Kendra was born and reared in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex area. After getting her certification from beauty school, she became a licensed trichologist, treating hair and scalp-related disorders and issues. She has almost thirty years of experience helping clients and wants to address some of the most common misconceptions people have about their scalp and hair health.
AMPS: Can you tell us a little about what you do?
Kendra: Well, I am a certified trichologist. I have extensively study disorders of the hair and scalp. I work with men, women, and children who are experiencing hair loss, hair breakage, thinning hair, dandruff, etc… I give people clarity, because most people don’t know why they are losing their hair or why they have a dry scalp. So, I talk to them about their situation so that they can get a little more understanding, which can help them get on the other side of what they are dealing with.
AMPS: How long have you been a healthy hair coach?
Kendra: Let me go back to how I ended up where I am today. I went to beauty school and got my license as a barber/ stylist. I’ve always wanted to help people and I have been in this business for twenty-eight years and about ten years ago, I started seeing more of my clients come through with hair issues.
AMPS: What would you tell someone who has dry scalp?
Kendra: A lot of people think that the issue is dry scalp, but it’s not. Most of the time it’s oily scalp, but the way that it presents itself is through buildup or overactive glands, so it starts to present itself as flakes on the scalp or scabs. A lot of people are treating it as dry scalp. So, if it’s oily and you are putting more oil on it because you think it’s dry, you are probably making the problem worse. First, you need to make sure that it is dry scalp. I would recommend the appropriate product, but if it is dry scalp, you need to look at your water intake. A lot of our scalp and hair issues start internally, so you need to make sure that you are properly hydrated. I would recommend fish oil because I look at it as an internal lubricant, and you want to make sure that you are using some type of product that has some type of moisture in it, like water, that will help us overcome this dry scape.
AMPS: Do you have any other tips or advice about the scalp?
Kendra: Regarding hair loss at the scalp for women and particularly African American women, if you are noticing burning, itching, pain, tenderness, or soreness in the top of the crown (in the top area of your head), you want to make sure to not let that go unattended. If you want to treat problems with your hair, you do not want to cover it up with wigs, weaves, or extensions. You really want to seek out a trichologist, or a medical professional that has a specialty in hair, because it could be a scarring or a permanent type of hair loss that is happening. When you are experiencing a lot of that, it’s due to inflammation, and when you are dealing with inflammation, you can lose your follicles, which makes it hard for the hair to grow back. If you notice any of these symptoms, make an appointment and get seen.