Dandruff FAQs

Respect the Scalp - Love the Hair

dandruff faqs


  • I know Head & Shoulders helps protect my scalp. Are there any benefits for my hair?
    Absolutely! Our Head & Shoulders formulas provide amazing benefits for your hair. With our great scent and cleaning and conditioning system, your hair will smell and feel clean, shiny and manageable.
  • What is the best way to use Head & Shoulders to
    prevent dandruff?
    To get the full antidandruff efficacy from our shampoos and conditioners, apply to both your scalp and hair, then massage your scalp before rinsing. To maintain the scalp and hair protection you get from Head & Shoulders, use our conditioner with Head & Shoulders shampoo every time you wash your hair.
  • If I keep using Head & Shoulders, will it lose its
    effectiveness over time?
    No, you'll keep experiencing the same dandruff protection from Head & Shoulders for as long as you use it. You won't become immune to the active dandruff-fighting ingredients in Head & Shoulders, nor will the effectiveness of the dandruff-fighting agents decline over time.
  • What are the most common ways to treat dry scalp and dandruff?
    Dry scalp and dandruff can be treated with products containing at least one of the following types of active ingredients:

    Antidandruff ingredients reduce the amount of fungus on the scalp, therefore treating the leading cause of dandruff. These ingredients include pyrithione zinc (ZPT) and selenium sulfide.

    Anti-proliferative agents slow down the production of skin cells without necessarily acting directly against the fungus. One such ingredient is coal tar, which primarily treats the symptoms of dandruff.

    Keratolytic agents break down the intercellular bond (keratin) that holds skin cells together on the uppermost layer of the scalp. Therefore, when the top layer of cells are shed, they are separate rather than in clumps. These agents include sulfur and salicylic acid, which, again, primarily treat the symptoms and not a cause of dandruff.
  • Will Head & Shoulders be harsh on my hair?
    Actually, no. The Head & Shoulders shampoo formula has six times the moisturizers*, making sure your scalp is healthy and your hair is soft and manageable. The formula is so gentle you can even use it on color-treated hair.

    * vs non-conditioning shampoo

  • Why don't antidandruff shampoos get rid of dandruff forever? Why do flakes come back?
    Malassezia, the leading cause of dandruff, is a naturally occurring fungus which is found on everyone's skin. Some people are more sensitive to its presence than others; those who are more sensitive develop dandruff. Malessezia can be removed by regular treatment with Head & Shoulders shampoos and conditioners. However, if treatment stops, the fungus will naturally return—along with the flaky by-products.