Never Suffer From Dandruff Again

You will never suffer from dandruff again, if you follow this simple advice.

Did you know that those troublesome flakes you see in your hair and on your shoulders from time to time is probably NOT dandruff? No! That’s Right. It’s far more common and far more likely to be caused by a dry scalp. Did you also know that treating dry scalp with dandruff shampoos can make it worse? No? Read on!

What is dandruff?

Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is not actually caused by the skin on your scalp becoming dry. Dandruff is actually caused by an excess of sebum which accumulates on the scalp and leads to an overgrowth of yeast and occasionally fungi. This causes skin cells to shed more frequently giving you that ‘fresh from a snowstorm’ look. Unlike dry scalp, dandruff has a yellowish tint and is greasy rather than dry and flaky.

What causes this excess sebum/dandruff?

Like many hair and skin issues, dandruff can be caused by a number of different things. There may be a physical cause such as poor nutrition (especially a diet too high in fat, sugar and/or starches), hormones, heredity and scalp sensitivity. Dandruff can also be a by-product of stress, being generally run down, infrequent hair washing and misuse or excessive use of styling products.

How is dandruff treated?

You would be familiar with the plethora of dandruff shampoos on the market. Well, these dandruff shampoos have some fairly strong medicated ingredients in them designed to sweep all the gunk from your scalp and inhibit regrowth of any nasties. These same ingredients will worsen a dry scalp so it’s always best to be sure what the cause of your shoulder snowstorm is before picking a treatment option.

A lot of people mistakenly believe that it is best to avoid shampooing often when dandruff is present, however, it’s actually the opposite! You need to keep the excess oil at bay so that yeast and fungi cannot proliferate. Washing every second day should be sufficient but if you’re noticing that your scalp still seems oily, it’s ok to wash every day with an anti-dandruff shampoo until the problem is back under control.

What is dry scalp?

Dry scalp is exactly what it sounds like. Dry skin can occur anywhere on the body, including your scalp! Dry scalp is likely to be itchy and the flakes smaller, whiter and more brittle than dandruff flakes. The scalp is also easily over looked when it comes to your sun protection regime which can lead to a peeling scalp – often mistaken and subsequently mistreated as dandruff.

When dandruff is not really dandruff

If your “dandruff” is really the result of a dry scalp, then there’s lots you can do. Did you know that dry scalp can be a contributing factor to hair loss – especially in women? So it pays dividends if you can get it under control.

1. Use conditioner from root to tip. A lot of people don’t condition the roots of their hair due to the misconception that this will make their hair appear greasy. A good quality conditioner (ideally organic) should not leave your hair in any way greasy when properly washed out. Make sure to massage the conditioner into the scalp to help avoid any dryness. And you thought your hairdresser gave you scalp massages because it felt amazing!
2. Massage an organic oil into your scalp and leave it in overnight. We recommend Carelli Recovery Oil, which, not only does a great moisturizing job on your scalp, but it also smells divine. Massage 1-2 squirts into your scalp the night before you intend to wash your hair.
3. Take care of your scalp in the sun. Make sure to wear a hat or keep your hair up to avoid a visible part. If you can’t do this, you can use a cotton bud to gently dab sunscreen on any areas of your scalp not adequately covered by hair.

Look after your scalp and you will have thicker, more manageable hair along with no more of that embarrassing snowstorm.