11 Year Old Hair

Neutrogena T-Gel is what a dermatologist recommended to me around that age, and everyone in my family has used it ever since. When it is bad I use it every day, and when it isn't bothering me I use it every couple days or once a week.

I would recommend Nioxin or a medicated shampoo as well. I'm a stylist and if the dry flakes are little and white, that is simple dry scalp and you need to condition that area.

If she has flakes that are yellowy and greasy, that's dandruff and medicated shampoo should help. Head and Shoulders won't work.

I would try using Redken's Scalp Relief shampoo. A professional color specialist started me on this shampoo back in the 90's, and it has been wonderful to use 2-3 times a week. I don't have dandruff, but I do have oily hair and a scalp condition that produces tiny, red bumps that look like pimples - doctors don't know what causes it, but it happens in one's 40's and above. The shampoo also adds a lot of body to hair, especially if it is thin and will hold a curl much longer than any other shampoo I have used. Ulta stores run specials on Redken as does JC Penney, and you can get a great buy on their products. Get on Ulta's mailing list and you regularly get $3.50 off coupons with a minimum $10 purchase, or they are in the Sunday papers.

This may sound odd, but we resorted to Aloe. Buy the aloe gel in the purest form you can find it (I'm in Florida so they sell sun tan lotion and aloe just about everywhere year round-- or you can cut a leaf off of an aloe plant and use the sticky goo inside it). Go through her head bit by bit and use it VERY liberally. Have her leave it on for at least an hour or more (like in the evening when she is watching TV or doing homework or whatever). Then use Neutragena or another shampoo made to wash out residue to make sure you are really get her hair clean. Not sure what to do about oily hair, but the aloe will help her dry scalp in the most natural way without harsh chemicals from commercial products

When ever my son gets a little flaky on his scalp, I take 2 uncoated aspirin tablets, put a few drops of water on them till they fall apart. I then mix this in with the little bit of shampoo it takes to wash his hair, lather up his hair with it and let it sit for 5 or so minutes. Then rinse as normal. His scalp will stay flake free for a week or more.
Another thing you might try is after conditioning is rinsing with a little vinegar then rinse it out with water. (My hair is left very soft and shiny when I do this.)
Sometimes soap leaves our skin a little less acidic than it likes to be.
The salicylic acid (aspirin) and the vinegar help to normalize your skins PH level.

Try Nioxin. It is the only shampoo and conditioner that work for me. i have a very sensitive dry, itchy scalp with oily hair. Nioxin is the only shampoo I have ever found to alleviate the symptoms.

HI K.,

My 14 year old had the same problem. We found an herbal shampoo from an online shopping club that was the only thing that worked for her. She was so embarrassed by her oily hair and she hated the flakes. She's 5'10" so she's already self conscience about her size. Now she getting compliments all the time about her hair and it's reassured her that she's not this awkward kid.

M.

I know it may sound counter-intuitive... but maybe you should try olive oil on her scalp before she goes to bed. I would apply it with a q tip as to not get it all on the hair itself.
I believe the scalp will continue to over-produce oil until the dryness is over with.
The other thing you might try is... whichever product (shampoo) you decide to try, apply it about 15 min before her shower, directly to the scalp on her dry head, and let it sit.
Biolage dries my scalp out, too.
I hope she finds some relief...poor girl :(

You should try aveda scalp benefits. It seems to work on all my clients that complain about this same problem. There's also scalp remedy by aveda. It's a leave-in treatment. Good luck!

I swear by Arbonne's hair products. I would either try their shampoo and conditioner or the Baby Care Body and Hair Wash. It's very interesting that her scalp is so dry but the hair gets so oily. Perhaps one of these could help balance things.

Good luck,
L.

____@____.com

Sounds like an allergic reaction. Try getting organic shampoo and not adding conditioner near her scalp at all. I swear by Desert Essence Hair Care products. Their grape-scented one smells lovely. She may also have food allergies, especially if she has flaky eye brows or crusty rash in the creases behind he ears. The best way to find out is to get an IgA and IgE blood test to detect her food allergy antibodies. That cured me of at least 5 skin and digestive conditions, once I knew the cause. People are reacting to genetically modified corn more and more every day. Modified starch is in so many foods! Good luck and believe me, it would be well worth the slight discomfort and expense to find out for sure. God bless.

I don't know much about older kids, but could you do with her scalp like you would with a baby? Baby oil and then comb it and after I think two hours, wash it and see how it comes out? Just a question....let us know how it goes.

Arbonne Tea Tree shampoo and their regular conditioner is the combo my 12 yr.old daughter prefers. I'm sure my fellow consultant (in a previous reply) would be happy to help you. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Try Tea Tree Oil. There are shampoos that contain tea tree oil. You can get them in any store.

In addition to experimenting with different shampoos, I would make sure she's really exfoliating her scalp. I've found that using my boar bristle brush on my head (and my daughter's) really helps. Before washing, I just use the brush to really massage the scalp and loosen any dry skin. Really scrub it around there in different directions. Then when she washes her hair make sure she really pays attention to the scalp, loosening and rubbing it with her fingertips. And lastly, make sure the water pressure of the shower is strong enough to really cleanse and loosen any dry skin/shampoo residue from the scalp. Good luck!

Is her other skin dry or oily? Is she on any meds? Tea tree oil works well. Buy it in Walmart in the hair product section, it is very expensive in the health stores. Just put a drop on each finger and massage it into the scalp before bed.

My son had the same issue with his scalp at that age. Our pediatrician recommended Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo. It worked really well. I think kids that age use so much product in their hair and don't always rinse it very thoroughly. I hope this helps.