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Original poster

best anti dandruff shampoo?

24 replies

chumbler · 09/08/2015 16:26

I just can't seem to get rid of it always had it, maybe due to my very dry and sensitive skin? I've tried so many shampoos which half work for a short while. when I have my hair washed by the hairdresser it's so much better too so I wonder if it's partly down to maybe not washing my hair very well? I think I have "normal hair", it's not especially dry or greasy, but extremely thick

please can someone help??

OP posts:

skinnysoyvanillalatte · 09/08/2015 16:32

Watching this: I have had dandruff for 10 years and not been able to get rid of it :(

LadyofDunedin · 09/08/2015 16:34

Ditto! I've heard moo goo is great (on here) .. It's a bit pricy @£11. I went up order online the other day but banked out at the £5 delivery also

Interested to hear other effective solutions...

AppleSnapple · 09/08/2015 16:51

Body shop ginger shampoo (for itchy scalps) it's amazing!

skinnysoyvanillalatte · 09/08/2015 16:54

and why don't antidandruff shampoos make a corresponding conditioner??

TongueBiter · 09/08/2015 17:01

Moogoo hasn't worked for me.

The Elvive men's dandruff shampoo is quite effective.

TGel, Nizoral, Capasal, Alphosyl are all medicated ones which might work. For what's it's worth, I bought Alphosyl at Boots and got a refund after using it once as it made my scalp 10 times worse. It can be an expensive business trying to find what works!

I think Head & Shoulders do a conditioner?

Deianira · 09/08/2015 17:08

Agree on the Body Shop ginger shampoo - I originally switched to it as recommended for extremely hard water, but it also shifted the dandruff I'd just been putting up with as eternally unshakeable, where nothing else had. Plus it's been fantastic for the quality of my hair. I have also very thick, wavy/curly hair, and just use normal conditioner with it, which has been fine.

BellaOfTheBalls · 09/08/2015 17:31

I suffered with dry, flaky scalp for years, I got teased about it in school. In my twenties it got so bad I could no longer wear dark colours. TMI but it wasn't just dandruff, I had scales of skin the size of a 20p piece regularly coming off my scalp. I thought it was a reaction to the foaming agents in shampoos so tried more natural brands (Aveda, Phyto), and regular moisturising treatments like Elemis Monoi or Lush Snake Skin bar. I also tried changes to my diet, a hydrocortisone treatment prescribed by doctor & the Redken anti-dandruff shampoo that several hairdresser friends said "if that doesn't sort it, nothing will". It didn't sort it.

Then I bought a bottle of T/Gel. Its the only thing that works & I wouldn't use anything else now. In the last couple of years they've brought out a range of more everyday ones (i.e less medicated that don't smell quite so much like Tarmac). The one for dry hair is good, then I use any old conditioner with it, usually whatever is on offer or takes my fancy and it makes no difference to my scalp.

Original poster

chumbler · 09/08/2015 18:01

thanks everyone. I've tried tgel which did work really well but I stopped using it when it just seemed to lose it's effectiveness. I'll give the ginger shampoo a go

OP posts:

Icedfinger · 09/08/2015 18:07

Vosene works well for me although it's quite drying so I need a good conditioner.

skinnysoyvanillalatte · 09/08/2015 19:17

I had my hands on a bottle of t gel yesterday and didn't get it! Damn! That I haven't used, I don't think.
I think it seems that you can be onto something and after a while it loses its effect. Be prepared to alter your products regularly.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/08/2015 21:15

My DS has very flakey skin on his scalp (I think psoriasis, it's in the family)

TGel makes his face react.
Eucerin shampoo and the treatment conditioner helps loads
E45 shampoo made it worse

He;s using Superdrug anti dandruff shampoo at the moment, much improved (but I think being off school helps for him more )

britespark1 · 10/08/2015 20:37

I saw the men's Elvive anti dandruff shampoo recommended on here and it actually flipping works! I do feel embarrassed having it on my bathroom shelf though since hubby is bald..........!

