Dry Scalp Treatment - Superbalm Scalp Treatment by Lush

My husband suffers from a dry, itchy and flaky scalp so we're always on the lookout for serums or balms that may help alleviate it. We went to LUSH yesterday and I spotted their Superbalm Scalp Treatment and decided to splurge for it (it costs $19.95 for 1.5oz). LUSH is notoriously expensive so we only buy things that we think may be unique products. 

Dandruff can cause your scalp to be itchy and if you continuously scratch it vigorously, you can cause damage to your skin and follicles, so it's important to keep your skin moisturized and hydrated. Although this product seems small, it actually is quite a large amount considering how thick and richly moisturizing it is. You only need an extremely small, less than pea-sized amount to cover your whole scalp. You are meant to rub it into your scalp and leave it on for 20 minutes before showering, I presume this is because your hair can get greasy and it has a strong peppermint scent. This product seems to produce the best results when used daily.

The rationale for the ingredients used in this product, according to the website are as follows:

Chamomile blue oil: soothes irritated scalp, causes the blue tint of the balm

Lavender oil: has relaxing, soothing and cleansing qualities

Salicylic acid: active ingredient that treats skin/scalp and psoriasis to shed dead cells from the top layer by increasing the amount of moisture in the skin and dissolving the substance that makes the cells clump together, thereby decreasing scaling and dryness

Rose wax & essential oils: has natural and soothing properties which soothe very dry skin, it is very lipid rich and hydrates skin cells

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil: can reduce symptoms associated with psoriasis, eczema and helps restore natural balance to the skin - has softening properties due to the extra virgin oil used as a binder

Candelilla wax: substitute to beeswax, acts as a moisture barrier and enhance formula texture

Other ingredients are used for fragrance

So far my husband really likes this product, I think the smell can be considered strong but as long as you're using it at night, it shouldn't be that much of a problem. I'm happy that this is a mostly-natural product with salicylic acid being the active treatment ingredient. If you suffer from a dry scalp you should give this product a try, it has a very high positive response from customers and one container should last you 2-3 months (so if you break it down, it doesn't seem that expensive). 

Let me know if you have any other experiences with this or similar products.

Cleaning lint off your Hair Brush

Do you look at your brush and notice those pesky white buggers clinging on for dear life at the base of the bristles? Do you wonder if it's dandruff and, if so, what you should do about it? If you don't have a history of dandruff and it's not flaking all over your clothing, then don't worry, you don't have a severe case of dandruff. In reality, this is probably just some of your dead skin cells off your scalp, but mostly random lint that was stuck in your hair from your pillow or dust that has accumulated and gotten condensed and stuck down on your brush. This doesn't mean you have to throw away your brush either.

Some brushes we purchase can be extremely expensive, and if we were to throw them out every few weeks we got debris on them, we would be out a lot of money. So I'm going to give you a simple, yet effective, method for cleaning off your brushes completely; it involves a little bit of elbow grease and a basic solution.

- First, to get rid of the bulk of the debris, you should use a comb to take out any of the lint and hair from the bristles of the brush, all the way from the bottom to the top of the teeth. There are special combs designed for this purpose (such as the Scalpmaster Brush/Comb Cleaner) if you wish to purchase one.

- Then, you can either use a large bowl for this, or just simply the sink to fill about 3/4 of the way up and fill it with the hottest water you can get out of your tap. Pour some of your shampoo inside, about as much as you could fit in your palm and swish it around to make a lather, and do the same with about half a cup of distilled white vinegar (this is the regular, inexpensive vinegar).

- Place your hairbrush in the sink or bowl and let it sit there for about 15 minutes to soak so that your debris becomes moistened, softer, and easier to get rid of. After taking the brush out, use the comb again to remove what is left of the lint by pulling it the opposite way (pull it towards the base of the brush this time) because it will be on the top of the bristles.

You should do this every few weeks if you can, it will help get rid of all that stuff that makes your hair oily when you brush it, namely old gel residue, hair spray residue, flaked off skin cells and the oils from your hair that have accumulated on the brush. Try not to use the brush until it is fully dry because brushing your hair with a wet brush may cause it to cling to your hair and pull out pieces that should not have otherwise come out.

Remember to throw out your brush once the bristles start to break off or the protective covering fades away. You would be doing your scalp a favor because it would get irritated, red and the scratching could cause dandruff. If you maintain your brush by cleaning it and are not very aggressive, if it is of good quality, it could last for years. If you use a round brush while blow-drying your hair, you may want to keep in mind that the heat could degrade the quality of the plastic and you may have to replace it more often (as often as once a year).