Is It just a Dry Scalp?

1. Is It just a Dry Scalp? Or is it More? Based on the Paper “Oils, Oils, and More Oils” by Amanda White

2. Which combination of oils work best to fight dandruff in African hair?

3. No Need to Be Ashamed While some of the blame is in your hands, most of it isn’t. The Culprit is...

4. Image courtesy of http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/16308/1/1/how-to-draw-fungus,-fungus-from-monsters-university.htm Not Actual Portrayal Malassezia

5. What is this Monster? • Malassezia, the yeast like fungus. (Under a Microscope) • Different types are practically everywhere

6. This is Malassezia on Skin

7. This special fungus can infect you in more ways than one! But still don’t worry

8. It’s mostly harmless! Except to your ego and self esteem...

9. Pityriasis versicolor “Malassezia develop filaments and cause damage in the stratum corneum through tissue invasion, dyspigmentation and minor inflammation” - R. J. Hay, British Journal of Dermatology Image courtesy of http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10570.x/full

10. Common, harmless, scaling rash affects the face, scalp and other areas on the torso. Image courtesy of from http://www.onlinedermclinic.com/archive/seborrheic-dermatitis Image courtesy of http://www.drugs.com/health-guide/seborrheic-dermatitis.html Seborrhoeic dermatitis

11. Scientifically Speaking • Malassezia lives off the lipids that sit right beneath the epidermis. • It “feeds” on them within the dermis which causes more cells to become dry. • When the “feeding is complete” the cells become part of the epidermis, thus... Image courtesy of http://actasdermo.org/en/basic-concepts-in-skin-biopsy-/articulo/S157821901200056X/

12. Dandruff When they become dry you get results like this. (The common uninflamed form of seborrhoeic dermatitis is commonly called dandruff.) Image Courtesy of http://thesizzlingmommy.com/2013/02/dealing-dandruff.html

13. Preliminary My hair is Relaxed or Chemically Altered as seen to the right. Technically speaking, we still have the same hair. Image courtesy of http://www.curlynikki.com/2014/03/nika-is-naturally-glam.html

14. A Quick Interview 30+ Years of Experience Clients are Regulars “I take of her clients who are regulars, but a few [non regulars] I highly recommend a hot oil treatment. Do not to use dandruff shampoo. They can irritate [the scalp] and create more [dandruff] and dry out the hair. You need to drink lots of water. […] If it gets too bad, I refer them to a doctor.” Angie Fox, Professional Beautician

15. Internet Professional Self Diagnosis Time! Mild Pityriasis versicolor Dandruff • Mild Seborrheic dermatitis

16. Heat Protecting Spray Argan Oil Hydrating Hair Mask Argan Oil Daily Oil Spray Silk Elements with Olive Oil & Silk Protein Shampoo and Conditioner Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner Spectrum Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Also,One Flat Iron and 2 Curling Irons Supplies

17. My Usual Routine Weekly: • Wash • Condition • Rinse • Dry • Flat Iron

18. For This Experiment • Wash • Oil • Air Dry • Wash • Condition • Sit for hours • Rinse • Air Dry Optional but Discouraged: Ironing

19. Wash 1 Conducted on March 8th • Only Shampoo was applied, conditioner was not. • Coconut Oil was applied to the scalp and hair, left to dry, no extra rinse. Results: • Hair was still wet for the next two days • Dryness and immediate dandruff return (In non-wet parts)

20. Wash 2 Conducted March 10th • Shampoo and Conditioner were used • Coconut Oil and Argan Oil applied, let sit • Extra Rinse hours later Results • No dryness until about Seven days later. Actually felt a bit greasy • No immediate dandruff, but built up over time • Stopped washing hair so often after interview with Ms. Fox

21. Wash 3 March 20th • Shampoo and Conditioner applied • Coconut and Argan Oil mask • Extra Rinse after a few hours Results: • No dryness, until after a few days • a little bit of dandruff From here on out, I decide to follow steps from Wash 2 with minor variations

22. Wash 4 March 27th • Hair was rinsed before the application of shampoo. • All secondary products (conditioner, Coconut oil, etc.) • were mixed together before applying • Mixture was left on for about five hours before rinse Results • Hair was well moisturized until it was flat ironed. A little bit of dandruff at the front of the scalp.

23. Wash 5 March 30th • Shampoo applied before wetting hair. Slight ammount of water added after. • Worked into scalp for roughly ten minutes before rinse. • Coconut oil applied to scalp, a mixture of Argan Oiland conditioner applied to ends and hair shafts. • Set for three hours befor rinse • Results: • Hair Relatively dry, a little bit of dandruff sitting in hair.

24. What I learned • Malassezia is everywhere! • For hair to grow, it needs to be clean but also have enough oils. Washing too often is a forbidden action as that can dry out the scalp and hair more. • With the right combination of time and oils, dandruff can be held at bay for at the most five days. (As seen in Wash 2)

25. References Walton N. (2011)[Comparison Photo] Retrieved March, 27, 2014, from: http://www.curlynikki.com/2014/03/nika-is-naturally-glam.html [Untitled Photograph of a man’s face affect by seborrheic dermatitis] Retrieved March, 26, 2014, from: http://www.drugs.com/health-guide/seborrheic-dermatitis.html Dr_fomsky(doctor and blogger) (2013) No Title [Photograph] Retrieved March, 26, 2014, from: http://thesizzlingmommy.com/2013/02/dealing-dandruff.html Dawn (online artist) (2013) Fungus from Monsters University [Drawing] Retrieved March 26, 2014, from: http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/16308/1/1/how-to-draw-fungus,-fungus-from-monsters-university.htm Hay, R. J. (Dermatologist) (2011) Figure 2. [Photograph] Retrieved March, 10, 2014, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10570.x/full [Photograph of the side of a bald man’s head with seborrheic dermatitis] Retrieved March, 26, 2014, from http://www.onlinedermclinic.com/archive/seborrheic-dermatitis Llamas-Velasco M. (Dermatologist) (2012) Figure 10 [Microscopic Photograph] Retrieved on March, 27, 2014, from: http://actasdermo.org/en/basic-concepts-in-skin-biopsy-/articulo/S157821901200056X/ McGinnis M. (Dermatologist) (2000) [Malassezia Cluster Microscopic photograph] [Malassezia on Skin microscopic photograph] Retrieved March, 27, 2014, from: http://www.doctorfungus.org/thefungi/malassezia.php