Tyra Banks is letting her hair down, literally, on the 5th Season of the Tyra Banks Show. “This season on The Tyra Show we’re taking it to the next level and getting more real than ever before by encouraging women everywhere to own and rock what they’ve got and be proud! For the Season 5 premiere, I will be doing just that – no fake hair, I’m rocking my REAL hair. This will all be going down on September 8, 2009, which we’re declaring National Real Hair Day! We welcome everyone to go natural with me!”

This is not the first time Tyra has addressed issues with natural hair for African American women. Last season she had a show called “What is Good Hair?” that grew national attention. Tyra spoke with black women to investigate the effects their hair has on their self-esteem. It looks like she is trying to build more confidence and self esteem in African American women by coming on her show with her real hair. I think it is a great start and I look forward to watching it!

I have met with a lot of women who have complained about dry scalp. But believe or not, dry scalp can often be the result of the hair care products or the implements we use rather than it being the true state of our hair. When we have hair problems, we usually try different products that we think may help to solve the issue, but it can be something as simple as changing the way we take care of our hair and scalp. Dry scalp may not really be dry but could be from over washing the hair or not rinsing it well enough. You could also be using products that contain extremely drying cleansing agents or using products that contain irritating plant extracts.

For women who have hair that is wavy, curly, coarse or kinky, treating dry scalp is easier than other hair types because it doesn’t become limp or heavy when you apply emollient conditioners.  With that being said, the best way to resolve dry scalp is to treat it as you would dry skin anywhere else on your body. This will be the only time I would recommend “greasing the scalp.” In my book Girl, Get Your Hair Back! I explain why not to do that. But for those who truly have dry scalp, use a lightweight moisturizer and apply it to your scalp.

Flaky, Dry Scalp
If the flaking you are experiencing isn’t related to dandruff or scalp dermatitis, then there can be other causes. It could be the buildup of styling products coming off in sheets. For this, all you would have to do is cut back on the amount of styling products and keep them away from the scalp. Apply a little moisturizer to the scalp and use a 2 in 1 shampoo. The shampoo avoids over conditioning normal hair but provides enough conditioner for the scalp.

A Trick for Itchy Dry Scalp
I have a girlfriend who is constantly scratching, slapping or beating her scalp because it is so itchy. You can treat your scalp as you do the rest of the skin on your body. Just by using a little over-the-counter cortisone cream and message it into the scalp should work just fine. My friend tried it and she said it works!

On May 12th, Tyra Banks brought to the light a serious topic  about hair in the African American Community.  She posed the question, Do you have that “good hair?”  And what is good hair?  As many of you have heard, good hair is hair that is not kinky, coarse or short.  This is a topic that I am glad is being brought to the fore front because this topic of good hair vs. bad hair effects African American women self- esteem and health.  If you haven’t seen the preview, click on the link below.

 What Is Good Hair?