If you’ve never had dandruff well aren’t you the lucky flower.
Unfortunately 90% of people have in fact experienced dandruff at some point in their life.
So today’s post is dedicated to DANDRUFF.
I feel like I needed to really read this in high school. I legit had snowflakes falling out of my hair. Like seriously, I should have been called Kris Kringle.
Oh yes indeed, I’ve had dandruff before ( what up, 9th grade…( braces too ) ) so I figured today we’d just openly discuss the topic. IF YOU’VE HAD DANDRUFF BEFORE & cured it: help another TSC reader out, share your tips.
None of us bite.
{ more hair tips in The Skinny Confidential Book }
Ok, after some major dandruff discussion with Shawn ( who always does my hair, remember? ), we put together a list of tips for the babe who’s struggling with dandruff:
1.) First and foremost: EATING HEALTHY AKA WELLNESS!
What we put in our bodies reflects in our hair skin and nails ( you know this if you’ve read The Skinny Confidential Lifestyle Guide! ). Foods rich in zinc & Vitamin B6 are SUPER important for maintaining a healthy hair & scalp. DRINK so much water, hydration is key, especially with fighting things like dandruff.
No surprise here: stress can have a HUGE impact too so make sure to sweat it out, drink some tea, & keep your cool.
2.) PICK THE RIGHT SHAMPS & CONDITIONER. This is so important.
Recently we were introduced to CLEAR Complete Scalp Care Anti-Dandruff Conditioner and the Complete Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. They go together like two peas in a pod. Using the shampoo PLUS the conditioner makes all the difference for battling dandruff— the duo is proven to help eliminate dandruff symptoms with regular use, so you can say BUH-BYE to any pesky flakes!
Here’s why we like it guys: it’s a super nourishing & effective remedy for dry scalp. Plus it’s infused with fresh cumber & mint.
( Note: I used it the other day & it left my hair silky, sexy, & smooth…without the flakes ).
3.) Don’t over wash! There is absolutely NO need to wash your hair everyday. UMM hello, we know Lauryn rarely ( like never, never ) washes her hair!
Excessive shampooing, especially with harsher chemicals can irritate the scalp & dry it out which causes more dandruff. When washing with an anti-dandruff shampoo make sure to leave it on for at least 5 mins the first few times so it really has time to work.
Oh! & brushing your hair right out of the shower will help distribute the oil that is naturally occurring in your scalp.
YES!
4.) Although it is tempting, do not pick at your scalp! This causes soreness & irritations which can cause MORE ( yes, MORE ) dandruff.
( Eer, I always pick my scalp when I’m nervous! ).
Instead, after washing, apply tea tree oil to your scalp to help with the oils. You can take a fine toothed comb to get some of the flakes out without irritating your scalp. A coconut oil hair mask is always fun too. Just add raw coconut oil to your hair after you shampoo & condition, leave the oil in your hair overnight ( bun-style ), & wash it out with cold water the next morning!
5.) There IS a difference between dandruff & dry scalp.
Dandruff is the shedding of dead skin cells or sometimes an infection & typically diagnosed by a dermatologist or a doctor. It can be caused also by extreme heat or cold. Dry scalp is more a flaky texture that is caused by dehydration, over washing of hair and using poor quality products. Most of the times it’s due to TOO much oil.
Regardless make SURE you clean your brushes & combs on the regular!
{ come hang on Snapchat for more hair tips! }
So there you have it, DANDRUFF 101. Who would have thought there was so much to freaking dandruff?! All of these tips & tricks should keep you flake-free in no time. Just eat healthy, drink a lot of water, maintain a stress-free-ISH environment use the right products, & don’t over-wash!
Weigh in: have you had dandruff? If so, tips?
Please, please, please let me know below what sort of embarrassing topic you want to discuss next? I’m game for anything.
Ok, off to watch Vanderpump Rules with some magnesium tea! Gotta keep my stress down to avoid dandruff…
xx, lauryn
+ to book with Shawn, contact her via Instagram | striped shirt avail here.
++ this post is in collaboration with CLEAR, as always all opinions are my own.
{ photos }
Dandruff is definitely not from dry scalp. It’s actually due to too much oil. I’ve always had dandruff and I’ve found if I skip washing my hair too often and dry shampoo too much, my dandruff only gets worse. I haven’t found support for this online, but it seems like dry shampoo only further clogs what’s going on around the hair follicle and makes my dandruff worse. I would think dryness and flaking on the scalp could be eczema related.
Generally speaking, I have my dandruff under control. I use Neutrogena T-Gel – worth every penny! I also alternate with Nizoral which I’ve found is the best combination. I swear by them both and my family loves them too. I also try to really massage it in.. everyone benefits from a scalp massage anyway. And then like the directions say, I try to leave it on as long as I can so the medicated shampoo can do its magic. I’ve generally found that if I just shampoo first, leave it in, and do my other business, that’s long enough. What’s a bummer is it takes a while if you want to do that and deep condition. The things we do to stay beautiful..
