Dandruff vs. Dry Scalp

I'm here to set the record straight, because people need to STOP diagnosing themselves with "dandruff." 

The technical term for dandruff is seborrheric dermatitis, and it basically causes redness and these nasty white to yellow patches of scales to occur on the scalp and/or inside the ear.  Because it is normally caused by overactive sebaceous [read: oil] glands, it tends to have an unpleasant odor, is somewhat tacky to the touch, and it's itchy.  I struggled with actual dandruff in my teens and it was embarrassing, but nevertheless easily treated.  Most cases are managed with shampoos found at your local drugstore; if you're a snob about professional-only products (like myself), quite a few lines have formulated their own remedies too - my favorite is Kenra Dandruff Shampoo & Conditioner. 

Dry scalp is a totally different beast.  It's usually caused by a change in the weather or climate OR your current hair products.  The majority of these cases fall into the first category, with an influx during the fall-to-winter transition.  My best advice is to: a) adjust your hair-washing regimen, moving towards products with moisturizing properties, and b) limit the number of times you shampoo during the week.  Both of these tips are a little scary at first, yes, but once you successfully adapt, your scalp will love you for it.  As I mentioned in my previous post, Sebastian Drench is my all-time favorite moisturizing shampoo and conditioner duo; because it is possible to over-moisturize your hair, it's a great idea to swap out your regular shampoo once every three to four washes.  Washing one's hair but once every two or three days is not only a fabulous way to kick dry scalp to the curb, but it's completely economical too.  If you have color-treated hair, you likely already know that shampooing strips the color molecules, regardless of whether or not it claims to be "color-safe."  Yes, some formulas are safer than others, but your beautiful new color is going to lose some of its vibrancy every single time you wash, end of story.  And then there's drying, straightening, curling... of course, the end-result is gorgeous, but how did you achieve your style?  With HEAT.  Heat damages the hair shaft, fades your color at a faster rate, and gives you those little beauties known as split ends. Let's review: warm/hot water and shampooing fades your color, the heat necessary to dry and style your wet hair not only further fades your color but damages your hair too, and the heat is generated by electricity that you also pay for. So, a trip to the salon for a fresh cut and color + your power bill = $$$.  By washing your hair every day, you are not only drying out your scalp, but you're costing yourself MONEY!  To wean yourself off of your once-a-day habit, try washing thoroughly on day one, and then pinning your hair up for your shower on day two.  If you find yourself to be far too oily for this extreme, wash your hair completely on day three, and then wash only your hairline on day four - play around with the combinations until you find one that suits you best.  In my aforementioned previous post, I told you that I wet my hair in the shower every day (unless I'm short on time and put it up to bathe), but only shampoo about three times weekly - this works well for me and may be comfortable for you too!  Like I said, experiment a little.  And don't be afraid of dry shampoo.  My favorite?  You guessed it... Kenra!