could homemade hairspray cause fungal infections?

[caedmyn]

I started making my own hairspray (just boiling a lemon in 2 c. of water until the water's reduced by half) about 8 months ago. I put a couple of ounces at a time in a little spray bottle and keep it in the medicine cabinet. I keep the rest in the fridge and refill the spray bottle from time to time. A couple of months after I started using the hairspray I started having problems with dandruff. I was also doing no-poo at the time and I thought that caused the dandruff, but I haven't done no-poo for several months, have been doing tea tree oil shampoo, and still have dandruff. In the last couple of months I've also been having problems with eyebrow dandruff and dry flaky skin on my forehead on by my ears--I think it's all fungal. Is there any way that the hairspray could have caused fungal problems since it doesn't have any preservatives and I don't refrigerate it?

[caedmyn]

bump

[JustKiya]

It's definitely possible. I always add TTO to my homemade hairsprays, just to be on the safe side as far as fungal stuff goes. I had the same flaky eyebrows/hairline/face issue, and managed to clean it up with an old school country remedy - PM me if you want to know about it....

[FluffiB]

I wouldn't be suprised if the hairspray caused it. Do you use tap water? If so, try using distilled water and making smaller batches. Even store-bought, bottled lemon juice has an expiration date, and they have preservatives in them. With any organic matter, I think the rule is 2 weeks before you need to pitch it. Maybe longer if kept in a frige, but I wouldn't go more than several weeks.

I had a little bit of dandruff (just on my scalp), and I found out that it can be caused by washing your scalp with an alkaline shampoo, or baking soda, in my case. Now, I mix equal parts of white vinegar with baking soda, let it fizz, and add enough water to make a cup of solution.

Lemon juice itself might be too irritating. I myself can't use it unless I rinse it out right away. My SIL and MIL can't use anything with lemon in it either - they dry out their skin.

[caedmyn]

I do use tap water (well water). Is there a preservative I could add to make the hairspray last longer? One of the reasons I like the homemade hairspray is because it's cheaper, but it won't be if I have to make it every couple of weeks.

The scalp dandruff started when I was doing no-poo with baking soda, but I've gone back to shampoo for several months and I still have dandruff occasionally. Maybe if I stop using the hairspray that will go away completely.

earthy--I think I'll have to get pretty desperate before I try that, but I'll keep it in mind if all else fails!

[FluffiB]

This site has some preservatives.
http://www.thesage.com/catalog/Additives.html

I'm not an expert, so you can contact them to find out which one you can use.

But wouldn't that negate the cost-saving and preservative-avoidance?

I'm just curious, why would it cost more to make less? Do you buy lemons in bulk? You can try freezing the juice. Or better yet, try freezing unused portions of the hairspray instead of just refrigerating them.

[caedmyn]

I only make a batch of hairspray (with one lemon) about every 2 months. The main reason I do it, besides avoidance of all the chemicals in regular hairspray, is because even "natural" hairsprays have a bunch of fragrances in them and my DD has problems with fragrances. I could try freezing the un-used parts, though, that's a good idea.