To ask for recommendations of shampoo/conditioner for dry scalp?

[dontwanttobeflaky]

I've always had a dry, flakey scalp since I was at school. Over the years, I tried numerous shampoos and conditioners, expensive and not, hairdressers recommendations etc, and nothing made much of a difference (at least not in the long term, sometimes it would be better for the first couple of weeks of using them but then my scalp would return to how it was previously) until one day a number of years ago, I needed a new shampoo and condition so tried Alberto Balsam's raspberry moisturising shampoo as well as tea tree tingle conditioner. For the first time in years, my scalp seemed to recover and after a short period of time, I had no flakes and my scalp wasn't dry and itchy. At one point I couldn't get the tea tree tingle conditioner so switched to the tea tree tingle shampoo and the raspberry moisturising conditioner, but my scalp still remained scalp free.

This continued for years until recently they changed their formulas for their shampoos and conditioners.. Since then, my scalp has gradually returned to being flaky, itchy and dry again. I feel like I am once again that school girl sat in assembly concentrating hard on not moving because I don't want flakes to end up on my blazer.

I have started using Aussie Miracle Moist which has helped a little but I am still flaky and itchy.

Has anybody got any recommendations for decent moisturising shampoos and conditioners that don't cost the earth? Like a lot of people, thanks to current circumstances, money is tight so can't really afford to spend £8 or £10 on a shampoo or conditioner.

Look at shampoos made for SD and scalp psoriasis. Nizoral, Body Shop Ginger, Child's Farm etc.

The itching suggests it's not dandruff. From experience!

I’ve always been prone to a flaky itchy scalp, and I’ve used this for the last few years (hopefully photo attached!). It used to be in Tesco, boots etc but they stopped selling it and now I buy it off eBay. I’ve found that regular anti-dandruff stuff doesn’t work, only ones containing selenium.

Try the body shops ginger shampoo. I had really itchy scalp but this has sorted it out.

I second the selenium and Nizoral suggestions.
Once under control a shampoo that’s free of Sodium Laureth Sulphate might be enough to keep it that way.

I get on with a few on here, the Faith in nature is about £5 but does drop to £4 sporadically

www.gentlebubbles.com/buy-phthalate-free-products/sulfate-paraben-phthalate-free-shampoo/

Second body shop ginger shampoo. It is on the pricier side but the big bottle last months, or you can get a small bottle for less money.

I’ve had a dry flaky scalp through my life and it’s been the only thing to consistently keep it at bay

www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/hair/shampoo/ginger-anti-dandruff-shampoo/p/p000120

Hi lifelong sufferer of severe eczema here. I have tried anti dandruff shampoo, normal shampoo, steroid scalp application etc, but the one thing that worked long term was apple cider vinegar and stop all shampoo and conditioner.
If I need to wash my hair, I would put half a cup or a cup of apple cider vinegar in my bath, and wash my hair in that. Give the scalp a soak whilst in the ACV bath. Clears my scalp in the long term, and the softest hair ever. Buy big bottle of ACV on Amazon.

The itching suggests it's not dandruff. From experience!

Oh no, I know it's definitely not dandruff, just dry scalp. I haven't had any problems for years until AB changed their formula, it's very annoying!

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I think the Body Shop one is a bit out of budget for the moment but will definitely look at getting it in the future. I'll look at the other ones in the meantime too.

MooGoo is great for dry itchy scalp

Another vote for the body shop. The bottles really do last ages, you could just get the shampoo and not the conditioner.

Second Moogoo.
Or Lush new shampoo bar Angel, no SLS in it (big itch trigger).

My Manta hairbrush did wonders for my dry scalp. I bought it because they are very gentle but having a less itchy scalp has been wonderful. Well worth the money. I use it first thing in the morning and before bed.

MooGoo is great for dry itchy scalp

I have seen that advertised on Facebook and would like to give it a try but really can't afford to spend £11 on shampoo at the moment.

Another vote for the body shop. The bottles really do last ages, you could just get the shampoo and not the conditioner.

I genuinely don't have a spare £10 to spend on shampoo at the moment. Money is really tight as my income dropped by about 50% due to corona and is only just picking up again.