AIBU to go to the hairdressers with a scaly scalp?

[Workyticket]

I'm getting married in July- desperately need a cut and colour but my scalp is crap

Tried all the shampoos (think I need a prescription one but cant get an appointment at the doctors)

I'm so embarrassed I've not been to the hairdressers for over a year

Will they hate working on my hair? It's not hideous but definitely noticeable up ose around my ears

@Iorderedyouapancake

If you haven’t already try cocois op- you can get it at the pharmacy or on Amazon - it’s amazing for scalp psoriasis in my experience

Completely agree with this. My son’s dermatologist prescribed it for his scalp psoriasis and it totally cleared it up. Give it a go OP.

I tried nizoral on my dd and it did nowt.

T-gel coal tar has absolutely 100% improves her scalp. She uses it a couple of times a week and her scalp is dry skin free.

It depends if it's psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis as to what will work. Present quite similar symptoms. Nizoral will help SD. Scalp psoriasis is better with Tgel. H&S is rubbish.
The Denman scalp brush in the shower helps too.

Nizoral is good, especially if your scalp is very itchy. Before I discovered that, the thing that got rid of 75% of flakes (in the short term) was massaging olive oil all over my scalp and leaving it on for 10 minutes or so.

You'll have to watch your hair 2 or 3 times in one sitting with a fairly strong shampoo to get it all out, ( don't do it a day or 2 before you go) but it was an absolute miracle worker for me.

That would explain why T-Gel was useless on my scalp (and yes, I used it for months and months and left it lathered on my scalp for a number of minutes before rinsing it out). If anything my scalp got worse - and definitely, the condition of my hair suffered

I've recently poured away the rest of the bottle

I have suffered from seborrheic dermatitis on my face in the past ( albeit years and years ago - but properly diagnosed by a dermatologist friend of my dad's) and intermittently since, so my scalp problem was probably the same.

Just to echo definitely try Nizoral. I used to have it by prescription but now just buy it in the supermarket. It is the only thing that works, now it is under control I just use it anytime it looks like a flare up is coming.

@prettybird Nizoral isn't much kinder to your hair but it will clear up the SD. I think you used to be able to buy a stronger one in the chemist but the normal one does me.
I can't let conditioner touch my scalp so use on lengths only and (I know S&B will shout) an oil after towel drying.

I posted up earlier that I'd found Nizoral effective - but what seems to be working for me just now ( and is good for my hair) is "ordinary" shampoo with a few drops of tea tree essential oil (just got a new bottle from Amazon: a whole £1.98 )

In fact, I'm currently letting the lather do its work on my hair while having a bath and MNing in the bath dh hates me using my phone in the bath

My hair and scalp have been in great condition ever since I started this regime. - whereas previously I'd claw out itchy chunks of skin stuck to my follicles

I found tar shampoo, nizoral, etc all absolutely awful for my sore scalp. Far too harsh, they just stripped the natural oils and made it flake more. They also turned my hair to straw. I was prescribed Dermax Shampoo by a dermatologist and I still buy it from the pharmacy occasionally if it flares up again.

I wouldn't be embarrassed about going to a hairdresser. If you have been before you could prewarn them. They might have good suggestions. I always go with clean hair so even if my scalp is a bit flaky my hair isn't greasy.

Weekly Nizoral washes keep my scalp happy. Once a month I leave it on as long as it says on the bottle.

Before, or if I have had a flare up I just mention to the hairdresser that its being a pain that week.

It's just expensive now you can't get Nizoral on prescription.

Have you had a patch test OP? I would be wary of putting colour on the scalp.
Have you spoken to a pharmacist? They may be able to advise.

That reminds me to buy some more Nizoral!

I used to be so embarrassed of my scalp until my hairdresser told me that she looks forward to my appointments so she can actually get use out of the expensive sensitive scalp shampoo she bought 😂

If it was psoriasis I would be worried about having a reaction to the colour, especially if you haven’t coloured before.

I suffer from a scaly scalp, and my scalp can feel irritated when I get a salon colour. My hair is VERY thick, I was always trying to leave it longer between washes (around 4-5 days) as I thought that would help the scaliness… turns out I need to wash it more often, as that actually makes it worse. I also make a point now of brushing it thoroughly morning and night (previously would have only given it a cursory brush as I hated the flakes so much), using a scalp scrub once a week and also take zinc and magnesium supplements which seem to help.

Most hairdressers won’t care, but if maybe mention it in advance/before they start just in case.

If it's SD, make sure you dry it properly as the fungus thrives in damp! Curly girl, plopping etc us no good

@Nohomemadecandles

If it's SD, make sure you dry it properly as the fungus thrives in damp! Curly girl, plopping etc us no good

Oh - I often don't dry my hair. I sometimes go to bed with it wet. My worst side is the side I sleep on - you may well have hit the nail on the head!

If the coal tar and other stuff doesn't work, try Capasal shampoo. I had it on prescription and then bought it over-the-counter (but not off-the-shelf). It's the only thing that's ever worked for my scalp.

Another vote for drying your scalp thoroughly with a hair dryer - this has made a big difference to me.

I often got a scaly, dry scalp because of psoriasis, which I also have on my arms and chest, and I find that the best thing that has helped is using a shampoo brush - it's a palm sized brush with silicone 'bristles' that I use when I apply my shampoo (just Google shampoo massage brush and you can get them for less than £5 on Amazon). If I am having a flare up then I use it with a prescription shampoo but even with just regular shampoo it has made a huge change.

Its great because it doesnt tangle my hair, no matter how vigorously I scrub, it really lathers the shampoo and it gets right into the roots. Since I started using it my scalp flakes have gone from huge, visible chunks of dry skin that would permanently be caught in my hair and sloughing off every time I touched my scalp to just occasional fine flakes if I properly rub/scratch my scalp.

I spoke to my dermatologist and they said that it probably helps because I have very thick but fine hair so, because there is so much of it, when I just use my fingers to massage the shampoo in it isn't getting right into the roots and so there is a constant build up of flakes that aren't being cleared out which then traps more oils/dirt which irritates me scalp and makes it worse. Meanwhile because the brush gets the shampoo right down to the roots it's actually removing the build up each time and stops all the oils/dirt being trapped against my scalp. In addition, because the brush also massages the scalp it encourages better circulation, stimulates the hair follicles and improves my scalp's general condition.

I've had psoriasis on my scalp for a long time, hated going to the hairdressers and had actually lost quite a lot of hair because of it. I'd tried all the medicinal shampoos and nothing ever shifted it.

About two years ago the hairdresser convinced me to buy one of their shampoos, I can't remember the name but do remember that quinoa featured in it. The psoriasis cleared.

I also never used to dry my hair as I thought that the hot air would aggravate my scalp more. Again this was not the case and I've found that fully drying my hair has improved my scalp and hair growth immeasurably.

My hairdresser was always very understanding and a decent hairdresser will be just as invested in the health of your scalp as they are in the finished style.