Scalp issues

Has anyone actually tried using Head & Shoulders to deal with dandruff? Also, does anyone have a solid recommendation for a good shampoo that actually works for this issue?

So, apparently, Vichy shampoo actually works—they've got specific ones depending on whether you're dealing with dry or oily dandruff.

I feel like any shampoo labeled "anti-dandruff" is probably fine—honestly, just grab whatever—but I’d definitely suggest pairing it with some B vitamins, specifically B6. It really helps.

Yes, absolutely 👍 for Neutrogena!
Price: $23.
Trust me, you won't regret spending the money. It works incredibly fast and effectively (depending on how bad things are), but after just one week—meaning about two or three uses—you can really see the difference.
slylynx8 is right—they have two different versions: one for oily scalps and one for dry ones.

If you're dealing with seborrheic dermatitis (which looks almost identical to dandruff), I think Nizoral is actually the best bet. Definitely check with your doctor about that. From what I know, they often suggest Neutrogena too, maybe later on as a preventative measure once you've finished a round of Nizoral.

Good luck! 🙂

Around here, you usually have two ways to play it: go with the "heavy-duty" medical stuff for about a month to kickstart the treatment—then maybe switch to once-a-week usage paired with a gentle baby shampoo—or just stick to a milder daily option like Selsun Blue. The only headache is that for the last few months, they haven't even had the Selsun Blue version stocked in stores.
"The heavy-duty" stuff goes for about $23 (if my memory serves me right), and you might be able to snag it at that pharmacy on the street running from Name through Brooklyn toward Madison Square Garden—I think it’s called Han, but you can't miss it.
Personally, I've cycled through every shampoo under the sun, including one recommended by some supposedly "world-class" dermatologist, but honestly? None of them did a damn thing.

So, I was just chatting with a friend, and somehow we drifted into the topic of dandruff. He actually claims it’s some kind of contagious disease. It never even crossed my mind that it could be infectious—I mean, he deals with it and I don't, so I suppose he might have a point... but I’m just not following his logic. My dad has been struggling with dandruff for as long as I can remember (probably much longer, honestly), yet no one else in our house has ever caught it...

Does anyone actually know what dandruff is and if it's really contagious?

My best guess would be that it’s some sort of skin issue, maybe an overly dry scalp or something similar, rather than an actual illness, let alone a contagious one.... but now I'm genuinely curious. I did a little Googling on the subject, but didn't come up with anything particularly insightful, so if anyone has the scoop, I'd be grateful for the info. Purely out of curiosity, really.

👋

Does anyone actually know what dandruff is—and is it contagious?

Just speaking layman's terms here—it’s basically just dry scalp flaking up.

For instance, my mom always deals with it right after she dyes her hair (the chemicals just wreck her scalp).

And it’s definitely not contagious 😁

But it’s still one of those awkward things—you just want to be careful when you're talking to someone else the next day.😉

What you're looking at are actually just dead skin cells, and there can be all sorts of different triggers behind it.

It's definitely not contagious.

You might want to try searching Google for "dandruff" to get more info...

Hey there,

So, I'm dealing with this hair situation. Basically, right after I wash it, everything seems totally fine—no itching, no flakes. But then, by the very next day, my scalp starts getting that annoying itch and dandruff begins popping up in specific spots. It’s not everywhere, just certain patches on my head. On top of that, I've noticed I'm losing quite a bit of hair lately.
My hair is pretty short, dry, and coarse, so I usually rely on hair gel just to keep things from sticking out in every single direction.
I wonder if the gel might actually be part of the problem? I've been using stuff from Nivea and Taft, but honestly, I haven't noticed much of a difference.
I feel like I've tried almost every shampoo under the sun, from Head & Shoulders and Sunsilk to Vichy, but nothing really sticks. I even used Nizoral for a while, which actually worked pretty well, but the second I stopped using it, the old problems came right back.
Maybe I should just ditch the hair gel altogether and see if something else works better.
I'd really appreciate any advice you guys might have.👍

Honestly, I dealt with the exact same thing...

1. My uncle is a dermatologist, so he gave me this tip: once a week, slather your entire head in olive oil and just let it sit for as long as you can (an hour, two hours if you've got the patience...) before washing it out with some gentle baby shampoo....

2. As for hair gel, I buy the most expensive stuff on the shelf, but even then, I only break it out when I absolutely have to..

3. And for heaven's sake, try to stick to the same shampoo and gel every single time!!!!

It actually made a massive difference for me, so now....

