Flakey scalp getting out of control? Picky has your back!
Hey, Pickies! If you’re on the Picky app, you may have noticed that we have a new tab on our discussion board. Can you take a guess? It’s Hair and Body Care Help! Make sure you stay updated on all the latest discussions so that your hair shines and all of your skin glows.
Today we invite again our Picky Expert Mina – a licensed cosmetologist from Poland, who will share with us her tips when dealing with dandruff. She also shares her Korean haircare product recommendations to fight dandruff as well as some essential haircare tips to have a healthy, clean scalp.
Help us, Mina!
One of the most common scalp conditions that many people deal with, but it’s still a bit sensitive topic, is dandruff. Even if the K-beauty market is more focused on hair loss, I still find it easy to find many good solutions for dandruff in Korean drugstores. Do you know how to take care of dandruff?
What’s dandruff?
I like to joke that I wrote my thesis about dandruff, but I’ll try to keep this topic simple and easy to understand.
Dandruff is a scalp condition, that appears as mild scalp flaking, and it usually goes along with the itchiness of the scalp. Some people say that dandruff is related to a lack of hygiene, but you can take great care of your scalp and hair and still be affected by dandruff.
The reasons behind this condition can be different like high sebum production, faster skin cell turnover process, diet, immune system diseases, hormonal diseases or even yeast infection (Malassezia furfur or other Malassezia yeasts). Dandruff can come in different forms like seborrheic dandruff which looks more like a scale than a flake.
What Korean hair products should I use to deal with dandruff?
Scalp scrubs
First of all, scalp scrubs! Scalp scrubs are super helpful if your hair follicles clog up easily. One of my favorite scalp scrubs is GrowUs Sea Salt Therapy Scalp Scaler.
Nineless Magic Nine Perlite Scalp Scrub Shampoo is a nice solution that mixes both shampoo and scrub. It’s a more delicate product.
Double cleansing
The way you wash your hair is important too. Sometimes you need to cleanse your scalp twice during one hair routine. It’s more like double cleansing or pre-cleansing and regular cleansing. I do not see this trend of pre-cleansing shampoos in Korea, but you can use any shampoo you like and just wash your hair twice. If your scalp is quite oily, double cleansing for the scalp can be necessary from time to time.
If you use very delicate shampoos with gentle surfactants from time to time you might need to use stronger shampoo. Also, there’s a myth that you shouldn’t wash your hair too often so your hair won’t get oily so quickly. You actually should wash your hair as much as you need. For example, if your scalp type requires washing daily, leaving your hair unwashed for a week won’t help, but it might cause more scalp issues.
Don’t put conditioner or hair masks on your scalp!
That’s a topic of dispute because some specialists think it’s okay to use conditioner and mask on the scalp, but some, including myself, do not recommend that. Conditioners and masks can be rich in silicones and oils, and not every scalp will enjoy this combination.
Massage while cleansing
When you wash your hair, massage the scalp gently, it will help exfoliate your scalp.
Don’t go to sleep with wet hair.
Sleeping with wet hair is bad when you want to grow out your hair as wet hair is more prone to damage. Additionally, a damp scalp is a great environment for bacteria to grow, so it’s better to use a drier on your hair before going to sleep.
Doesn’t the temperature cause some damage?
Some hair types need longer to get dry (especially low porosity hair), so it’s better to use heat-protecting products and dry your hair than leave them and go to sleep with wet hair. Growus Damage Therapy No Wash Treatment protects your hair from heat damage. Unove Heating Guard No-Wash Treatment can help with heat styling and detangling, especially chemically treated hair so if you bleach your hair just like I do, this one is a great choice for us.
What Korean shampoos are good for fighting with dandruff?
Daleaf Better Root Dandruff Shampoo
This shampoo contains Climbazole, an ingredient with antifungal and anti-dandruff properties. Salicylic Acid in this shampoo helps with scalp exfoliation.
Dr.forhair Folligen Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
This shampoo is based on Piroctone Olamine, a common ingredient in anti-dandruff products. Dr.forhair is also focused on the scalp microbiome, which is why this solution contains TECA-Biome. You can find menthol in Dr.forhair Folligen Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for a cooling sensation while washing your scalp.
RYO Hair Loss Expert Care Shampoo For Anti-dandruff Scalp
Ryo is a Hanbang brand that belongs to Amore Pacific (the same company that owns Sulwhasoo, Hanyul, Laneige, and Innisfree). Hanbang means that the formulas are based on Traditional Korean Medicine. This shampoo is based on Climbazole (an anti-fungal & anti-dandruff ingredient) and it’s enriched in Ginseng EX that’s supposed to promote hair growth.
To sum up, a good hair-washing routine is key, and remember to sleep with dry hair to avoid scalp problems and hair breakage.
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