Are You Confused About the Right Way to Handle Dandruff?

As upsetting as dandruff can be, it can be corrected simply enough. All it takes is understanding the condition and taking the proper steps.

Dandruff can be an embarrassing problem.  This condition happens because the skin on your scalp is constantly renewing itself and shedding.   It is when those dead cells become trapped and mix with hair oil that it triggers the yeast-like fungus known as malassezia, causing seborrheic dermatitis.
Before you rush to the drug store, you need to figure out if you have a true case of actual dandruff or just a side effect from styling products.  Making that determination is easy because real dandruff is white and a thicker texture than the clearer variety of what may fall to your shoulders from products.  

If you find those styling products are the probable cause, trying a clarifying shampoo could help.  Then again, you could have an allergy from anything in your hair products, especially fragrance that cause that contact dermatitis and dandruff.  Switching to a non-scented line or just a different brand of hair care product could simply fix this.  Actual dandruff needs active ingredients in the shampoo to be effective.  

If you were planning on also coloring your hair, you should keep the following in mind. Dandruff can also become more severe since the chemicals in hair color can effect the scalp’s healthy bacteria.  A better idea is to try to rectify the condition first.

The real trick when considering a dandruff shampoo formula is figuring out which dandruff ingredients can best work for the severity of your problem.  If you have severe dandruff and non-colored treated hair, look for selenium sulfide and ketoconazole.  Look for ones with coal tar when there is lots of flaking involved.   

Those with milder dandruff would be happier with zinc pyrithione, salicylic acids, or a natural antifungal agent like tea tree oil over the stronger  formulations that can overly dry the hair.

Remember that if you don’t see any progress after several weeks of using those dandruff shampoos, you should make an appointment with a dermatologist.

Fortunately, those white flakes tend to improve somewhat in the summer because sun exposure is capable of inhibiting the fungus responsible.  

An Unexpected Home Remedy to Do Away With Dandruff!

If you suddenly discovered a few flakes of dandruff and want to run out and immediately buy a bottle of medicated dandruff shampoo, then you might be wasting your money and drying out your hair unnecessarily.  Unless you know how to distinguish between flakes of dandruff and those flakes left behind from styling products, you may not even have an actual dandruff problem. 

First of all, you need to look at those flakes again and examine the color.  Dandruff flakes are white.  On the other hand, the residue from styling products usually is not white and being sheerer in appearance.

Those flakes caused from a build up of styling products are better dealt with clarifying shampoo.  You can even make your own as I mentioned in an earlier post just by adding one tablespoon of baking soda to two and a half tablespoons of your normal shampoo. This really does strip away all that gunk and leaves hair beautiful again.  

Then again, you might be saddled with white dandruff flakes. In that case, you could also try crushing two aspirins (use only if you are not allergic to aspirin) and mixing them with the same amount of your normal shampoo. The reason this can help this problem is the fact that aspirins have salicylic acid, which is the same effective ingredient found in higher priced dandruff shampoos.

Try this advice because you have nothing to lose–only more beautiful hair to gain!

Want a Natural Homemade Remedy for Dandruff?

Thyme has always been known as adding flavor to your food.  However, this herb also has mild antiseptic properties you may or may not be aware of.  What I'm sharing with you is a very old French herbal recipe for getting rid of that dandruff with a pleasant spa-like scent that you can make at home in this Thyme Dandruff Hair Rinse.


You take four heaping tablespoons of thyme (about one-half cup of fresh if you have it) and two cups of water and put them in a pot to boil.  Strain and cool.  After you shampoo your hair and rinse, you pour one cup of the thyme liquid into your hair and massage the solution into your scalp.  Do not rinse until your next shampoo.