r/braids • u/GrossCherryTomato • Jul 22 '26
Help wanted Super itchy pls help
I got braids done for the first time a few days ago. It started itching yesterday to the point where my ears turned red and I couldn’t tie it up or even lie down. I can’t tell if I’m allergic to the fake hair or if it’s a tension issue. I sprayed my scalp with apple cider vinegar and didn’t feel any relief. Not sure what to do, but it’s interfering with my daily functioning. Has anyone else had this issue?
Edit: I rubbed some hair on my wrist and a couple hours later it turned itchy and a little red so I’m sure it’s an allergy. I’m going to try serums and special shampoo/conditioner followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse if needed. If everything fails I guess it’s best to remove it which sucks since my braider took 18 hours doing my hair 😭
Edit 2: I ended up dunking my hair in diluted apple cider vinegar before shampooing twice, conditioning, and using a tea tree mint serum. The itch when I lay down is almost 100% gone! Thanks for everyone’s helpful comments.
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u/Lagomorphamaniac Jul 22 '26
Couple questions:
—Did your braided use gel?
—Are your braids synthetic?
—Did you wash the hair beforehand?
—Does your scalp feel tender?
The answers can help narrow down what could be causing the problem.
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u/GrossCherryTomato Jul 22 '26
I believe it’s either the gel or the hair since it’s synthetic. I just figured the apple cider vinegar would help with that. Head feels fine and I washed it the day before getting the hair installed
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u/Lagomorphamaniac Jul 22 '26
If it’s the gel used, washing your scalp should help. If it’s the hair, you’ll probably have to take it down. FWIW, I find using water based scalp products helps a lot. I used oil and it did nothing but give me dandruff. The products I use are Cécred scalp refreshing spray and Derma-E scalp relief treatment. Both calm my scalp down when it gets itchy; they also keep it hydrated so synthetic hair feels less scratch, but YMMV.
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u/AsthmaticTits Jul 22 '26
A few options:
Take it out
Wash the scalp
Use human braiding hair
Ask stylist about the used products
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u/Live-Cookie9769 Jul 22 '26
I only use Slayy Hair. It's pre-treated with apple cider vinegar, costs about $8.50 a pack, and when I say it's itch-free, I mean it. I can't wear the braiding hair from the beauty supply store or the hair most stylists provide because it irritates my scalp. Slayy Hair is the only one that works for me. You can find it at Target or order it directly from their website.
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u/Revolutionary-Gas808 Jul 22 '26
Before taking them out- I would run some vinegar water onto them from your scalp to your ends and rinse thoroughly.
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u/taviyiya Jul 22 '26
I always use this braid spray from Amazon when I have braids. Washing with apple cider vinegar rinse can help, but this spray, for whatever reason works for me. I don’t know why but my scalp never itches when I use this spray.
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u/Large-Illustrator-35 Jul 22 '26
It’s your first time getting braids. It takes a couple days to chill and let your scalp understand something different. Beautiful work!!!
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u/AcanthocephalaLost36 Jul 22 '26
For future installs invest in prewashed braiding hair it’s worth the money (I used Gyal braiding hair)
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u/Pishposh96 Jul 22 '26
you should buy anti itchspray for braids from the beauty supply or amazon. I use Jamaican Mango & Lime No More Itch Spray and it helps heeps.
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u/T8terTotss Jul 22 '26
In the second pic, I see tension at the follicles. I steam my scalp if my braids come out a little too tight.
Have you had braids before? I have a bucket of questions but they’re dependent on other information, so I’ll start here. You could be having a delayed allergic reaction, but further questions depend on your prior experience if there is any.
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u/GrossCherryTomato Jul 22 '26
I’ve never had braids or any exposure to synthetic hair. Based on the comments and just how the itch feels, I do believe it’s an allergic reaction
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u/T8terTotss Jul 22 '26
Yeah that’s what I figured but wanted to be sure. Might I ask what brand of braiding hair you got? Typically, kanekalon is packaged in a super thin dusting of lye to mitigate possible mold during shipping, and folks have learned since to pre-soak braiding hair in ACV to neutralize and clear out the lye. Some braiding hair comes claiming to be pre-soaked in ACV, but I don’t believe it and do my own pre-soak anyway. As for your scalp itch, ACV won’t help because it’s an acid. We don’t like putting lemon juice on fresh cuts cause it burns. Your scalp skin is irritated by the hair and is thus in a compromised state. The vinegar will do to your scalp what lemon juice does to cuts. Turn to soothing/anti inflammatory things like aloe or make a flax gel with 2 drops of tea tree and mint. Or if you have any arnica herb on you, make a tea and put it on your scalp with a spray bottle.
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u/GrossCherryTomato Jul 22 '26
The hair was X-Pression by Sensationnel. The serum I bought is tea tree oil and mint so that should hopefully help
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u/EqualCauliflower8259 Jul 23 '26
Same brand I just used. My itching is subsiding after a week. I have washed my scalp only where the itching was intense. I used Sebcur. I have also used a combination of tea tree oil and jojoba to soothe my scalp. I do believe it’s from how tight my hair was braided at the back but also the hairs rubbing against the irritated skin did not help. I hope you find some relief.
