Dry scalp that's also oily...help!

[Gertrudesgarden]

Struggling with my hair ATM. Its jaw length, fairly straight but with a little wave if left to do its own thing. I'm talking a flip at the bottom rather than gorgeous full length waves, sadly.
Menopause and winter have played havoc. I've got dry scaly scalp in places, so dermatitis I suppose, and its itchy at times. But I've also been blessed with greasy roots. I wash every day, as the second day it goes flat and lardy at the roots.
I use tgel once a week to keep the dermatitis controlled, and am looking for a shampoo that might make my scalp feel good without turning me greasier, for the other days. Shampoo for greasy hair just strips my scalp.
Could anyone offer any suggestions? I'd rather not spend ££ but I'm prepared to, if I must.....

[Destinesia]

Sorry, its ££ but I've just gone backPhilip Kinglsey's Itchy Flakey Scalp Shampoo after a long break using normal shampoos. Scalp had tiny flakes but was oily, kind of waxy and itchy. And I was convinced it smelled. I've used it a few times, every other day and my scalp feels clean and comfortable. Hair also looks and smells clean too. Smallest bottle of shampoo costs £11.50

[Gertrudesgarden]

Thank you Destinesia. I'm desperate here, so I really appreciate your suggestion and will get a bottle to try.

The T-Gel keeps it sort of under control, but I can still pick great pinky nail sized flakes off at least once a day from the worst patch. It flared up when my Mum died a few years ago, and is always worse in winter. It's just so odd to have it super flaky AND greasy at the same time...and yes, I'm convinced it's smelly too, although husband always says he just smells my shampoo.

Thank you!

[HaHaVeryBunny]

Had scalp excema when I was younger. Had used a lot of products, without any great success.
My pharmacist recommended to my mum that I should use a bland shampoo mixed with disprin, which is a well know Anti-inflammatory when applied to skin to calm the down the irritation, it really helped me then with the constant itch and irritation. Hopefully it helps you too.

[Gertrudesgarden]

Thanks Bunny. I'll try that as well, can't do any harm!

[Daisypod]

I found poly tar shampoo great for dry flaky scalp without making it greasy. But the thing that will really help long term is not washing your hair so much I am afraid. Is there any time when you could just wash every 3 days for a while as your hair will get used to it after a couple of weeks?

[Deathraystare]

I have an itchy scalp my roots are greasy but due to constant colouring I try to use gentle shampoos. I have no flakes so that is not my problem and I don't use any medicated shampoos as I worry they will rob me of my hair (dyed) colour.

I end up conditioning too much, I think and if I wasn't so lazy, I would be washing it every other day!

[Hoolajerry]

It sounda like you hace seborrheic dermatitis. I was like this. My hair felt disgusting, at the back especially. I use Nizorol shampoo. I used it twice per week for two weeks and then went back to head and shoulders. My scalp is very sensitive. I found the Philip Kingsley shampoo really irritated it.

[Rainallnight]

I second seborrhoeic dermatitis.

I absolutely swear by Body Shop ginger shampoo for this. Please do try it - it really works.

[GinaCarbonara]

I have a similar problem, a super dry itchy scalp but greasy by the second day. I've tried all the shampoos mentioned and they've worked temporarily but don't last.

What has worked, and this definitely won't be right for most people, is conditioning my scalp. It seems because it was so dry I would itch and pick at it constantly, and now that I condition it as well as my ends I don't really touch my scalp and so the oiliness has gone. I'm finding I can go 3 days with it still looking really nice, and it doesn't have the awful unwashed smell it had before.

[GinaCarbonara]

Also, it now no longer looks like a winter blizzard every time I shake my head.

[QuantumWeatherButterfly]

Hi, OP - this sounds so much like my hair and scalp used to be, until I switched to sulphate free shampoos. The results were little short of miraculous! Turns out, the sulphates irritate my scalp to the point of itching and flaking, and the supposed-scalp fixing shampoos like T-Gel are so heavy, they were what was making the hair greasy. Well, that and touching my scalp a billion times a day because it was itchy

Obviously everyone is different, it may not be the problem for you, but I think it would be worth trying something sulphate free, like OGX or Naked and see how you get on.

[Dammandblastit]

Name changed, but I am the OP, and I just want to thank you all for this. You're right - doc confirmed sebhorric dermatitis. I've moved to a head and shoulders till I can get to town (rural living) to get some of the suggested products. Less than one week of h & s and my scalp has already calmed down, so I'm hopeful! Thank you

[Rainallnight]

Great to hear.