How often should I wash my hair if I have dandruff?

Author: Collin Gottlieb Jr.  |  Last update: Saturday, September 27, 2025

If you have fine or naturally straight hair, or an oily scalp, wash your hair often. For example, you may need to shampoo daily and use your dandruff shampoo twice a week. If you have coarse or naturally curly or coily hair, wash your hair when needed, and use your dandruff shampoo about once a week, if tolerated.

Should I wash hair everyday if I have dandruff?

Washing Hair 3 Times A Week Can Treat Dandruff

Our studies have shown that people with moderate to severe dandruff can be flake-free by using Head & Shoulders anti-dandruff shampoo exclusively, 3 times a week.

Should you scratch dandruff before washing hair?

When you scrap away the skin on your scalp, you risk exposing it to infection and making your dandruff worse. If you feel the urge to scratch, use your time to the shower to gently massage your scalp instead. This will give you some relief and not disturb your scalp as much.

Does not washing hair cause dandruff?

“If you are not washing your hair regularly, sebum can accumulate on the scalp, and this contributes to an environment where yeast can thrive," Dr. King says. "This results in seborrheic dermatitis, commonly called dandruff.”

Should I shampoo again if I have dandruff?

For mild dandruff, first try regular cleansing with a gentle shampoo to reduce oil and skin cell buildup. If that doesn't help, try a medicated dandruff shampoo. Some people can tolerate using a medicated shampoo two to three times a week, with regular shampooing on other days if needed.

DANDRUFF & Seborrheic Dermatitis DOCTOR V | Treat Dandruff FAST | STOP dandruff scratching DR V, SOC

How to properly wash dandruff out of hair?

Wash your hair at least 1 time a week (you may wash your hair more often if your hair type allows).
  1. Rub the shampoo gently into your scalp only. ...
  2. Leave the shampoo on for at least 5 minutes before rinsing. ...
  3. Use your normal shampoo on the rest of your hair.
  4. Use a moisturizing conditioner after using anti-dandruff shampoos.

What is the root cause of dandruff?

Dandruff may have several causes, including: Irritated, oily skin. Dry skin. A yeastlike fungus (malassezia) that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults.

Is dandruff due to poor hygiene?

Dandruff is not caused by poor hygiene, although it may be more obvious if you do not wash your hair regularly. Stress and cold weather may also make dandruff worse.

Do head and Shoulders make dandruff worse?

Head & Shoulders is highly effective at controlling dandruff flaking, as has been proven in hundreds of clinical studies.

Do hot showers cause dandruff?

Hot water can also cause inflammation on the scalp, which can lead to dandruff, itchiness and hair loss. This occurs because hot water damages the hair follicles and disrupts the natural balance of the scalp.

Is it good to comb out dandruff?

You might clear out some of the flakes which are on top and displace some of the dead skin cells. But unless you attack the underlying cause of dandruff, your body will just keep creating more flakes. So you're going to keep using a dandruff removal comb, and never actually remove dandruff from your life.

Is cold water good for dandruff?

Cold Water

Keeping this in practice helps you close the cuticles that you expanded earlier with warm water, while also sealing the moisture in. Moreover, it can also be deeply relaxing for your scalp skin after all that dandruff itching it's been through.

Does leaving hair wet cause dandruff?

The microbe thrives best in warm, damp environments, so going to bed with wet hair could make it more likely that you'll experience scalp issues. So wet hair doesn't exactly cause dandruff, but it can still cause problems. And those problems don't stop at your scalp.

How often do dermatologists recommend washing hair?

“There are too many variables to set one rule,” Jessica J. Krant, a cosmetic and medical dermatologist at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York said in an interview. “I believe hair can be washed anywhere from daily to once every two weeks, depending on hair and skin type, hairstyle and lifestyle.”

Do head and shoulders remove dandruff?

Fortunately, getting rid of dandruff and helping prevent it in the future, is easy with Head & Shoulders. The active ingredients in Head & Shoulders' anti-dandruff shampoos work not only to remove flakes, but also provides an invisible, protective barrier to keep your scalp healthy.

Is dandruff a fungus?

The simple answer to this is - No, dandruff is not a fungus by itself. However, dandruff is caused by the presence of a naturally occurring fungus. It's important to understand the role this fungus plays in your body's ecosystem before you try to use a dandruff remedy on your head.

Does conditioner help with dandruff?

Use an anti-dandruff conditioner: If you use dandruff shampoo, make sure to use anti-dandruff conditioner for soft hair. Most ordinary conditioners will wash away some of the active ingredients left on the scalp, so you'll lose a lot of the anti-dandruff protection.

Which shampoo is most effective for dandruff?

Dandruff Top Brands
  • Dot & Key,
  • Plum,
  • Minimalist,
  • L'Oreal Paris,
  • L'Oreal Professionnel,
  • The Derma Co,
  • Wishcare,
  • Dove,

Does dandruff mean unhealthy hair?

Moreover, if you have an itchy scalp as a result of your dandruff then scratching could further damage the hair, causing split ends and breakage more easily. So if you have dandruff, while your hair may grow at the same rate, the hair that grows is likely to be less healthy and more prone to damage and breakage.

How to remove dandruff overnight?

What about the overnight dandruff treatment?
  1. Aloe Vera – This natural solution for dandruff has moisturising properties and nourishing vitamins. ...
  2. Tea Tree oil – ...
  3. Neem – ...
  4. Lemon juice – ...
  5. Apple cider vinegar – ...
  6. Fenugreek seeds – ...
  7. Clarifying shampoo –

How to moisturize scalp?

How To Moisturize Your Scalp
  1. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner can help replenish lost moisture and restore your scalp's natural balance.
  2. Apply a scalp treatment. ...
  3. Apply oils. ...
  4. Massage your scalp. ...
  5. Apply aloe vera. ...
  6. Exfoliate your scalp.

What is the number one cause of dandruff?

The bottom line

Dandruff triggers include dry weather, stress, and hair products. But by far the most common trigger for dandruff is Malassezia overgrowth on the scalp. Most of the time, you can prevent dandruff with regular use of medicated shampoos and by avoiding triggers.

How to remove dandruff stuck to scalp?

Try these tips instead:
  1. Wash your hair often. ...
  2. If lots of washes with a regular shampoo aren't working, try dandruff shampoo. ...
  3. When using dandruff shampoo, lather twice and let the lather sit for 5 minutes. ...
  4. Use a conditioner after a dandruff shampoo. ...
  5. Try not to scratch if flakes itch.

How to exfoliate the scalp?

Here's how the hair experts get their scrub on:
  1. Choose a quality scalp scrub like our Nexxus Clean and Pure Exfoliating Scalp Scrub.
  2. Wet your hair thoroughly.
  3. Apply your scrub directly onto your hair.
  4. Massage your scalp by moving your fingertips in gentle circular motions to spread the scrub.

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