# Dry and very flakey scalp **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460 "2003-03-01T22:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/1 "2003-03-01T22:06:41Z")
I have a dry and flakey scalp, crusty is another good adjective. It’s gross and embarassing. I can wash my hair and it still looks like a major blizzard. It seems like I have tried everything to contain it and nothing works. A few of the things I have tried: Head and Shoulders, coal tar, tea tree oil and everykind of shampoo and conditioner that contains that ingredient, oil prescribed by my doctor and mixed by pharmacist $45 for 4 ounces of it, well water action shampoo (I do have well water), all kinds of deep moisture conditioners you buy in the individual package and hot oil treatments and the list goes on. My thyroid has been checked so it’s not that. My hairdresser has tried different things that don’t work either. I haven’t had a perm or color in years, just because I don’t want to add to the dryness of my scalp. I don’t even blow dry my hair or use hot rollers. I go to a beauty supply house today and ask for advice. The lady tells me I just have to keep trying till I find something that works for me. Gee, what till I’m broke lady? I ended up buying shampoo and some other kind of scalp oil in the ethnic aisle (I am white). I will point out one other thing about our water. It is hard. You can wash dishes and still come out with more spots than a dalmation. Would a shower head that has a filter help? I’m to broke for a water softner.What do you use to control your flakes? Now taking any ideas. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/2 "2003-03-01T22:18:06Z")
Vinegar. That flaky stuff is dried excess oil. To clean out the oil you need something to “strip” it off the scalp. Wash your hair like normal, rinse well with water, then rinse with vinegar. Warning : Vinegar is an acid. IT WILL HURT. Not bad pain (depending on your threshold of course) but you will feel it working. I have been doing this for years. Works well. Let me know how it works for you. e-mail in profile. Good Luck. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/3 "2003-03-01T22:19:41Z")
Oh yea, use the cheap white stuff. Nothing fancy. ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/4 "2003-03-01T23:11:15Z")
How often would one have to do that, **Booker**? Daily? Weekly? What? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/5 "2003-03-01T23:19:19Z")
You didn’t mention if your scalp was itchy as well (if it was as itchy as mine, you sure would have, I guess). Here in Calgary the water is very hard, and the winters are very dry. My scalp has been itching since I moved here, and I finally found a treatment that works. I know hairdressers tell you to never use drugstore products, but the only thing that works for my dry, itchy, flaky scalp is Clairol Herbal Essence shampoo for dandruff and conditioner for dry scalp (the shampoo is green and the conditioner is in a green bottle). I use them both in combination, and it seems to have done the trick. No more scratching until my scalp bleeds! They are also about $3 a bottle, so no big outlay if they don’t work as well for you. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/6 "2003-03-02T00:18:28Z")
I used to have an itchy flakey scalp, till I started using Fructis anti-dandruff, and it worked a treat, dunno if it’s available in the States tho’ … ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/7 "2003-03-02T00:21:02Z")
I may have spelled that wrong … ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/8 "2003-03-02T01:51:55Z")
I also get dry flaky scalp and I use Avalon Organic Botanicals Mint and Thyme shampoo and conditioner. Worked like a charm and it smells delish. ---
**Author:** ![Triss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Triss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triss)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/9 "2003-03-02T02:08:39Z")
Have you tried [Nizoral™?](http://www.nizoral.com/) It worked for my kid when all the tar-based stuff didn’t. It’s pricey but you only use it a couple times a week. Has your doc ruled out psoriasis? ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/10 "2003-03-02T03:04:15Z")
Vinegar, being cheap, I use it every time I wash my hair. If you don’t rinse it all the way out you smell like a salad all day. It works. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/11 "2003-03-02T03:39:43Z")
I have a suggestion that really helped me once: olive oil. Massage warm olive oil into your scalp and let sit for about a half an hour, comb thoughoughly, and then wash and rinse with vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/12 "2003-03-02T04:47:41Z")
I second the olive oil. Works as well as anything more expensive. Add some to your conditioner and leav it on for at least 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/13 "2003-03-02T13:20:23Z")
In the next few posts I epxect to see the word “croutons”. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/14 "2003-03-02T13:29:32Z")
I had this, on my eyebrows too, and it stopped when I went on the Atkins diet. Could be a coincidence - dunno - could be yeast or something being starved of the sugars it needs to thrive. BTW welcome **Lobelia Overhill** , nice to see another Ireland-based doper! ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/15 "2003-03-02T14:48:16Z")
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will have to try the vinegar and olive oil. I hadn’t heard either one of those. And yeah I was thinking the same thing about smelling like a salad. 🙂 Strangely enough no my head doesn’t itch like you think it would **featherlou**. I guess I can count myself luck in that area. I have started the Atkins diet, but hasn’t helped my scalp yet. And yes I have tried Nizoral ™, but it didn’t work for me. I will wait a few days, because I tried the new shampoo I bought yesterday last night. I want to try it a few times. If I start putting too much on my head I may not be able to figure out what has worked. Let’s hope something works. ---
**Author:** ![Felonious\_Mink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Felonious\_Mink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felonious_Mink)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/16 "2003-03-02T16:22:12Z")
I had a very bad flaky scalp problem that didn’t seem to respond to any commercially available shampoo/conditioner either. I started using some Chinese herbal stuff called Liu Wu Zi Ye which is a shampoo/shower gel - it’s fantastic stuff and it’s cleared up my problem very well. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/17 "2003-03-02T21:10:52Z")
Well, **Ashkicker** , you’ve got lots of good ideas here. Unfortunately, you probably will have to go the trial-and-error route to find the solution for you. I just gave my mom about 10 bottles of shampoo and conditioners that didn’t work for me (some even made my dry scalp worse :eek: ). Be heartened; the answer is out there. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/18 "2003-03-03T01:43:19Z")
[BOLD]Ashkicker[/BOLD], I have the same problem. In the winter, my scalp gets very itchy and flaky. I wash and condition my hair and rinse with vinergar. It sounds absurd, but my hair feels soft and my scalp feels soothed and clean. I’ve heard that vinegar restores the acid balance to the scalp. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/19 "2003-03-03T16:40:09Z")
I found my scalp improved with better nutrition. Also, when I shed 40 pounds and continued to eat right, focusing on balanced nutrition and no fad diets (especially atkins), my scalp and forehead too a drastic turn for the better. ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460/20 "2003-03-12T16:33:02Z")
Well I tried the vinegar folks. You should have warned me I needed goggles. The vinegar got in my eyes and I thought I may never see again. :eek: Sheeeeweeeee did that hurt. I have only done it once and I am going to try it again today. Any ideas on how to do this vinegar rinse with long hair and not get it in my eyes? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-and-very-flakey-scalp/158460.md?page=2)