Dandruff solution?

I figured you all might have an idea or two up your collective sleeves for my small conundrum. I'm 23, and am right on schedule to loose my skull hair in a couple years, (and by the time I'm 35 should look like a gorilla everywhere else) or so the genetics go.

I'm guessing that my grandfather (mom's dad) had similar scalp to mine, so I'm wondering if taking care of my dandruff problem might keep my hair going longer. it's worth a try anyhow. I have the kind of dandruff that sticks to the scalp, and if I'm not careful starts to block pores and follicles, so I scrub it from time to time with a scratchy hairbrush.

I used to use head and shoulders, which worked kinda, but I've been trying to cut back on the amount of chemicals I add to myself, given the extreme levels I used to be exposed to (farm kid and former grease monkey) of course this doesn't stop me from dyeing and bleaching my hair frequently, gotta do it before it's gone!

I'm using Rocky Mountain Soapworks shampoo, it contains rosemary, which seems to work as shampoo, but doesn't help the dandruff.

so, after all that long explanation, does anyone have any ideas? or even know of any plant extracts that can help?
Thanks friends!

coal tar, the one and only solution.

hmmm, and it would spike my 'hawk up nearly indefinitely!

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Originally Posted by GadgetGeek

hmmm, and it would spike my 'hawk up nearly indefinitely!

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Denorex Dandruff Shampoos

works SO much better than selenium sulfate (the ingredient in head and shoulders)

leave it on your head for 3-4 minutes, it will get very tingly.

I'll have to see if I can get that stuff up north here. I'll give it a shot and see what happens. the head and sholders I had was the pyrethrone zinc kind, I don't know about selenium shampoos in canada. but either way, its a start

The ultimate solution? Use your straight to shave your head then you can use a variety of products to eliminate the dandruff.

Seriously though, pine tar shampoo is the nuclear solution to dandruff. It works as good as DDT on a roach.

Try adding a drop of tea tree oil to your ordinary shampoo.

Tar works wonders but its forbidden in cosmetics in the EU, so I could imagine that it is not available in Canada either.

its not so much that I care about the dandruff, its that I'm concerned that it is the cause of my genetic hair loss destiny. if tea tree oil might help, I'll try that, a drop on the shampoo bar before use should do it. besides, at the very least it will keep the lice away while I work this summer (kids camp)

As for cutting out fat/oil, I'm sure I'm not eatting that much, and honsetly, I've never noticed much change no matter where I am, or what my diet, but the shampoo can work well, or bring pain.

Hair Shampoo Recommendations.

here is what I read on a soap makers website. I plan to order some of her Shampoo bars soon.

One bit of advice I remember is that shampoos are really too harsh to be applied directly to the scalp (especially anti-dandruff shampoos.) So you should mix them with water before applying.

It's also a good way to wean yourself off of any medicated shampoo (dilute it more over time.)

Just remember to rinse out the toothbrush mug when you've finished using it to do the mixing!:)

Don't worry about losing your hair. You're better of without it, no barber's bills and less maintenance.

Just pour some Listerine over your scalp. The original Listerine.

Listerine?!!! Whow!
Well but probably a good germ killer as well. Could be harsh though.

Less is more. The milder the shampoo and the fewer you wash them, the better.
2 times a week is actually enough. Brush softly to remove dust and enhance blood circulation.

Thanks, I'll give some of those ideas a shot, and see what happens. As for barber bills, I've never paid for a haircut in my life. My mom used to cut my hair, and I've found people or just done it myself I'm sure that there are a few people (some of my bosses) that would appreciate the death of the 'hawk, but its such a part of who I am, I can't really part with it yet....
I've never really thought about over-washing hair being bad for the scalp, but I guess it could be. at least now I have some ideas!

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Originally Posted by 0livia

Listerine?!!! Whow!
Well but probably a good germ killer as well. Could be harsh though.

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Don't even ask what Tom Jones did with Listerine! :eek:

THE TIGER?
Guess I can imagine, hehehe :ziplip:

GadgetGeek, take it slow!
When you're used to daily shower and hair wash now, don't change abruptly.
Try to stretch the periods between hair wash slowly.
Nagarmotha essential oil is great for the scalp btw.
Indian hair care products.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The ultimate solution? Use your straight to shave your head then you can use a variety of products to eliminate the dandruff.

Seriously though, pine tar shampoo is the nuclear solution to dandruff. It works as good as DDT on a roach.

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I've never tried, or even heard of, pine tar shampoo, but shaving your head does work. I used to have really bad dandruff all the time, and about 6 years ago I started shaving my head. The dandruff cleared up on it's own by the time I started to get a little bit of a tan up stairs, and after 2 years of not shaving my head, it still has not come back.

Program on TV the other night with doctors discussing medical problems, hit on the dandruff thing. According to them it is caused by a fungal infection like athletes foot. They recommended some products to use but my memory fails me on the recall. They did say to ask at your chemist. :shrug:

PuFF

Yes thats why I recommended tea tree oil.
Probably a sour rinse after wash would help for a better skin protection as well.

Today I've heard rosemary infused in vodka would be good.
The vodka extracts the rosemary EOs which help to disinfect as well.

thanks for the added ideas, my current shampoo is pretty rosemary heavy it seems. I've lived with the dandruff so long that I suspect it has another cause, it's not the normal flakes on the shoulders kind of dandruff, more like, stuck to the scalp cement layer.
I appreciate the ideas though, I'll give the tea tree oil a shot for a while and see how that goes. my scalp has had so many chemicals on it it's not funny, but none of them have had all that much benefit, save the head and shoulders a bit.