Let’s get straight to the point: dandruff is annoying. I know first hand how much it impacts your self-confidence and how darn stubborn it can be. But, instead of attacking your scalp further (with harsh products and resentment), adopting a softer approach and giving it a little extra TLC is the way to go. Kill it with kindness. Healthy, shiny hair (that’s flake-free) relies on a balanced scalp so it’s important to detoxify the skin, eliminating impurities and restoring hydration and oxygenation. We’ll talk you through it.
By Beth Ludolf
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1 Why do we get dandruff?
Why, oh why? Well, it’s basically when the cell turnover happens faster than normal. That could be because of a dry scalp, as a reaction to a certain product, washing your hair too often (yep, that’s a thing) or excessive sebum production. And, that’s without taking the fungus that naturally occurs on our scalp into account, that can cause irritation and speed up cell turnover for some people too.
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2 Try: a scalp scrub
Facial scrubs and body scrubs we’ve used hundreds of times, but a scalp scrub is our new thing. Exfoliating the scalp helps keep it balanced and nourished (a good environment for healthy hair growth). It stimulates circulation, removes dead skin cells and flakes and rids your hair of stubborn product build-up.
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3 How to use a scalp scrub
Don’t go reaching for your body scrub, you’ll need a fit-for-purpose product. If your scalp is generally quite oily, look for cleansing and detoxifying scrubs. If it’s more on the sensitive side, a soothing scrub is best. Don’t be too vigorous with your scrubbing either. If a scrub feels too abrasive, try a silicone scalp brush. It does the same job, just gentler.
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4 Can't I just use shampoo?
You’re thinking of how full your bathroom cupboard is, aren’t you? It’s definitely worth the shelf space (and the investment). Scrubs are made to exfoliate so are full of naturally exfoliating ingredients, shampoos are only made to cleanse. Plus, you’d have to be much more vigorous using just shampoo which would probably lead to some pretty bad breakage.
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5 How often should I use a scrub?
Try and stick to washing your hair no more than twice a week and add in the scrub once a week (or every other hair wash, if you’re following our schedule). Remember, washing your hair too often strips it of its natural oils and sets sebum production into overdrive which can cause dandruff. You can train it to need less-frequent washes though.
FAQs
What causes you to get dandruff on your scalp?
Dandruff happens when your scalp’s cell turnover increases faster than normal. This can be caused by a dry scalp, product reactions, washing your hair too often, or excessive sebum production. Naturally occurring fungus on the scalp can also trigger irritation and speed up cell turnover in some people.
How should you use a scalp scrub if you have dandruff?
Use a scalp scrub made specifically for the scalp rather than body scrubs. If your scalp is oily, go for cleansing and detoxifying scrubs; for sensitive scalps, opt for soothing scrubs. If scrubs feel too harsh, try a silicone scalp brush for gentler exfoliation.
Can you just use shampoo instead of a scalp scrub?
Shampoo cleanses but does not exfoliate like a scalp scrub. Scrubs are packed with naturally exfoliating ingredients to remove dead skin, flakes, and product build-up. Using only shampoo may make you scrub too aggressively, risking hair breakage.
How often should you use a scalp scrub for healthy hair?
You should add a scalp scrub once a week or every other hair wash if you wash your hair less frequently. It is important to wash your hair no more than twice a week to avoid stripping natural oils and causing increased sebum production, which can make dandruff worse.
Why is it important to detoxify and hydrate your scalp?
Detoxifying and hydrating your scalp helps keep it balanced and free from impurities. A healthy, balanced scalp is essential for shiny, flake-free hair and can improve overall hair growth and appearance.