There are two main dandruff dilemmas. The first one of course effects the person who is experiencing it, or the parent or loved one of that person. Our first reaction is its cause, and maybe more importantly, how to get rid of it.

The second dilemma is experienced by big business. They produce and sell products to alleviate the symptoms. But think about it, if their products were a cure, they would not have much repeat business.

Shampoo is a perfect example. Active ingredients such as zinc pyrithione and salicylic acid are added to the most popular shampoos. While both of these ingredients are excellent for treatment, they simply aren’t in contact with the scalp long enough to be of any real effect. Not to mention most of these shampoos give your hair an unhealthy dried out look.

For our purposes here, I will focus on the first dilemma, and let big business worry about their own problems!

Here’s the problem. Most people simply don’t know what to do short of buying popular products, or going to the time and expense of visiting a dermatologist. Here’s the good news. You don’t have to visit a dermatologist to receive as effective dandruff treatment. Dermatologist frequently prescribe medications which remain on the scalp overnight. There are however, hair products you probably already use, except for the addition of active ingredients like zinc and salicylic acid which stay in continual contact with the scalp being formulated into them.

Along with active ingredients, I highly recommend products which include natural herbal ingredients. Check out this list of beneficial herbal ingredients and their qualities.

Zinc Pyrithione: Most widely used active ingredient used to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema and numerous other skin and scalp disorders. Synthesized in the 1930’s, has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Salicylic Acid: Naturally found in willow tree bark. Key additive in many skin care products. Causes skin cells to slough off more readily keeping pores open.

Tea Tree Oil: Strongest known natural antiseptic. Also has punitive skin penetrating capacity as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, germicide and fungicide. From the Australian plant Melaleuca Alternifolia.

Peppermint Oil: Natural properties include penetrating and anelgesic qualities.

Guava: Herbal anelgesic, anti-baterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic.

Wild Cherry: Natural root bark extract astrigent.

Chamomile: Herbal anti-inflammatory.

Horsetail: Herbal storehouse of vitamins and minerals, revitalizing properties.

Nettle: Herbal anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, rich in minerals.

Dandelion Extract: Natural allergen

Aloe Barbabenis: Natural anti-irritant

It may surprise many of my readers that most dandruff shampoo is actually harmful to your hair. While you may experience some moderate relief of your dandruff. It is usually short lived, and your hair actually ends up looking and feeling much worse. I would highly suggest that you choose one that will restore natural PH balance back to you scalp. I would also recommend it to be mild and include Tea Tree OIL and natural herbal ingredients.

The solution is not going to be in the shampoo entirely. At least not for the vast majority of people. They simply are not in contact with the scalp long enough to supply complete relief.

Living with dry skin and scalp has been a reality for me for most of my almost 50 years. I have researched remedies and have come across some who would even go so far as to advise the use of vinegar applied overnight on a regular basis. Now who in the world wants to sleep with vinegar in their hair!

So what would I recommend? How about products which have the beneficial ingredients in them, are easy to use, and smell great. What comes to mind you ask? How about styling gels and sprays which most of us use already? Wow, how simple is that. All we have to do is find styling sprays and gels which have the active and herbal ingredients formulated into them, and they will be in contact with our scalp each time we use them until we shampoo them off.

There are a very few available. But if you search online, I’m sure you will be able to find the ones which are right for you. Just be sure they include many if not all of the ingredients I’ve listed above for maximum effectiveness.

Dandruff can be controlled, it just takes a better course of action than most common solutions provide.

I would like to invite everyone to our discussion forum for more detailed answers to all your skin and hair care questions. There is no member login, or registration process, everyone is welcome in our Skin, Hair Care and Dandruff Discussion Forums

Author is executive online director for his families 45 year old corporation which focuses on skin and scalp disorders. His wife is a 3rd generation cosmetologist of over 20 years.

After suffering with many allergies and scalp disorders, the author put the corporations vast resources into action researching the most effective and natural solutions to his personal disorders. He is currently symptom free from a 20 year sever case of dandruff for more than 5 years.

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Should I use WEN Hair Care?

I have really thick, course, frizzy, curly hair (it’s a little past shoulder length) and I’m desperate for something really good. I saw it on QVC and it looks good but I want personal opinion from people with hair like mine. Please tell me what you think, where you get it, how much you pay, and also exactly what you do when you use it, especially when you style your hair…I want to be able to leave it down, which I NEVER do but on QVC Chaz Dean or w/e his name is just put some WEN stuff in the girl’s hair and it dried perfectly. Please be honest and give me your best tips! Thanks! Details please!

Okay, I just wrote a lot, and then accidentally pushed my browsers back button and lost everything.

I’ve tried the sample pack at http://www.wenhaircare.com which is the almond mint. It smells very good. It defined my curls nicely and made my curls feel light and fluffy. I sent it back because I needed something with more moisture in it, and this wasn’t cutting it. I tried to use it as a leave-in and it didn’t work well because my hair became dry before the day was over. I have a pic of how my dry hair looked with the Wen in it but you’ll have to pm me for it. My hair on that occasion was a rare instance of when my hair didn’t dry out before the day was over. I had to start using my regular leave-in to keep my hair moisturized throughout the day. I sent it back for my money back.

I then went to QVC and bought the 3-piece 16oz cleansing conditioner set for medium/coarse/ethnic hair. THis is supposed to be a very moisturizing set and it is. It leaves my hair very moisturized after I wash it and it gets it clean. I sometimes do hot oil treatments before I wash and I also use shea butter and both can be very hard to get out of the hair, but Wen did get it all out, albeit after two washes. It’s okay as a deep conditioner, but the very few times I’ve left it in overnight I have not really noticed much improvement in my hair. Plus, it’s too expensive for me to use for anything other than to wash my hair. Granted, it does leave my hair moisturized for the next day or two. Instead of using Wen as a deep conditioner I went out and bought Neutrogena Triple Moisture Recovery Hair Mask and this is good for a moisturizing deep conditioner.

My hair is just like yours: coarse, thick, very curly, and can be extremely frizz sometimes. I used to do hot oil treatments to tame the frizz, and it worked and virtually eliminated or greatly reduced my frizz. I started using Wen and I noticed the same thing – it significantly reduced or eliminated my frizz. I haven’t thought about frizz since using it. Now, instead of frizz I have nice curls. This was especially so when I was using the Almond Mint cleansing conditioner. This also makes my hair extremely soft. Chaz Dean is not exaggerating when he grabs a model’s hair and says it’s very soft. This is the softest my curls have ever been, and it’s touchably soft.

You can always buy it and try it and if you don’t like it then send it back. Chaz Dean has a full money back guarantee – even if the bottles are empty. I used 95% of my Wen conditioner in the sample pack and sent it back, but you do get to keep the free gifts like the texture balm and comb. QVC offers a 30-day money back guarantee, too, if for some reason you aren’t fully satisfied. QVC sells it cheaper than the official chaz dean site ( http://www.chazdean.com ), but I heard that QVC does not offer the whole line Wen products.

Whether or not I buy Wen again will depend on a few things: 1) If I feel it’s worth the price, 2) If I can afford it, and 3) If there’s another product I might want to try. A generic alternative to the Wen cleansing conditioner is a product called Hair One, and you can find it at Sally’s Beauty Supply. I’ve never tried it though, but I’ve heard mixed reviews about it.

Another option is Quidad. It’s for curly hair and also eliminates frizz. She comes on either HSN or QVC to showcase her products, and it’s another expensive line. http://www.quidad.com is the website.

WEN by Chaz Dean Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner