You love your wig or your fresh install, but by day three your scalp is on fire. Patting your head with a comb through the weave is not a solution. Here are the five causes we see most often, and what to do about each.
1. Sweat and heat with nowhere to go
A cap, a closure and a full head of hair trap heat and moisture. Sweat dries on the scalp, salt irritates it, and the itch begins. Choose breathable caps, take your wig off at night, and let your scalp breathe for at least a few hours a day.
2. Product build-up
Gels, edge control, oils and leave-ins pile up on a scalp that is not washed for weeks. Bacteria and yeast feed on that build-up. The result is itching, sometimes flaking and odour. Your scalp needs to be cleansed even when your hair is in a protective style: a diluted clarifying wash or a scalp-only cleanse every one to two weeks makes a real difference.
3. A scalp that is too dry
The opposite problem: braids that pull, a cap that rubs, and no moisture at all. The scalp tightens, flakes and itches. A light scalp oil or a soothing lotion applied directly to the skin, not on the hair, calms it down.
4. Tension
Braids or a sew-in that are too tight cause inflammation. That inflammation itches before it hurts. If the itch sits along the hairline or at the nape and started right after the install, tension is the likely cause. Loosen or take it down: this is how traction alopecia starts.
5. An actual scalp condition
Seborrheic dermatitis, fungal infections and psoriasis all love a warm, covered scalp. If the itch comes with thick yellow flakes, red patches, sores or a bad smell, it is time to look closer, and sometimes to see a doctor.
How we help
During a diagnosis we look at your scalp under and around your style, identify which of these causes is at play (it is often two at once), and set up a routine you can follow with your wig or weave on. We also tell you which products from our shop suit your scalp, and which ones you should buy elsewhere.
See our trichology service or book your diagnosis on WhatsApp.
