Are you noticing a white buildup on your scalp? This small white flakes can be a frustrating issue, but you can eliminate them easily just taking care of your scalp properly.
This scalp condition is something that you should treat it as soon as you start noticing! If not you can clog your pores, which can lead you to hair loss or other conditions.
White buildup normally appears in your scalp if you have greasy hair and don’t wash your hair properly. The white flakes are oils, residues and products accumulated in your scalp. In most cases, the build up appears when you use products that are more nourishing than you need.
If you are experiencing build up in your scalp, don’t worry! This condition is simple to fix, you just need to learn how to take care of it.
What Causes White Buildup in Scalp?
There are several factors that can contribute to white buildup in the scalp.
The main cause for this condition to appear is because of oils accumulation in your scalp. This normally happens if your hair is greasy, and your daily shampoo is not strong to clean your hair properly.
That is when you start to accumulate small layers of oils and residues in your scalp that eventually creates a layer of white build up on it. That’s why as soon as you start noticing small residues of build-up in your scalp you should start treating it immediately.
Build-up can also happen if you use conditioning products to close to the scalp! That’s why is important that you learn how to use conditioner properly.
Besides having naturally greasy hair, the most common causes for build-up are:
- Styling products: If you use many styling products such as oils, hairsprays, leave-in conditioner, you can start accumulating those residues in your scalp.
- Not washing your hair properly: If you don’t clean your scalp properly every time that you wash your hair, or if you apply the conditioner too close to your roots you can also create build-up in your scalp.
- Medical conditions: If you suffer from seborrheic dermatitis you could have red, itchy patches in your scalp that looks like build-up. In this cases you need to check with your doctor as the solutions on this post don’t apply to this condition.
READ MORE >> How to tell if your hair is greasy
How to Get Rid of White Buildup in Scalp
As a professional hairdresser, I have seen build-up cases in my clients quite often. In 80% of the cases is just that their hair has not been cleaned up properly because their shampoo is too moisturising, or they have applied treatments too close to the scalp.
That’s why in most cases, a white build up in scalp is easy to fix! Unless you have a medical condition (in that case double check with your doctor), this are the best ways to get rid of build up in your scalp:
#1 Wash your hair properly
The best way to do it is to wash your hair two times (the first will eliminate excess of oils, and the second one will actually clean your hair), and then apply your conditioner far away from your scalp.
Also, try to avoid hot water as much as you can, as it makes the scalp more difficult to clean and stimulates greasy hair. A good idea is to use dry shampoo in between washes to make sure the oils in your scalp are under control.
#2 Use a Deep cleansing shampoo
If you want to get rid of white build-up in your scalp, is essential that you use a deep cleansing shampoo. This product will help you to remove effectively up to x3 more residues than a normal shampoo. Just be careful you don’t overuse it as it can make your hair dry.
In case of strong cleansing shampoos my advice is to use them once a week, and continue with your normal shampoo in between.
However, my best recommendation is that if you can use the Paul Mitchell Cleansing Shampoo every time that you wash your hair. This shampoo is specially design to clean your scalp properly at the same time that maintains your hair hydrated.
#3 Use a Hair Scrub
Another practical solution to remove the build up from your scalp is to use a hair scrub once every fortnight. Hair scrubs are amazing as they are going to deeply exfoliate your scalp and manually remove all the residues.
You can create your own scrub by adding brown sugar to your shampoo, or you can buy a professional scrub like the Nature Lab Scrub that will also help you to treat your scalp and detox your hair.
READ MORE >> Does greasy hair cause hair loss?
Preventing White Buildup in Scalp
If you don’t have white build up at the moment, I will strongly suggest you to take care of your scalp with these tips:
- Avoid using too much hair styling products.
- Wash your hair regularly with a gentle shampoo.
- Take care not to overuse hot styling tools like straighteners and curling irons.
- Eat a healthy diet that’s rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Use a humidifier if you live in a dry climate.
Prevention is always best, as it is easier to prevent that layer of residues from appearing that actually getting rid of it. Always give special attention to your scalp if your hair is greasy, since you will be more prone for build up to come out in your scalp, and oily hair can cause other scalp issues like dandruff or hair loss.
READ MORE >> Can greasy hair cause itchy scalp
Bottom Line
I know that having scalp issues can be a frustrating thing, but there are several ways to treat and prevent it. Specially if you suffer from oily hair, take care of your scalp because greasy hair is bad for your hair as it can lead to other scalp related issues.
And finally, it can be quite beneficial for you to learn how to remove hair build up regularly to make sure it doesn’t accumulate in your scalp!
Until next time.
