How to Get Rid of Dandruff: Practical Steps for Men

To get rid of dandruff, use a medicated anti-dandruff shampoo and use it properly: lather it into the scalp, not just the hair, and leave it on for the time the bottle states before rinsing. The NHS suggests looking for ingredients such as ketoconazole, coal tar or salicylic acid, and giving a product up to four weeks before judging it. If one doesn’t work, try a different active ingredient. Dandruff is not a sign of poor hygiene, and it usually comes back if you stop entirely, so the aim is control rather than a one-off cure. If it persists after a month, or the scalp is red, swollen or very itchy, see a GP.

What dandruff actually is

Your scalp sheds skin constantly; normally you never see it. Dandruff is when that shedding speeds up and the cells clump into visible flakes. The NHS dandruff page notes it can be linked to a yeast that lives naturally on everyone’s skin, or to skin conditions such as eczema, and that stress and cold weather can make it worse.

That yeast point matters for the practical side. The yeast feeds on scalp oil, which is why dandruff is often worse in men with oily scalps, why it tends to flare in winter when people wash less and wear hats more, and why antifungal shampoos are the backbone of treatment.

It is also worth knowing what dandruff isn’t. Small, dry, white flakes with a tight-feeling scalp can be plain dryness, which needs a different approach. Larger, yellowish, slightly greasy flakes are more typical of dandruff. Our post on dry scalp vs dandruff sets out how to tell them apart before you buy anything.

Which shampoo ingredient to choose

Anti-dandruff shampoos are defined by their active ingredient, not their brand. The common ones work in different ways:

Ingredient	What it does	Worth knowing
Ketoconazole	Antifungal, targets the yeast	Available from pharmacies; often used twice a week
Zinc pyrithione	Antifungal and antibacterial	In many everyday supermarket anti-dandruff shampoos
Selenium sulphide	Slows skin cell turnover, antifungal	Can have a distinct smell; follow contact time closely
Coal tar	Slows skin cell turnover	Strong smell; can tint very light or grey hair
Salicylic acid	Loosens and lifts scale	Clears flakes but can be drying if overused

A pharmacist can help you choose and explain how to use it. If you have tried a supermarket zinc shampoo for a month with little change, moving to a different active, such as ketoconazole, is the logical next step rather than trying another zinc brand.

Using it so it actually works

Most men who say anti-dandruff shampoo “doesn’t work” are using it like ordinary shampoo: a quick lather on the hair, an immediate rinse. The active needs contact with skin, and time.

1. Wet the hair and scalp thoroughly.
2. Apply to the scalp, not the lengths. Part the hair in a few places if it is thick, and work the shampoo onto skin with your fingertips. Not nails: scratching inflames the scalp.
3. Leave it on. Check the bottle; several minutes is typical. Use the time to wash everything else.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Residue left on the scalp can itself irritate.
5. Use a light conditioner on the lengths only if the medicated shampoo leaves hair feeling rough.
6. Follow the stated frequency. Some products are designed for two or three times a week, with ordinary shampoo in between.

A four-week plan

• Weeks one and two: Use your chosen medicated shampoo as directed, with proper contact time. Expect itching to settle before flaking does.
• Weeks three and four: Continue. Note honestly whether flakes are fewer, smaller or unchanged.
• End of week four: If clearly better, drop to a maintenance rhythm, often once a week, to keep it away. If no better, switch active ingredient or speak to a pharmacist. If severe, or the scalp is red or swollen, see a GP.

Habits that make it worse

• Washing too rarely. Oil and loose skin build up, and the yeast has more to work with. Men with short hair who rinse without shampoo for days are often surprised how much this matters. See how often men should wash their hair.
• Scratching. It loosens more flakes and can break the skin.
• Heavy products on the scalp. Oil-based pomades and thick waxes worked down to the roots trap oil and dead skin. Keep product on the hair.
• Very hot showers. Comfortable in January, but hot water strips the scalp and can leave it irritated.
• Not washing hats. A beanie worn all winter holds onto everything your scalp sheds.

Your beard and eyebrows can flake too

The same process often shows up in facial hair: flakes in the beard, scaling in the eyebrows or beside the nose. The NHS advises seeing a GP if you have flaky, itchy patches on your face or elsewhere on your body, as it may point to a skin condition such as seborrhoeic dermatitis. For the beard side specifically, see our post on beard dandruff.

When to see a GP rather than keep trying

See a GP if:

• flaking has not improved after at least four weeks of anti-dandruff shampoo
• the scalp is very itchy, red or swollen
• there are thick, silvery plaques, or patches extending beyond the hairline
• you have patches of hair loss with scaling
• the skin is weeping, crusting or painful

Psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections and contact dermatitis can all look like dandruff and need different treatment.

What happens if you have dandruff in the barber’s chair

Nothing awkward. Barbers see flaky scalps every day, and you do not need to wash with something special before coming in. At the start of every visit to Highgate Cuts, the barber assesses your hair and scalp before cutting and makes recommendations. If something looks like more than ordinary dandruff, they will say so and suggest a pharmacist or GP. Barbers are not medics, but they do see a great many scalps.

A shorter cut also helps practically: medicated shampoo reaches the scalp more easily, and it rinses out faster. If that appeals, the barbers on Archway Road can suggest a shape that suits your hair as well as your routine.

Questions we get asked

Can dandruff be cured permanently?

Usually it is controlled rather than cured. Many men keep it away with a medicated wash once a week.

Is dandruff contagious?

No. The yeast involved lives on everyone’s skin.

Does dandruff cause hair loss?

Ordinary dandruff doesn’t. Patchy hair loss with scaling is a reason to see a GP.

Should I stop using hair products?

Not necessarily. Keep them off the scalp, and wash them out properly each time.

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