Dandruff vs. Dry Scalp

I'm here to set the record straight, because people need to STOP diagnosing themselves with "dandruff." 

The technical term for dandruff is seborrheric dermatitis, and it basically causes redness and these nasty white to yellow patches of scales to occur on the scalp and/or inside the ear.  Because it is normally caused by overactive sebaceous [read: oil] glands, it tends to have an unpleasant odor, is somewhat tacky to the touch, and it's itchy.  I struggled with actual dandruff in my teens and it was embarrassing, but nevertheless easily treated.  Most cases are managed with shampoos found at your local drugstore; if you're a snob about professional-only products (like myself), quite a few lines have formulated their own remedies too - my favorite is Kenra Dandruff Shampoo & Conditioner. 

Dry scalp is a totally different beast.  It's usually caused by a change in the weather or climate OR your current hair products.  The majority of these cases fall into the first category, with an influx during the fall-to-winter transition.  My best advice is to: a) adjust your hair-washing regimen, moving towards products with moisturizing properties, and b) limit the number of times you shampoo during the week.  Both of these tips are a little scary at first, yes, but once you successfully adapt, your scalp will love you for it.  As I mentioned in my previous post, Sebastian Drench is my all-time favorite moisturizing shampoo and conditioner duo; because it is possible to over-moisturize your hair, it's a great idea to swap out your regular shampoo once every three to four washes.  Washing one's hair but once every two or three days is not only a fabulous way to kick dry scalp to the curb, but it's completely economical too.  If you have color-treated hair, you likely already know that shampooing strips the color molecules, regardless of whether or not it claims to be "color-safe."  Yes, some formulas are safer than others, but your beautiful new color is going to lose some of its vibrancy every single time you wash, end of story.  And then there's drying, straightening, curling... of course, the end-result is gorgeous, but how did you achieve your style?  With HEAT.  Heat damages the hair shaft, fades your color at a faster rate, and gives you those little beauties known as split ends. Let's review: warm/hot water and shampooing fades your color, the heat necessary to dry and style your wet hair not only further fades your color but damages your hair too, and the heat is generated by electricity that you also pay for. So, a trip to the salon for a fresh cut and color + your power bill = $$$.  By washing your hair every day, you are not only drying out your scalp, but you're costing yourself MONEY!  To wean yourself off of your once-a-day habit, try washing thoroughly on day one, and then pinning your hair up for your shower on day two.  If you find yourself to be far too oily for this extreme, wash your hair completely on day three, and then wash only your hairline on day four - play around with the combinations until you find one that suits you best.  In my aforementioned previous post, I told you that I wet my hair in the shower every day (unless I'm short on time and put it up to bathe), but only shampoo about three times weekly - this works well for me and may be comfortable for you too!  Like I said, experiment a little.  And don't be afraid of dry shampoo.  My favorite?  You guessed it... Kenra!

Weighing On My Mind

With the holidays upon us, I find myself shamelessly counting calories and trying to "be good" when it comes to the delicious delights of the season.  Now, I am not normally a calorie-counting girl and I rarely worry about food - if I realize I'm fluffier in areas that I once wasn't, I simply adjust my habits and see improvements.  At Christmastime, though, I become a version of myself I don't recognize; it's around this time every year that I break out my copy of Bethenny Frankel's "Naturally Thin: Unleash Your Skinnygirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting."  Now, if you watch a moderate amount of reality television and keep up with current events, much like myself, you know Bethenny Frankel used to be a star in Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise - she's also the owner of BethennyBakes, a health-food company, and the creator of the Skinnygirl line of alcoholic beverages. (She recently sold the brand for an undisclosed amount and landed herself on the cover of Forbes Magazine earlier this year.)  I believe whole-heartedly in everything Bethenny talks about in this book, so much so that when I lost my first copy, I ran out and bought a new one.  I have since found my old copy and keep both in a safe place, waiting to be lent out.

In this book, Bethenny clearly outlines "The Rules" by which she lives.  For instance, her first rule is to treat your diet as though it is a bank account; just because you splurged at some point in the day does not me all hope is lost, but that you must pick yourself up by the bootstraps and make better decisions for the day.  She goes on to list other things of importance, like paying attention - to how hungry you are before you begin eating, how delectable (or not) the food in front of you looks, how full you're getting as you eat, and how each bite tastes.  My favorite rule of hers, by far, is about knowing yourself.  Only you know what works in the way of your appetite & the manner in which your body breaks down food and stores fat; for me, personally, I can cut out most/all carbohydrates and see a marked difference.  I also know that if I am not hungry, I do not have to eat.  A big misconception that diet books circulate is that you absolutely must eat in order to keep your metabolism functioning at a proper rate.  This may be true for those who are constantly in motion throughout their workday and have set schedules, but my appetite varies with my level of activity. [*Disclaimer: I am in no way advocating skipping meals to drop a size, I am simply stating what works for me in the way of calorie-intake.]

In the colder months, I struggle with something else too: my hair!  In the transitional period between October and November, my scalp gets dramatic and behaves as though it's never been cared for, which couldn't be further from the truth.  I've learned to work with it though, and this year it seems we've come to an agreement much earlier than in past seasons.  My secret?  Using a moisturizing conditioner directly on the scalp in the areas giving me trouble.  In the winter, I like to wash my hair twice a week, but never, EVER more than thrice.  Before I went to hair school, the sheer thought of this absolutely mortified me - until, of course, I realized that this didn't mean I had to forego showering altogether.  If you can get away with not wetting your hair on the days you don't wash, more power to you, but my hair is fine and thin. (YIKES! Not words anyone likes to hear when it comes to their mane!)  Wetting it allows me to incorporate more product and rework my style. Voilà, bigger hair! 

Along with my misbehaving scalp, I have noticed that my hair loses a bit of its luster in the winter, and I am always looking for and trying out new products and ideas to combat this.  I take Biotin and fish oil capsules daily.  Biotin is a supplement designed to promote hair growth and nail strength, but visibility of the effects can take up to several months.  Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids which are thought to promote hair health & growth.  I use a moisturizing shampoo & conditioner called Drench as well as a volumizing shampoo & conditioner called Volupt, both by Sebastian - I use Drench Shampoo along my hairline and Volupt Shampoo at the crown, but stick to Drench conditioner during the superdry, cold months.

My next post will be ALL about hair, I promise!

Statement of Intentions

I'll start by saying that my name is Tiffany, and I am new to the blogosphere.  I've been told on numerous occasions over the years that I should begin a blog and have finally decided to give in.  I keep a journal of my own and am no stranger to writing, but I have never chronicled my thoughts and opinons for others to read, so this is all very exciting and new.

I will also take this opportunity to let you all know that I am a licensed cosmetologist and credit my schooling with most of my book-smarts, but not much else.  I have always had an affinity for knowledge in the way of hair, health, and beauty, and began amassing it well before I made the decision to go to cosmetology school.  That said, I have chosen not be a hairdresser; I am, however, a budding makeup artist, employed by a wonderful company that has a huge hand and a great many connections in the beauty industry. 

I plan to use this medium, as well as my YouTube channel, to further showcase my insight in the way of products, techniques, and overall passion.  I delight in learning and sharing my wisdom - if you have any questions, I am an open book.