What every man needs to know about dandruff?

The symptoms of dandruff are all signs of irritation, brought on by the root cause of dandruff – the microbe Malassezia Globosa. 

More about the causes of dandruff

As your scalp becomes irritated, it responds the same way as skin elsewhere on your body so you may experience:

1. Itching

2. Redness

3. Dryness

4. Flakes

Flaking is the most visible sign of dandruff and you may see them on your hair and also on your shoulders. This happens as the body increases the rate at which skin cells renew themselves, causing excess cells to appear on the scalp and flake off. While it might be the most visible sign, it’s not always the first. Itching is often the first symptom to show itself and can act as a warning sign before flakes start to appear. Dryness and redness can also appear early too, making your scalp feel tight. While not always sure signs of dandruff, they’re key symptoms to look out for and should act as a prompt to start using anti-dandruff shampoo to help treat the irritation.

Itchy scalp is often an early warning sign for dandruff, especially if you notice your urges to scratch are on the increase.

As soon as you notice the itch, it’s time for a targeted dandruff product, whether or not that itchiness is accompanied by flakes in your hair (yet).

Being scalp savvy like this can prevent visible dandruff before it shows.

Wax, gel, clay and other styling products don’t actually cause dandruff – that’s the fault of a microbe, Malassezia globosa, that lives on all of our scalps – but product build-up can aggravate it.

Use an anti-dandruff shampoo every time you wash and avoid using loads of products or allowing them to build up on your scalp.

There are quite a few common habits that can increase your chances of experiencing dandruff.

• Washing too much or not enough can worsen the issue as both excess oil and a dry scalp can lead to you noticing more flakes.

• Additionally, shampooing too often with non-moisturising shampoos like clarifying shampoos can be drying to the scalp. A good way to find a middle ground is to use a deep cleansing shampoo about once a week alongside your normal shampoo to get all the benefits without drying out your scalp.

• Over-styling with heat is not good for the scalp either. Too much heat can dry out your scalp while tugging your hair in a brush or straightening irons can aggravate your skin.

Knowing that these habits increase your risk of seeing dandruff flakes might just help you balance your routine so your hair stays looking great without any flakes messing up your style.

Most of us assume we’d know if we have dandruff – but it’s not uncommon to have more flakes around the back of your head, making them easy to miss.

Rope in a friend, partner or, if that’s a little too personal for you, your barber to get an honest opinion on the state of your scalp.

It’s tempting to opt for flash new grooming products that promise the earth, but the best thing you can do for your scalp is rely on something you can trust.

Head & Shoulders leads the way in scalp care, and their range takes dandruff prevention one step further with antioxidants that help prevent early signs of dandruff such as itch, dryness, irritation and oiliness.