For so long, itchy scalp treatments and products for dandruff were a one-to-one operation. See a flake? Pick up a cheap, clunky bottle of shampoo from the drugstore and breathe in the smell of dads everywhere. Tried and true formulas get the job done, and have been with us through thick and thin, but—make no bones about it—dandruff shampoo isn’t exactly the chicest product in the shower. We push it to the back of the caddy.

But no longer. With more info than ever about the importance of scalp health (and horror stories about dry shampoo’s dark side), scalp products are stepping up their game. And they’re doing so in hoards. Every time we open Instagram it seems like another luxury brand is releasing a new scrub, mask, or elixir promising to to de-flake, balance, and nourish your scalp.

It’s easy to be suckered into pretty packaging, but seriously, how many scalp products does one woman need? Should you be using a scalp-focused shampoo, let alone an entire collection, even if you don’t deal with dandruff? It turns out, yes, according to pros.

“Everyone, no matter their gender or age, can benefit from taking care of their scalp,” says Dr. Ariel Ostad, a NYC-based dermatologist. Your scalp is more prone to dryness than your hair, and a build-up of styling products and increased pollution can lead to irritation and flakiness. Hadley King, M.D., a dermatologist at Skinney Medspa in New York City, adds that excess dryness is something to keep your eye on, as it can eventually lead to hair loss.

While scalp care is definitely something you should be thinking about, most experts will agree you don’t need a full arsenal of products, and less is actually more because too many products can lead to irritation. “We are conditioned to think we need more products than we do, often leading to over washing, which actually irritates our skin by disrupting its natural barrier,” says Ostad.

A clarifying shampoo is something everyone can use once or twice a week to help get rid of build-up, and actually clean your scalp, not just your hair. If you need a deeper clean, King suggests scrubs for deeper exfoliation, but Ostad warns that they can be irritating, so ease in. He also recommends using a moisturizing oil weekly or a mask monthly to really hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier and protect your hair follicles. More targeted serums and treatments are best for those who are trying to prevent hair loss.

The one thing everyone should be using every day? Sunscreen. Just like your face, you should be using SPF daily in order to protect your delicate scalp skin. “I encourage my patients to wear hats whenever possible in the sun, since they protect our scalp as well as our face,” says Ostad.

So, in short: No, the influx of cool dandruff and itchy scalp treatments aren’t just a marketing ploy. But if you’re not sure where to start, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites below.

Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Who could say no to this pretty pink packaging? Plus, the shampoo’s inclusion of salicylic acid works to gently exfoliate and cleanse build up and irritation.

Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

$46

Buy Now

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt

This gritty sea salt scrub has a cult following and 613 glowing Sephora reviews, but the derms we spoke to had mixed opinions on physical head scrubs as a whole. While Ostad is in favor of salicylic acid to tackle dandruff, King says that if that kind of chemical exfoliant isn’t your favorite, scrubs like Robin’s could do the trick instead by clearing out the buildup and dead skin that can cause inflammation.

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt

$53

Buy Now

Amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil

If you have really sensitive skin, this cleansing oil will de-gunk your scalp with French pink clay and charcoal, but the Sunflower oil base won’t strip skin. Because the oil emulsifies into a light milk, all hair types can use it and will be left with soft and shiny hair.

Amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil

$25

Buy Now

Kérastase Resistance Length Strengthening Scalp Serum

If your number one concern is hair loss, choose a targeted serum. This one uses Creatine R Complex and ceramides to strengthen your scalp and hair follicles, plus smells like an expensive salon.

Kérastase Resistance Length Strengthening Scalp Serum

$51

Buy Now

Davines The Wake-Up Circle Mask

This yummy mask re-invigorates and moisturizes your scalp and hair with Rhodiola extract and purple clay.

Davines The Wake-Up Circle Mask

$10

Buy Now

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo,

This gentle scrub is perfect for keeping flakes at bay with minimal irritation. It draws on “vegetable-derived micro-exfoliators” to remove dead skin and buildup, and King says the addition of coconut oil will help you moisturize an itchy scalp and soften flakes.

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo,

$42

Buy Now

Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo

Chic and with all the dandruff-fighting properties of a traditional flake-targeting shampoo: Sachajuan’s formula includes salicylic acid, piroctone olamine, and climbazole to exfoliate skin and kick-start healthy cell turnover. King says the combo takes on yeast—if left alone, bacteria feeds off of it to create more inflammation and flakes

Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo

$28

Buy Now

Aveda Pramasana Protective Scalp Concentrate

Aveda’s little turquoise bottle homes in on the powers of lactobacillus, which the brand says preserves your scalp’s natural protective barrier; seaweed extract, to help control and balance sebum levels; and tamanu oil, which they say protects your scalp from pollution and other free radicals.

Aveda Pramasana Protective Scalp Concentrate

$46

Buy Now

Moroccanoil Dry Scalp Treatment

This treatment is ideal to soothe and moisturize very dry scalps. Ostad loves it for it’s inclusion of Argan Oil, which is full of nourishing essential fatty acids to calm irritation.

Moroccanoil Dry Scalp Treatment

$38

Buy Now

Source link