Good shampoos and conditioners that don’t make your scalp itch

[eternalfun]

Does anyone have recommendations for shampoo and conditioner (separate, not 2 in 1) that don’t irritate my scalp? I seem to have a very sensitive scalp!

I also have very thick hair and it looks so much better with a decent shampoo and conditioner. However, I find that I get a reaction after about a weeks use of anything other than head and shoulders. The reaction is itchy scalp, small scabs and flakes (dandruff, I guess).

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Try the Body Shop's Ginger Shampoo (they have a conditioner too).

I buy the Simple range for my DDs who have eczema because they're unperfumed. Do you know what it is you're allergic to though? Or is it just a return of dandruff? Maybe a stronger medicated shampoo or something on prescription would properly clear it up?

Do u wash your hair every day? If u get dandruff I would stick with the medicated head and shoulders they do do separate ones tho or u could just use a leave in conditioner after using your normal 2 in 1
I get build up with any other shampoos there ok for a couple of months then my hair just doesn't like them so I stuck with head and shoulders too and only wash my hair once a week and use dry shampoo in between washes
Sometimes I will use my partner's hair and body wash and not even condition my hair I think it gives it alot of volume for some reason

Try a shampoo bar. I’m not suggesting you forever, but try. The one we’ve been using has cheated up DH’s psoriasis and has made my thick, dry. Curly hair awesome - it usually also needs a ton of conditioner too. this one. Try it, you might like it.

Another vote for body shop ginger shampoo and conditioner or banana ones. Lush do some very gentle shampoo bars which are also great

I usually use aveda shampoo ( damaged hair) and conditioner or l'occitane ( the verbena one) and although I do have a history of eczema and dandruff and very itchy scalp, neither of these irritate it. They are expensive but I look for offers. If my scalp ever gets bad again ( which it hasn't since I switched now for about 6 years) I use neutrogena dandruff shampoo for a few washes and it settles down. I just decided that the extra money was worth it for me.

@NeedAUsernameGenerator I think it’s more than dandruff as it’s so itchy and gets scabby (delightful!)

@Jesse70 thats a good suggestion about using H&S separates. Hadn’t thought of that.

@BikeRunSki what conditioner to you use with the shampoo bar? I am attracted by that idea as I’ve gone back to soap on my body because of the plastic in shower gel bottles.

Everyone else - thank you. I’m going to try everything and see what works. It’s an expensive business because if something doesn’t work it’s after only about 3-4 washes so it means I waste the rest of the bottle.

The only one I found was actual anti dandruff formulations.

Could it be SLS in the shampoo ingredients irritating your scalp? I went through a phase of having an itchy scalp. I spent a fortune on all sorts of shampoos and realised I need a more natural formula without SLS in. The Faith In Nature ones work well for me and you might be able to find somewhere that does refills to save on plastic. I also like Jason for conditioner.

@eternalfun, I have found that I don’t need conditioner with it.

Dandruff flakes are big and oily
Dry scalp flakes are like white powder

I have a very dry scalp and also a patch of dermatitis which is s bit scabby.
I have been searching forever for a shampoo and conditioner that helps or at least doesn’t make it worse.

At the moment I’m using moo-goo, it’s only been a week but so far so good.

HTH

Eucerin shampoo. There’s also a liquid,squirt-on-rub-in-leave-on type treatment (though it’s not a conditioner). Neither are cheap but both work,pretty much from the first one or two uses.
Can get it from Amazon or Boots,though Boots often do 3 for 2 on Eucerin products. (The hand cream and foot/heel cream work too.)

I have the exact same reaction @eternalfun. Think it was the anti dandruff shampoo causing it. Too strong.
I have been using dermol 500 lotion rubbed into scalp at night, washed out in the morning after a friend recommended it for my skin. I googled it and discovered it can be used as a shampoo as well. Scabs have gone! Can't believe it. Now using faith in nature shampoo no SLS etc. Have brought a shampoo bar from lush to try soon. Also some ultrabalm from lush for scalp but not tried it yet as seems to be all better.

I have no flakes, but do get scabby (ugh). I'm currently using Aveda Scalp Benefits shampoo, which I like and which is lasting for ages. I hated the conditioner though, so I'm using a Philip Kingsley conditioner for scalps.

E45 dry scalp shampoo, followed up with whatever conditioner I feel like on the lengths, but NOT on my roots, as I have seborrheic dermatitis & conditioner on my scalp makes it worse. Only thing I’ve found that works since H&S changed their formulas a while back!