Honestly, you probably have an itchy scalp because of that hair gel... Just stop using it for a week and see what happens.🙂

I deal with scalp issues myself, but since I have seborrheic dermatitis, nothing really works perfectly for me (though you could try Selsun Blue; that actually helped me quite a bit).

It’s highly probable that the hair gel is part of the problem too. It tends to make your hair greasy, which inevitably leads to dandruff.🙂

If you're hitting up any Whole Foods in the States, they’ve got this killer line of shampoos (I use them)... some organic brand, I think. For dandruff, there's one with nettle that actually works. Seriously! Just don't go switching brands every other week. Not sure if they make body washes too, but that would be great since everything is all-natural.

Just think about it for a second. Here’s a simple way to test it—apply some hair gel to your hand every single day (for like a week) and just leave it on there for a few hours. Then come back and tell me how your skin feels...

That gel doesn't moisturize anything; it actually dries your hair out. It sticks to your scalp and clogs up your pores. Your skin basically can't breathe and starts dying off, which is why you see that dead layer peeling away.

So, what matters more to you: your hairstyle or having a healthy scalp?

Wash your hair every day. Make sure you rinse it really thoroughly so there's zero shampoo left behind. Don't use a blow dryer and stop touching your hair with your hands. Stick to one specific shampoo—your scalp needs to get used to it, otherwise the formula won't even start working properly. If you follow this, your problem should be solved...

wanderingraven15 said:Just think about it for a second. Here’s a layman's experiment for you—apply some hair gel to your hand every single day (for a week straight) and just let it sit there for a few hours. Then come back and tell me what happens to your skin.

Gel doesn't moisturize your hair; it actually dries it out. It sticks to your scalp and clogs up your pores. Your skin basically can't breathe and starts dying off, which is why that dead layer flakes away.

So, what’s more important to you: how your hair looks or having a healthy scalp?

Wash your hair every day. Rinse it really well so there isn't any leftover shampoo. Don't use a blow dryer and stop touching your head with your hands. Stick to one specific shampoo consistently (your scalp needs to adjust, and then the shampoo will actually start working effectively). If you follow this, your problem should pretty much resolve itself...

That’s exactly it—those flakes mostly form right on the scalp. Look, having a healthy scalp is absolutely my top priority, but I can't exactly go out on a date with my girlfriend when my hair is a total mess. And you can only imagine how bad short, spiky hair looks once it dries out naturally. 👎
By the way, I don't use a blow dryer, and I wash my hair almost every day, sometimes every other day.
I'll give it a shot and see how it goes.

...dandruff spreads when things stay damp...if you let it air dry, it’ll probably just get worse...that's why you need a blow dryer...maybe go ask one of those "high-end" salons if they offer collagen therapy...or whatever they call it...it might strengthen your hair and help with the oil and dandruff...
..as for hair loss, I guess it depends: if it's happening right now, it's likely just seasonal since everyone loses hair in the fall...
..but if it's constant...it's probably due to the dandruff and oily scalp...I'm not entirely sure...but it likely clogs the pores on the scalp, which causes the fallout...anyway...

Alright, let me say this one more time—using a blow dryer isn't great if you're dealing with dandruff.

And if you're going to try and prove me wrong again, I want an actual explanation of how moisture is supposed to make dandruff spread...🤣

Honestly, if you actually understood chemistry and how our bodies work, you'd realize that oily hair and dandruff barely even matter when it comes to hair loss...😉

..so, what, you're some kind of tech expert now? Or are you just trying to act smart?!
..well, go ahead and ask whoever you want—a dermatologist, a stylist, whatever.. they'll tell you.. but if you're looking to actually "grow" it..
..it might not be perfect, but I guess it's still better than just air drying
..it's true I don't know much about chemistry, but maybe that isn't even the point.. just check with the people mentioned above, like a dermatologist or a hair stylist, and they can explain it better..

Use Nizoral shampoo and make sure you ABSOLUTELY blow-dry your hair afterward.
Olive oil is also a fantastic option if you mix it with some honey and an egg yolk.

Kevin Mitchell20 said:If you're hitting up the shops in Brooklyn, there's this killer line of shampoos (I swear, I'm telling you) from some Danish brand—they have one with nettle that's amazing for frizz. It actually works, seriously! The real trick is just not constantly switching up your products every other week. I'm not even sure if this whole cosmetic line carries body washes, but man, it would be great because everything is totally all-natural.

Honestly, that’s the best advice you'll get right here.