No Flakes Here – How to Treat Dandruff

The only flakes I approve of on a daily basis are cornflakes. The dreaded white flakes in your hair and on your shoulders, your itchy scalp and and even itchy eyes when the flakes get in them are all signs of dandruff. The simple solution - dandruff shampoos! So why do so many women still have a dandruff problem? Keep reading to find out.

Dandruff shampoos are actually anti-fungal products. This is because your dandruff is most likely caused by a fungus on your scalp. Ewww! Yeah. I thought so too, but let's focus on the secret to getting rid of the nasty problem.

No one shampoo is the answer. You have to use them in rotation. I suggest switching shampoos every two weeks. Look at the active ingredient in the shampoo and buy two shampoos with different active ingredients.

My favorite dandruff shampoo is Nizoral (active ingredient - ketoconazole). It can be purchased over the counter and is very effective. I warn against using it on colour-treated hair however. You may experience some discolouration (as I learned the hard way when a portion of my light brown hair turned a odd shade of grey). My second favorite is Optimum Dandruff Solutions by Soft Sheen Carson (active ingredient - pyrithione zinc). I rotate these two shampoos and in 4-6 weeks, there are no signs that I ever had dandruff.

Dandruff does come back from time to time. Repeat the process mentioned above to remain dandruff-free.

Dandruff shampoos can be especially drying for natural haired women. How do you prevent the drying effects of dandruff shampoos? You don't. You deep condition. A deep moisturizing conditioner is a must after a dandruff shampoo wash but be sure to rinse it all out thoroughly from your scalp and hair. I suggest adding a moisturizing leave-in conditioner to the length of your hair regularly.



Tips!

1. Keep the shampoo on your scalp for about 5 minutes before rinsing it out so that the ingredient gets some time to work.
   
2. Focus on your scalp while washing instead of your strands. This will reduce the amount of moisture that is stripped from the length of your hair.
   
3. Don't over-saturate your scalp with moisturizing products. This only feeds the fungus that could be causing your dandruff. Remember, dandruff is not "dry scalp". Treating it as such will only intensify your problem.