Dandruff & Dry Hair

Dandruff and dryness together is the hardest combination to treat, because most anti-dandruff shampoos clear the flakes by stripping the hair.

Why the two go together

Dandruff is driven by Malassezia yeasts feeding on scalp oil, and the shedding they trigger is what you see as flakes. The medicated shampoos that control them are often harsh, so the scalp clears while the lengths go dry, brittle and dull. The answer is not to alternate between a treatment shampoo and a moisturising one — it is to use a formula built to do both at once.

Our top picks

• If your hair is dry or sensitised: Kérastase Symbiose Bain Crème Anti-Pelliculaire. Piroctone olamine and salicylic acid clear flaking while the cream base keeps the lengths hydrated — up to seven weeks of efficacy without the straw feel.
• If your scalp is oily as well as flaky: Symbiose Bain Pureté Anti-Pelliculaire. A lighter foaming formula that exfoliates flakes and controls oil at the root.
• For stubborn dandruff: Symbiose Intensive Anti-Dandruff Night Serum, worked into the scalp before bed at least three times a week over four weeks.
• A gentler alternative: L'Oréal Professionnel Scalp Advanced Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, which clarifies and soothes in a lightweight cream.

When to see a doctor

Persistent flaking with redness, soreness or itching that does not settle within a few weeks is worth showing to a dermatologist. Seborrhoeic dermatitis and psoriasis both look like dandruff and neither is treatable with shampoo alone.

Expert guidance

Our stylists across Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Rajkot can assess your scalp in person. Book a consultation at any Reflexions salon.