4 Tips to Help Stay Flake-Free

Black on black is a classic go-to, that is, unless your scalp makes it impossible to rock the look without a dusting of dandruff. According to the Mayo Clinic, dandruff can be caused by a number of factors, dry skin being the most common. As long as your dandruff isn’t being caused by an underlying skin condition—which means you should consult your dermatologist, stat—there are steps you can take to help ditch those flakes that ruin that classic black on black ensemble. Try some of the tips below to help keep dandruff away.

The Mayo Clinic notes that a poor diet can up your chances of developing dandruff. Look for foods high in zinc, B vitamins, and healthy fats. Many sources suggest that biotin is an essential vitamin for healthy skin and hair, while further studies are needed, it never hurts to eat a well-balanced diet—especially if it can help you have better looking skin and hair. The University of Maryland Medical Center lists cooked egg yolks, nuts and nut butters, legumes, bananas, cauliflower, and mushrooms as biotin-rich foods. 

Since the leading cause of dandruff is dry skin, a safe bet for avoiding flakes is taking steps to keep your scalp hydrated. Just like on the rest of our body, dry skin on the scalp can be caused by low humidity in the air, washing with water that’s too hot, and excessive sun exposure. Factors we can control are simple—turn down the heat in the shower and wear a hat during long-days in the sun—but dealing with the weather is trickier. To combat the effects of a cold climate, try to indulge in a hydrating hair mask once a week.

Treat your scalp to a shampoo that is specialized to control dandruff like Redken’s Scalp Relief Dandruff Control Shampoo. Using pyrithione zinc—an FDA-approved ingredient for fighting flakes—the shampoo helps fight and control dandruff.  This shampoo leaves the scalp clarified and relieved and will help keep dandruff flakes at bay.

The Mayo Clinic lists not shampooing enough as another cause of dandruff. Your scalp should be cleansed just like the rest of your skin, otherwise product, oils, and dead skin cells can build up on the surface, resulting in flakes. Kiehl’s Deep Micro-Exfoliating Scalp Treatment uses Vitreoscilla Ferment and micronized apricot seeds and argan shells to gently loosen build-up.