BTW Lauren, the new website design looks great. I just wanted to give some feedback.. in typing this long comment, it’s kind of difficult to read all this text in the text box while it’s italic. I don’t want to sound like a grandma but I zoomed in my browser and it’s still hurting my eyes. Idk how it looks on mobile.
Yes exact same with me. Whenever I go longer than 3 days without shampooing (while using dry shampoo every day), that’s when I get bad dandruff problems and very itchy scalp. I tried for a long time to only wash every 4 days or so since I’ve read so many great things about doing that, but as soon as I started going back to shampooing every 2/3 days and using Head & Shoulders once (I know, it’s not good for your hair), the problem has been reversed.
Oh yes! I have it in the winter…especially when I don’t wash often. I love Clear! I use it in every couple of months when I need some help!
I find that if I scratch my scalp too much then I get dandruff, but if I don’t touch it then my scalp gets much healthier
I love that you made healthy eating the number one tip for combating dandruff! So many people attack the problem without finding out the underlying cause. Great post, as always! 🙂
Also, my request for an embarrassing post topic is stinky shoes–especially ballet flats!
Hi Lauryn!!
Ok so the first thing I want to say is that dandruff (or dry scalp depending on what definition you or your stylist prefers) can be several things and first attempts should treat the symptoms–if that doesn’t work then go to a dermatologist.
I’ve used various products over the years–my mom used to tell me that I wasn’t using my conditioner correctly and that caused my dandruff. For most of high school I used Neutrogena T gel shampoo and conditioner every other wash. It didn’t always work, so I wrote my mom off as annoyingly wrong.
Oh silly me…..my current stylist had has clearly corrected me (and confirmed my mother was mostly correct). We were prepping my hair for bleaching and pink dye and my stylist was all “…where is this dandruff coming from, you haven’t had this before?!” I told her I’d had it in high school, what my mom said about conditioner, and that it had started back up while I was testing dry shampoos for the coloring. I told her I’d been using the Lush solid shampoo for dandruff and the Nature’s Gate Tea Tree Oil shampoo (I was trying the natural route) and minimal conditioner and it wasn’t helping.
She told me this : that my “dandruff was being caused by buildup on my scalp, I have naturally oily skin, plus new products plus going several days between washes and getting sweaty PLUS not actually washing my scalp when I wash my hair led to buildup and clogging causing itchy flakey gross. But definitely not dry.
So now I still use the Tea Tree shampoo (seriously smells so good) every other time I wash (so every 8 days-I go 4 between washes) and I make sure I scrub my scalp, not with the nails, but like they do in the salon, with the fingerpads. And I make sure I use conditiner only on the ends, I dont go up past my neck to have one less product on my scalp.
So maybe not everyone’s dandruff is this, but if you have oily skin, or sweat a lot–definitely consider product buildup on your scalp first.
Thank god I don’t have dandruff to add onto my list of hair ailments.
But this just shows how our exterior is totally affected by our interior.
I’ve been loving the benefits of taking B complex lately. It really is a super vitamin.
xx
The photos in this post are so pretty! Props to your photog 🙂
xx, Nicole @ http://simply-nicole.com
Hey! Thanks for this post, I have the worst dandruff in winter sometimes! Sorry I haven’t been so active on your blog lately – I’ve been super busy. A friend and I created an app called Watcher, it’s a safety app for people who are afraid to walk home alone at night. Through some terrible experiences of my own (http://danikamaia.com/watcher-safety-app) I’ve learned you can never be too cautious and I’m super excited to share this new project! If you’ve ever been scared walking home alone at night, I’d love if you could help me in spreading the word about Watcher so we can build a community of people looking out for each other.
Best,
Danika
http://www.danikamaia.com
I just looooooooved the new version of TSC. like, seriously. your hard work was super hiper ultra worth it!!!
I loved the video with Garyvee, loved the way you dominate the whole conversation, I learned a lot just from watching your body language.
I love all your book tips that’s why I can’t wait to read the #askgaryvee book, I’ve already read the “crush it” book (((I sent you a snapchat photo of me reading it and you quickly answered it – I loved the *attention* and loved to see how this engaging thing that Garyvee told us really work. I mean, if I could, I would reply everysnap, comment on every photo, but I don’t wanna sound like creepy. I mean, I already nominated myself as creepy brazilian fan. hehe.)))
As I was saying, I can’t read to it but it will have to wait because I got a big line of books on my desk (all of them are you&michael tips). Btw, can you please stop recommending books? I don’t think my budget can’t handle all of this books. Just a joke – obviously – I love the fact that you’re giving book tips, this is SO important.
