How to choose the right anti-dandruff shampoo?

How to choose the right anti-dandruff shampoo?: Does your scalp always itch? And, when you finally feel like scratching your scalp, do you have yellow, oily flakes on your shoulders? If the answer to these questions is “yes”, then you are currently battling dandruff. While dandruff spells disaster for your social life, it’s not a serious hair care problem. But, what is the primary cause of dandruff? Let’s find out.

Does your scalp always itch? And, when you finally feel like scratching your scalp, do you have yellow, oily flakes on your shoulders? If the answer to these questions is “yes”, then you are currently battling dandruff. While dandruff spells disaster for your social life, it’s not a serious hair care problem. But, what is the primary cause of dandruff? Let’s find out.

Due to dandruff

You can trace the cause of dandruff to a microbe called Malassezia globosa, which lives on everyone’s scalp. This microbe feeds on your scalp’s natural oil (sebum) and creates a byproduct called oleic acid. While this is a completely natural process, more than half of the population is allergic to this byproduct. As a response to the allergen, your body signals the scalp to start shedding skin cells to get rid of the allergen. And, these flakes are what you call dandruff.

So, what is the best dandruff remedy? An anti-dandruff shampoo!

Now that you know that a powerful anti-dandruff shampoo is an answer to your dandruff problems, let’s move on to the part where you need help choosing the right anti-dandruff shampoo.

Tips for choosing the right anti-dandruff shampoo

Look for dandruff-fighting ingredients

What makes an anti-dandruff shampoo effective against dandruff is the ingredients used to make it. When you’re looking for a dandruff remedy, make sure you read the label. Look for an anti-dandruff shampoo that lists zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, coal tar, selenium sulfide, or salicylic acid as one of its active ingredients. To narrow down your search, you can explore the Head & Shoulders Anti-Dandruff Shampoo range which is formulated with Zinc Pyrithione. Also known as ZPT, this ingredient is important in healing the scalp, reducing yeast overgrowth and excess oil production, and limiting the overproduction of skin cells that cause dandruff flakes.

Does it suit your hair type?

Even if it is an anti-dandruff shampoo, you need to make sure that it suits your hair type. For example, if you have curly hair and are prone to blowouts, a hair product containing ZPT may be more suitable for your hair type. In fact, shampoos containing ZPT have been proven to reduce frizz and keep flyaways at bay compared to shampoos with ketoconazole.

Does it affect your hair color?

Some shampoos don’t work for your hair color. If you have light-colored hair, coal tar shampoo may darken or stain your hair. As effective as coal tar shampoos are, they are not highly recommended for light-colored hair.

Look for gentle cleansing

While the main purpose of anti-dandruff shampoo is to clean your scalp and get rid of the itchy flakes, it should be gentle on your scalp and hair. You want clean hair, but chances are it can strip your scalp and hair of essential oils, leaving it dry and more prone to dandruff. In other words, you need a strong shampoo that won’t dry out and damage your hair or scalp.