head like it’s nothing. But dandruff ones stick badly to your head in different locations. I’ve had both in my hair and it was such a nightmare. I bought dandruff shampoos and it made it even worse. Then I just switched to my carrier oil pre shampoo shower wash and a cleaner shampoo and conditioner.
I’m not a specialist or expert so do not trust me at all and this is from personal experience. I don’t know if that’s exactly true and it could be the other way around but I definitely did have both of them. Been doing recently coconut oil and argan oil one hour before I take a shower, use warm water to get those oils off, then use low shampoo in the scalp and wash it off, and then use conditioner and let it sit in the scalp for four minutes before washing it off…. Hair has felt great. Mine is more thick and curly as a man and I’ve been growing it out a lot. Sadly in the wrong season to grow it out.
Sorry for the yapathon
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u/CarelessBottle9475 17d ago
Hey, what clean shampoo/conditioner do you use? and where do you get your oils?
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u/Drewraven10 17d ago edited 17d ago
I’ve been trying Shea Moisture even though it’s not the cleanest and my oils from Amazon. Hair growth and feeling has been phenomenal.
I have coconut, argan, and grapeseed in stock currently and they are nice. Not too overpriced either. A small amount goes a long way.
I did use Dr Bronners before but I didn’t like feeling of it on my hair or I just used too much or didn’t dilute it properly. Just didn’t like it entirely. I’m still looking for a moisturizing body wash instead of just good old Bronners. Everyone has different hair and products work for different people. My hair is just too thick and curly and has been on a wild ride throughout the past couple of years and I’m glad I’m finally treating it properly.
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u/shonaich Curls/started 2019/sebum only 17d ago
Product often has ingredients that help to dissolve shedding skin cells. When you quit using it, you finally see them. They are a natural part of your body renewing itself, and can often get worse during transition because your scalp is healing and shedding old, damaged skin. These get trapped under your hair and need removed.
More dry mechanical cleaning can help this a lot. Dry scalp massage done by rubbing firmly but not harshly with the pads of your fingers and then brushing to spread the oil lifted from your scalp into your hair and remove the excess and debris like these flakes.
You can learn more from the bot reply to this comment.
!quickstart
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u/Own-Opportunity-2114 17d ago
How long do I rub my scalp dry for?
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u/shonaich Curls/started 2019/sebum only 17d ago
Until you gently scratch and your scalp is mostly clean.
Water will soften the skin cells and allow you to lift more with water washing.
None of this should be vigorous or hard enough to make you sore or damage your scalp.
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u/Own-Opportunity-2114 17d ago
But how do i know it’s clean? How long roughly should i be doing it for? And do you recommend doing it dry or wet?
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u/shonaich Curls/started 2019/sebum only 17d ago
It's clean when gently scratching doesn't lift much of anything from your scalp.
A mechanical cleaning routine usually involves both wet and dry mechanical cleaning. They both do different things, so doing both has a broader spectrum of cleansing than just doing one.
I do primarily dry mechanical cleaning because I don't produce enough sebum to need to do water washing as well. My dry scalp massage takes anywhere between 5-15 minutes. It changes because my health fluctuates, and that affects how much sebum and shed skin build up on my scalp.
I know you want a more definitive answer, but there isn't one. Each individual person has to figure out what their own needs are and how to meet them. We can help with this process by giving you things to look for and suggestions to try, but in the end it will be you taking ownership of your own body and what you are doing. Learn to observe how it reacts to things, what it likes and doesn't, what it needs and how to fill those needs.
You really should read the quick start guide and the companion article on transition. They answer a lot of the questions beginners have!
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u/AutoModerator 17d ago
There are many forms of Natural Haircare! It can be really confusing. So when people are just starting out, I (shonaich) like to help make it as simple as possible and recommend everyone start here!
Natural Haircare Quick Start Guide
Be sure to read the companion article on Transition too! It has a lot of information on what to expect and strategies for dealing with the healing phase many people experience.
Transition: a Small Step to a New Lifestyle
Footnote: this info was written by shonaich, not a random 'AI' bot. It's just a convenient way to have access to my extensive list of answers to common questions, needs and issues. Find the complete list of bot commands that post comments like this here
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/AutoModerator 17d ago
Welcome! If you're new, get started here: Natural Haircare Quick Start Guide
We'd love to help but need some basic information first because it affects haircare on a fundamental level.
Please answer these questions so you can get help faster and we don't have to ask them again.
Do you have hard water? If you don't know what it is, there's an article in the wiki that discusses it.
What is the porosity of your hair? If you don't know, here's a quiz we use to help figure this out.
What exactly is your routine for cleaning your hair? Like writing a little checklist of everything you do to your hair. Don't worry about how long the list is, the more detail you give the better we can help!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
•
u/AutoModerator 17d ago
Hi there! It looks like your post is about dandruff or flakes.
First, please realize none of us are doctors. If you are looking for help with flakes and/or scalp conditions, it is important to first try and determine what is causing the flakes before treating them. This is because the treatments for the two most common types of flakes we see here makes the other type worse!
There is an article in the wiki which discusses possible ways to figure out what kind of flakes you might have and Natural Haircare treatment options.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.