Please help me out of my dandruff hell...

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

I have suffered from dandruff for ages, especially worse since having my kids.

I used to use T-gel to good effect but it was so terrible for my hair. I ended up dry and frizzy and split and totally unmanageable. I stopped using it and my hair is lovely and soft and shiny but the dandruff is back. Argh!

Does a decent anti dandruff shampoo exist that won't wreck my hair?

Selsun, you have to buy it over the counter at the chemist though and it isn't cheap.

Have to use head and shoulders myself, anything else and dandruff will be back in a few weeks. Am not impressed with scalp for falling for the H and S advertising but it has!

Philip Kingsley for itchy flaky scalp, not cheap, but doesn't wreck your hair. It did work for me for a bit and then stopped :(

Dead Sea Magick, www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Sea-Spa-Magik-Mineral/dp/B000KU934E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341137663&sr=8-1 again, works up to a point but after a day I am itchy again, it does control the dandruff though

I'm about to try good old Vosene, will let you know how that goes

Whichever product you use, it needs to be left on for a while. So when I get in the shower I shampoo my hair, and then leave it while I wash, shave, and generally stand around getting warm. The last thing I do before I get out is rinse the shampoo off. Works a treat, 30 seconds on the hair just won't do.

Have you tried the Philip Kingsley itchy scalp shampoo?

is it just dandruff or possibly scalp psoriasis or ezcema?

If either of those, then you can get some prescription medication for it.

I have ketoconazol which i find brilliant. i use it once every 7-10 days (after using it more regularly to clear it up) and it's made such a huge difference. You can use it with normal shampoos/conditioners as well.

By the way I use Head and Shoulders too.

Cross post sorry

Im pretty sure it's just dandruff, not excema or psoriasis. It doesn't form in clumps or patches, just individual flakes, is worse if my hair is greasy and doesn't really itch much also unless it's greasy, just really unsightly. i get paranoid about flakes on my shoulders and sitting on my hair.

Those of you who use H&S, do you use it every day? Which do you use? There are loads of different types available now. Is your hair in good condition?

My hair gets greasy too. I use the H and S daily (mainly so I don't have to think about it) but maybe it would work if you alternated it daily or weekly with something else? I use the origional stuff at the mo, but have used other types and they all seem to do the job pretty much the same.

My hair's in pretty good condition, only went a bit dry after I dyed bits of it, so I do use conditioner on the ends (not H and S, just whatever's to hand) and it seems fine.

I use L'Oreal Elvive (dark blue bottle.) It really helps with the dandruff. It's worth trying if you haven't already.

Nizoral or other ketoconazole shampoos from the pharmacy. They kill the fungus that causes dandruff.

Eurgh! Don't like the thought of that...had a quick google and I think H and S claim they've got antifungal stuff in and it tackles fungus, but some people are saying it's not enough against strong dandruff, so maybe trying something else would help better.

Also, you could try watered down vinegar. That worked for me.

I was suffering from a dry dandruffy scalp for ages and bought some of the Naked shampoo range from Boots to give it a go. It has worked wonders and smells lovely, I would def give it a go if I were you.

You need L'Oreal Elvive anti dandruff shampoo - dark blue bottle with an orange lid. Give it a week and you will be flake free or I will eat my hat! I wish I had discovered it sooner as I am completely itch and flake free for the first time in my life. Think it has whatever the ingredients are in Selsun as it smells similar and is pale orange which iirc is the same as Selsun.

Naked is fab for my scalp but hair goes like straw.

The Body Shop's ginger shampoo is very good too and apparently similar to Philip Kingsley.

I get it in Boots Tesco doesn't seem to stock it.

Thanks for the recommendation valium that Philip Kingsley stuff is great, but fuck me, it's expensive.

I might try the Loreal stuff too. My problem seems to be that stuff works for a week or two, then back to square one.

Could it be the water that does it? I have lived in various cities and in some it has been bad and others not. Currently in London, but when I go back home (Scotland) I don't have this problem.

Have you tried any of the dietary ways to attack dandruff? I have heard that it can be caused by too much sugar in the diet, but that might be quackery.

I dont think I have a high sugar diet, not to the degree that I would have thought would be needed.

I may try the Loreal Elvive. It's expensive to keep trying these different things.

I'm halfway through my tresemme S&C and can't stand the thought of just moving to a diff brand, leaving what I have in the cupboard... and what if the Elvive doesn't work. Another load wasted. I hate trial and error but I hate dandruff more.

I am absolutely certain it is just a common ingredient in most makes of shampoo that irritates and makes my scalp dry up. Also I get funny spots on the back of my neck that appear immediately after washing.

My scalp is so clear now I can blow dry my hair with a black top on!!!

I have had years and years or sore scalp, it's been miserable, it is so nice now to be completely clear! :)

L'Oreal one is often 2 for a fiver in Boots so I stock up and the Body Shop one is very reasonable - I think I paid £4 but it's a big bottle.

I didn't get on with head and shoulders, it always felt as if it left residue. I use the asda itchy scalp anti-dandruff shampoo - they used to do an amazing sensitive one but they revamped their line and this seems to be the replacement.

Selsun is also great.

I agree about Head and Shoulders - it nearly worked but not quite. My hair is in amazing condition now after using the Elvive stuff.

OP how about trying to find trial sizes - lots of them around since it's holiday season?