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Hey there, I'm 4 months into my hair growth journey and recently started getting dandruff again. I've had the dandruff problem on and off for years now. It seems to hit me hardest during the winter time for unknown reasons. I'm actually really bummed out about this because I treat my hair as if it were silk. I use sulfate-free products only, I don't use any "Salon Approved" hair products, just some jojoba oil and wide-tooth combing. It bums me out that no matter how well I treat my hair, the dandruff still comes back to haunt me as if telling me "you're doing a bad job"
I don't know what I am doing wrong. I will put down my routine and maybe somebody can point out what I do wrong.
I start off the day just DE-tangling my hair w/ my fingers (not nails) and then go on to comb it for about 5 minutes. I wash my hair almost every day since I work out daily and sweat. When I wash it I shampoo w/ Organix coconut milk shampoo every OTHER day, sometimes only twice a week. I usually condition daily w/ an Organix conditioner. When my hair is wet I usually comb it behind the ear and then put on a beanie for an hour or so.
I eat healthy, I exercise daily, and I take biotin and a multivitamin so I have NO IDEA why this is happening.
I was thinking of going to the last resort and getting a head and shoulders shampoo, but there mere thought of those harsh chemicals makes me cringe. I really need help here guys. Is there a good Sulfate Free dandruff shampoo that actually works?
If not, what are some tips for getting this problem under control?
Sorry for the long post btw, but I'm sick of this problem coming back every winter and I figured that MLHH is the best place to ask.
Hey Isaac! Your routine is very good, I wish I had access to Organix products here in Brazil. I use some child shampoo instead, with a very mild sulphate. Anyway, in my opinion the source of your problem is the beanie on the damp hair. Moisture plus heat can be very temptating for fungi. It's not like your hair is gonna get moldy, but fungi can lead to dandruff. Just comb your hair after wash and let it air dry. Damp hair is more fragile than dry hair, so just let it dry and you're gonna be fine. That's my opinion though, let's see what other people has to say.
Big hug, hope I've helped!
i know this is gonna sound obvious, but the crucial question is 'why?'...
i, too, noticed dandruff during the winter months and afaict it is related to the dry/cold air - and in particular, i was able to figure out that it was related to my wearing one-particular series of flannel shirts... i dont know why - i wear flannel all-the-time and it is only with these-few-shirts and it is only during the winter...
now, the occasional bits of flakes i dont worry about - we slough skin all the time... and most regular maintenance (as you seem to do) should solve that problem... but wintertime is dry and cold - which is harsher on our skin... or maybe it is the opposite (while trying to keep warm/dry we end up trapping our skin and making it humid/sweaty)...
whatever - if i were you, id look at my wardrobe... is there some pieces of clothing that youve just started wearing that might be causing an allergic-type reaction ?
thosere my thought / 2-cents... gl, h.
It is common for people to experience more dandruff/ dry, flaky scalps during the colder months, as the air's humidity level drops considerably. You sound like a pretty health conscious guy, and your hair care routine sounds great. Make sure that when you condition during the winter, you really massage the conditioner well into your scalp. Also make sure that you're drinking plenty of water (at least 2 litres daily... maybe even 3 to 4 if you're very active); because of the decreased humidity in the air, you will literally dehydrate more quickly, and need to be dilligent about replenishing your body's fluids.
I have found that tea tree oil-based shampoos and conditioners can also be quite helpful with a seasonally dry, itchy scalp.
Good luck :)
--Val