How to Prevent Dandruff | GQ

The very first thing to find out about easy methods to stop dandruff is that the scalp is a finicky factor. If it will get too oily, then it creates a terrific atmosphere for fungus, which might result in itching and flaking. If the scalp will get too dry, then it’s additionally liable to itching and flaking. So we’ve bought to discover a technique to obtain stability and a completely happy and wholesome scalp (for the sake of consolation and enhanced hair development). Whether or not your dry scalp is a seasonal wrestle or a year-round drag, learn on for the mix of merchandise and practices that can stop dry scalp and dandruff earlier than it occurs. (And on the subject, try our product-focused treatments for what to do in the event you’re presently coping with acute scalp dryness and dandruff.) 


The best way to Stop Dandruff and Dry Scalp 

1. Audit Your Scalp’s Pure Oil Ranges

First issues first: Your strategy will change relying on whether or not or not you might be ranging from the dry finish of the spectrum or the oily finish. Sure, lots of you might be right here as a result of dryness is your major drawback. However a few of you expertise dandruff and itching on account of extra oil, so this disclaimer is for everybody: Folks with a predisposition to dryness ought to give attention to extraordinarily moisturizing options, and other people with a predisposition to grease ought to give attention to sebum-balancing options. (Versus scalp-parching, scorched earth options.) 

2. Have At Least One Proactive Scalp Product

Relying in your core drawback (dry vs. oily predisposition), it’s best to have not less than one product in your routine that helps stability your scalp. So, if you want to nourish  and moisturize a dry scalp, a weekly scalp masks or each day hydrating serum will assist stop it from changing into dry. 

Fable & Mane hydrating scalp mud masks

Harry’s moisturizing scalp cream

When you’ve got an overproduction of oil, then an ingredient like tea tree oil or charcoal might be efficient at cleaning the scalp. Within the case of tea tree oil particularly, it’s also antimicrobial and may stop the formation and proliferation of fungus—whereas additionally balancing oil manufacturing. Charcoal, however, can purify the scalp whereas absorbing extra oil.

Tea Tree hair and scalp therapy

Briogeo scalp serum with tea tree oil and charcoal

3. Add One Dandruff Shampoo (Used Sparingly)

Except you’re actively combating a foul case of dryness, itching, and peeling, you needn’t use dandruff shampoo every single day. However it’s price rotating a proactive shampoo into the combo as soon as per thirty days (or as soon as per week, in the event you assume it’s extra useful to your case). For instance, each time my scalp is balanced, I nonetheless wash it with an anti-dandruff shampoo as soon as per thirty days, simply in case. These can actually parch the hair, so I at all times comply with it with an extremely nourishing conditioner or hair masks, simply to revive the strands. Search for anti-dandruff elements in a shampoo like salicylic acid, ketoconazole, or pyrithione zinc.

OUAI anti-dandruff shampoo with salicylic acid

Dove Males+Care anti-dandruff shampoo with pyrithione zinc

4. Rinse Day by day (And with Extra Conditioner, Much less Shampoo)

Don’t shampoo every single day. It is a shortcut to extra dryness. Even when you’ve got an oily scalp, each day washing will prepare the pores to provide extra oil in response, and also you’ll be caught in a endless cycle. As such, switching to every-other-day washes (or ideally, each third day) will steadily prepare your scalp to be much less oily. No matter sebum ranges, although, the easy act of rinsing your hair and scalp each day will go a good distance in flushing away any buildup of sweat, grime, and hair styling merchandise (and the oil, too, if it’s a difficulty). Higher but, utilizing a conditioner each day (or a co-wash, which is sort of a 75% conditioner, 25% shampoo) can nourish hair and scalp alike, whereas shopping for you further time between shampoos. Don’t drop the washes altogether, although, as they’ll be paramount in holding issues clear. It’s simply that you just don’t want to clean up there every single day, particularly for the sake of your hair’s well being. So until you’re bald (through which case, simply use a facial bar cleaning soap or cleanser up high), then take it straightforward.

5. Take Shorter, Cooler Showers

The bathe is usually the #1 foe of scalp well being, since most of us love taking lengthy, sizzling showers. No matter temperature, lengthy showers can rinse away too most of the oils that our pores and skin wants to remain comfortable and nourished. And something sizzling will amplify that 100-fold. So think about what a sizzling 10-minute bathe does to your scalp? (To not point out, the havoc it wreaks in your hair strands.) Intention for sub-5-minute lukewarm showers—sorry—and also you’ll hit the candy spot. Try our guidelines for higher showers, too, which incorporates an order of operations as a way to get all the mandatory steps down with out losing any water or time.

6. Get a Humidifier, and Thoughts the A/C

Should you use this humidifier 12 months spherical—or nix it in summer time in the event you can sleep with the home windows open—you’ll discover drastic enhancements to your scalp. 

7. Take Further Care With Something Harsh 

Be conscious of something that would undo any of your exhausting work. Issues like utilizing a blow dryer, swimming in a pool or in salt water, lengthy flights or automotive journeys with air-con, solar publicity on the scalp, and so forth. These aren’t issues you want to keep away from, however you want to alter for them. Like, in the event you spend a sunny day swimming on the pool, then prioritize a scalp masks (and hair masks) that night, and be sure to apply SPF to any uncovered scalp spots. Blow dry on the cool setting, or with an ionic/ceramic/tourmaline dryer to get a quicker, much less parching end—and apply your focused scalp hydrator later that evening, in addition to the evening earlier than. And so forth.

8. Get a Skilled Opinion

In case your prevention efforts fall quick, and if therapy efforts fail to treatment the matter, then chances are you’ll want knowledgeable opinion. Go to a dermatologist or trichologist; maybe you’ve psoriasis, eczema, or one other situation that wants extra focused options. These professionals have seen all of it, and so they’ll have the ability to assess your particular situation (in addition to your many life and environmental elements, like climate, water high quality, and so forth) to discover a treatment.

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