Dandruff Ruining Your Look? Try These Expert Tricks to Banish It
If you're wondering how to get rid of dandruff, know that you are not the only one being affected by the flakey condition.
As annoying as those white flecks are, they're also very common. In research undertaken by haircare people Philip Kingsley, results showed that nearly six in 10 British women say they've had a dandruff problem at some point in their lives.
Here's how to deal.
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How to get rid of dandruff, fast: expert tips
First off: when do you know that you're dealing with the condition?
A myth about dandruff is that it’s caused by dry skin but 'dandruff is almost always oily, and not dry,' explains Trichologist at Philip Kingsley, Anabel Kingsley.
'Dandruff flakes can also be slightly sticky and yellow in colour, whereas a dry scalp will produce dry and white flakes.'
It all depends on what's caused your dry scalp that can causes the shape of the flakes - super fine flakes is usually caused by overheating (turn your central heating down) or quite large flakes with hair sized holes in them is usually caused by sun exposure.
What causes dandruff?
Dandruff is thought to be caused by an overgrowth of the Malassezia yeast species on the scalp.
Another line of thought is that if you have dandruff, your scalp is overly sensitive to normal levels of yeast. In either case, it causes skin cells to divide too rapidly, resulting in tell-tale flakes and itching.
Our scalp is a living organism which means just like the rest of our body, it also sheds skin cells on our scalp and is constantly being shed and replaced. This is part of a normal cell turnover and you won’t notice it until you get dandruff – it's when the skill cells begin to divide too often for your liking.
Kingsley explains that 'dandruff is thought to be caused by an overgrowth of the Malassezia yeast species on the scalp'. Dandruff can also happen if your scalp is overly sensitive to normal levels of yeast.
How to get rid of dandruff permenantly
Wash your hair regularly – with the right products
'The yeast responsible for dandruff thrives in an oily environment, so an overly oily scalp can certainly cause greater disruption to your scalp’s microflora,' says Kingsley.
So try to find a balance by washing your hair two-three times a week to make sure your scalp is cleansed.
Try an antibacterial toner
An antibacterial toner may help cleanse your scalp too, ridding it of dirt and the build up of oil.
Try scalp massage
Not only do scalp massages feel so good (if you haven't had one in the bath recently, we recommended dropping everything on your desk and doing one right now) they can help your scalp become healthy again.
'A regular scalp massage and oil treatment is conducive to scalp health and overall hair condition', says Dr S Khan, a Hair Restoration Consultant for Kerluxe.
'It improves scalp exfoliation, cleansing the scalp of dead cells and pollutants, unclogging pores, improving circulation and nutrient absorption. It also reduces stress!'
By feeling good and in turn relieving your scalp of tension and stress, which is good for your hair health this is help your dandruff in the long term. If you want to combat your dandruff further, use a targeted scalp mask twice a week.
Don't brush out your dandruff
The tempting thing to do when you have dandruff is to comb or brush out all the white flakes in your hair, especially if your is dark.
'These can be quite abrasive and may damage the delicate tissue of your scalp. They may also pull out or damage the hair near your roots,' says Kingsley.
Instead, the trichologist recommends using the tips of your fingers and massage gently. 'I would also not recommend harsh scrubs with large particles – these too can abrade and irritate your scalp.
Gentle yet effective exfoliants like Betaine Salicylate, Salicylic, Lactic and Hyaluronic Acid are good options'.
Don't worry about using dry shampoo
There is a myth that dry shampoo is the cause of dandruff when in fact, not cleansing your hair properly and using dry shampoo as an alternative every day is the real cause of itching and irritation.
Get rid of dandruff permanently, by taking time to de-stress
Stress and tension can make your mind and body unhealthy and in turn, your scalp. It's important you find something that works for you whether that's yoga, pilates or mindfulness.
Your dandruff-free scalp will be grateful.
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