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 10/08/2015 21:14

The Elvive is great. It used to be in the normal unisex range in a blue bottle with orange piping on, but then they shifted it to the 'man' range. I sent them an email asking when my complimentary pair of testicles would be arriving.

Ktay · 10/08/2015 21:20

Sorry T gel hasn't worked for you, it did for me but I got out of the habit of us it.

I then happened to switch to the Aveda Rosemary and mint shampoo, purely because it reminded me of my honeymoon, and the dandruff went. My hair also started to go longer between washes. I think it's because it doesn't contain silicon or SLS. I've since switched to Dr organics tea tree shampoo as a cheaper alternative, which is also working.

MrsMarigold · 10/08/2015 23:50

Capasal - drying but effective. If you can bear it almond oil on the scalp massaged in followed by Capasal (a bit like treating cradlecap). Worked for DH's psoriasis.

Lookingforwardtoholiday · 11/08/2015 11:56

The elvive men's one is the only one which works for me

cdwales · 11/08/2015 13:08

Yes I recognise all these! Back in June I heard about the case for stopping using detergent (shampoo) altogether - the argument is that it strips the natural oils from your hair and scalp and this can also stimulate too much grease production hence greasy hair. The logic seemed there and I do find it has improved things. I still wash my hair but with a little soap/detergent-free wash and I put a few drops of Argan oil in it (it is short I should add). Seems fine and my scalp is less sore. Worth a try perhaps?

Original poster

chumbler · 13/10/2015 10:58

Update!!

Thank you so much for your replies. I tried the ginger body shop shampoo which works well for me. I still noticed some thick, quite greasy flakes though and suddenly thought - if dandruff is like a fungi, then surely it thrives in damp conditions? So I've started to blow dry my hair straight after washing and my hair looks amazing! I wish I had done this sooner but has always been told abd believed that blow drying is bad for your hair, and that dandruff is a dry skin condition so why dry it further? But it has honestly made such a massive difference. So I wanted to log on in case this helps anyone else

Thanks again for your tips :)

OP posts:

INeedNewShoes · 13/10/2015 11:10

If anyone wants to try the Moogoo shampoo & conditioner I have a nearly full bottle of each which I would be happy to give away. The products didn't really suit me and I hate the thought of them going to waste when they are so pricey.

Indecisivejo · 13/10/2015 11:42

What conditioner did u use with the body shop ginger shampoo out of interest?

RoganJosh · 13/10/2015 11:47

I'm not getting the conditioner questions, you don't put conditioner on your scalp?

If anyone needs any more ideas I've had success with Nizoral and Alphosyl, alternating, then after ten years they stopped working so I used Selsun. Then that stopped working after about five years and I'm ok with a SLS free one. I use Aubrey organics Rosemary. It took about a month to start working.

Indecisivejo · 13/10/2015 11:53

I have trouble with conditioners, even if I do not put on my scalp if still touches skin when rinsing etc and I get itchy red and spotty

RoganJosh · 13/10/2015 11:55

Oh gosh, what, on your neck? That sounds bad.

HopefulAnxiety · 13/10/2015 12:17

Check that switching to a sulfate free shampoo doesn't solve it - I thought I had dandruff for years, turned out I was just allergic to sulfates.

JASON makes a sulfate free anti-dandruff shampoo but can't say if it's good or not - has anyone tried it? Rosemary stuff works too.

Rogan I put conditioner on my scalp! Otherwise it feels tight and dry, like my face if I don't put moisturiser on. I have a pixie cut though so it's easy to just run my fingers through my hair and rub onto my scalp. Also I rinse straight away.

Indecisive sounds like an allergy. Instead of a conditioner, try rubbing a very small blob of pure argan oil (Wilkos sells it in little bottles in the pharmacy section) through damp hair before blow-drying.

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