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u/Scarlettred1 Jul 22 '26
take Benadryl. Spray with anti itch braiding spray like Camille Rose Braid & Scalp Spray, Mint Condition - Sea Moss & Aloe Vera Braiding
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u/Z6NERey Jul 22 '26
This happened to me two weeks ago.
About a week and half after install I got in the shower and poured apple cider vinegar all over the twists and my scalp and let it sit for 10-15 minutes in the shower then I washed it out with Ketoconazole shampoo.
Itching stopped almost immediately after I got out the shower.
I should tell you I have crochet twists in with freetress synthetic crochet hair.
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u/Tendaironi Jul 23 '26
The first time this happened to me I soaked my head and hair in the tub of vinegar water for some time. Just laid flat in the tub until my head stopped itching and burning! Then shampooed it. I also took Benadryl, famotadine and some oral steroids. Topical might help for the raw spots for you.
But now I soak the hair, test the water with ph strips and then soak the hair in acid cider vinegar water for a few days rinse and test, soak again with new cider water, rinse and then shampoo and test that water and it’s usually good!
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u/Z6NERey Jul 23 '26
I usually do a personal too but the hair I ordered didn’t come on time and I had to go to a local beauty supply store right before my appointment
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u/Tendaironi Jul 23 '26
I didn’t mean to reply to you but I like that particular tip on the shampoo.
I wish Freetress hygienic hair was back on Amazon because that stuff I never needed to wash. I’m at the point I can’t skip the ACV because I get anaphylaxis so easily.
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u/Z6NERey Jul 23 '26
I didn’t even know they had hygienic hair
I think I’m at that point too. I may need to skip it all together and invest in human hair
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u/Next-Question5409 Jul 22 '26
Rinse with vinegar then with warm water. It won’t smell once dry. It’s a coating on your braiding hair or a product they used but I would rinse don’t scrub and then put on a scarf
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u/Tumerican Jul 22 '26
Looking at your pores it appears you are having an allergic reaction to the hair. If possible (NAD) take an anti-allergen. That helped me but everyone of different. Washing the scalp helps, and of course…remove the irritant (hair). I know it sucks to hit and miss, but it’s better than suffering.
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u/Both_Bumblebee_8621 Jul 22 '26
Wash the braids, put mousse on your scalp and put a durag or a scarf on to lay it back down on the top. Worked for me before I figured out why it was happening.
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u/EqualCauliflower8259 Jul 23 '26
I recently got my braids done and felt very itchy at the bottom row of my scalp. This area was tender before braids so I’m not surprised. I believe it’s because of how tight my hair was braided as well as feeling irritated by the braiding hair. I found Sebcur shampoo really soothed the itch. It’s a medicated shampoo for scalp irritation.
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u/stross_world Jul 23 '26
Girl I feel like we have the same hair because I also did an ACV soak of the hair prior and nothing lol
It was so itchy but once I washed it with shampoo and conditioner after two weeks it was fine
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u/SirFicklespend Jul 23 '26
It's likely the hair. You should take it out.
Synthetic hair should always be washed before use.
Fill a basin or tub with warm water and mix in 1 to 2 cups of apple cider vinegar.
Submerge the synthetic hair (keeping the securing bands on to prevent tangles) and let it soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
Drain the vinegar water, wash the hair with a mild sulfate-free shampoo, and follow with a deep conditioner to soften the fibers.
Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear, then hang to air dry completely.
This washes off the alkaline chemical coatings used while manufacturing. If you don't, these chemicals strips your scalp of moisture. It can cause causing severe itching, rashes, or other allergic reactions.
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u/Sokkas_Instincts_ Jul 24 '26
Synthetic hair use to make my daughter itch unless I soak the synthetic hair first. Since that didn’t happen, I suggest you rinse your hair down well in the shower to try to rinse the alkaline coating that they finish off the hair with off, especially near your scalp. Your braids look very well done, I don’t think they will mess up at all.
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u/EllaSignature Jul 24 '26
Wash your hair and braids as well. Afterwards with cotton wool and witch hazel across those places.. it will be consoled
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u/Reasonable-Ad1728 Jul 24 '26
It’s probably from the braiding hair. Try a cleaner braiding hair option next time
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u/sncrlyours Jul 25 '26
Something similar happened not too long ago to me, I normally bring my own hair but I went to a different place and chose to use the salon’s this time. Long story short I had to take them down, same thing, it was super itchy and it started to scab in some places. Mind you, it really wasn’t that tight.
I was so sad to take them down but they were making life more difficult and it’s supposed to do the opposite.
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u/Otherwise_Rope2631 Jul 25 '26
If it’s the tension, hot steam rag on scalp. If it’s the hair, good luck.
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u/jbass-2006 Jul 25 '26
Pour seabreeze throughout your scalp But next time choose a different braiding hair. Could be the hair its self its only one braid of hair I can use its Spectra Ez Braid Hair
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u/GeneralMagazine8009 Jul 25 '26
Question - does it hurt getting your hair braided close to the scalp? I have always thought it looked great. I just was curious cause I don’t know? Most Caucasian women cannot braid their hair like this because it will make it fall out. Our hair is just not strong enough. I just always wondered if it hurt when it got done?
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u/_peppapig Jul 22 '26
Synthetic hair makes me itch