Well, I actually don’t have anything to say about the dandruff post because I never had this kind of trouble in my life, but I enjoyed to read it anyway, I like the way you’re willing to talk about literally anything. I love that we can be so open about everything here.
I guess that’s ittt….
keep going girrrrllll, don’t you dare stopping now that we all got so addicted to everything you have to say!!!!
I just love your hair color it’s amazing but yes dandruff is a huge problem that can usually be solved by the inside wellness also I’m the same with washing my hair! Sending love
I have been pre-treating my scalp with organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar for over a year and it works miracles. Massage it into your scalp and let it sit for about 20 minutes before washing it out. It kills the itch and definitely helps to prevent flakes. It is well worth the extra time and leaves my hair feeling super clean without being stripped or overly dry
Your hair looks great!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
For any TSC readers who have tried just about everything (head & shoulders, seldom blue, t-gel, tea tree oil shampoos, tea tree oil and coconut masks, etc.) for their dandruff like I have without results, try Jason Natural
DANDRUFF RELIEF!
It was pretty pricy at Whole Body ($15!), but is the only thing that has consistently worked for my severe dandruff. I think it might be sold at stores like Walmart now for half the price.
I wash my hair every other day or so and have been using it for about 5 months flake free. I hope it helps someone else out there! 🙂
Thanks for this Lauryn! I suffer from dandruff when I’m stressed, and completely agree about the diet aspect.
I LOVE your striped top! Such a flattering piece <3
BlondieInTheCity.com
I’m not sure if you have already discussed this embarrassing topic, but… what’s more embarrassing than discharge??? Would love to see a post about this. Thanks girl.
That’s not the most unglamorous thing ever, but something that we have to deal with everyday :
Stress. It’s quite annoying that people say: stress is bad for your hair, your tummy, your bitten nails… But, it’s part of your everyday life (college, for some myself included), work.
It could be interested to speak about the ways to reduce stress and anxiety, deal with it, share tips (like essential oils, music, meditation maybe…), and most of all accept it.
Thanks a lot !
Kisses from France 🙂
I completely agree! When I am stressed, I feel I have a lot more itching and dandruff…
You could also talk of the big big issue of having big boobs and liking fashion. You’re not able to wear comfy sweat-shirts, high collars or simple shirts ? Some advices on flattering clothes for normal size breasts, and not child ones like we see on adverts ?
Lauryn,
I absolutely LOVE your blog and have been a reader for years but never commented. Here’s my question and what I think would be a great blog post. How can a girl get away with not washing her hair everyday if she is at the gym everyday? I have a lot of hair that I have to have styled for work each day (think blow dry, straighten then curl = lots of damage) I haven’t figured out a way to get away with not washing my hair everyday (or even every other day) when I work out because unfortunately, I sweat, and then it feels like it becomes a greasy/build up situation which I can’t handle and then end up washing/creating more damage to my hair. What has worked for you? I would love to be able to not wash my hair more often to save time and prevent damage…
Great question. I will do a full blog post on it. It’s kind of gross what I do haha.
For Me, Aloe Vera also plays a vital character in promoting healthy hair growth. Certain enzymes present in aloe Vera such as proteolitic enzymes take off dead skin cells from the scalp so that the hair cells don’t remain blocked. aloe Vera features properties like alkalizing which promote to cleanse pores and balance your pH levels.
Applying natural aloe Vera gel on scalp of hair is one of the best ways to prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.
Oh gosh! This post is brilliant! I had no idea shampoo could do all this! Thank you sharing!
recently read a blog on hair fall and dandruff..it was really a good and informative blog…
here i am sharing a link hopefully it will be a good reading for u guys.
Hi, Great tips and helpful as well
Great tips.. Very useful.
This is very informative and useful information. Dandruff is the most irritating problem in winter season. its look like snowfall from the hair. Eat healthy, drink Plenty of water, drink ravya turmeric milk , maintain a stress-free-ISH environment use the right products, don’t over-wash can help to moisturized our scalp and remove dandruff.
Very informative article. Most of the people struggle with a variety of hair problems such as hair fall, itchy scalp, dry flakes, dandruff or other serious hair issues. These tips are very helpful for healthy hair care routine. Thanks for sharing and keep guiding us.
Thank you very much for commenting. Stay with us.
Thank you Lauyrn for sharing great tips about dandruff. Sometimes oily skin is the reason behind dandruff . I was having the same problem of dandruff But i started using lotion and shampoo. it gives me a very good result with in just 12 Days.
This is a great article for dandruff and dry scalp. Thanks for this greatest article.
thank you for giving me wonderful information
Frankly, I’m one of that 90 % of people! I do agree with your article. By the way, you did a great job, I got a lot of information from your article. Just noted. Thanks and carry on!
thank you for your feedback!! xoxo
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