The L’Oreal Elvive, PhytoClear anti-dandruff soothing shampoo lathers and rinses to match the performance of any of their other L’Oreal Elvive products. It lathers supremely, spreads well and washes out with ease. You couldn’t ask for more. The secret to reducing the appearance of persistent visible flakes. The L’Oréal laboratories have succeeded in developing a formula which harnesses the power of Active Selenium S*, an effective weapon against dandruff. Its formula covers the scalp evenly and acts: I have a really dry flaky scalp and dandruff, so I've always used an anti-dandruff shampoo and Head and Shoulders is always my go-to. To use, you apply the shampoo to wet hair, lather then rinse. I also use the TRESemmé Botanique Conditioner to complete the process.

Second in line we have tea tree leaf oil. Tea tree oil is a naturally occurring ingredient renowned for its anti-septic properties. This makes it of potential use when treating dandruff due to the overgrowth of malassezia yeast. When populations of malassezia yeast fall, dandruff recedes. Tea tree oil is an anti-dandruff ingredient giving with one hand and taking away with the other – more about this soon. The shampoo is infused with coconut oil and aloe vera, which aims to nourish and quench the hair. It is also free from parabens, dyes and silicones. Tea tree oil, along with the advertised Phytoclear ‘3 essential oil blend’ comes with a significant list of allergens;

L'Oreal Elvive Nourishing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo 400ml

The first signs of dandruff is an itchy, dry scalp, with white flakes that accumulate in the hair. Dandruff is something most common in the winter months when hair and the scalp is at its driest, but while in summer, I also see a lot of issues arise with the scalp due to burning, which can result in a flaky scalp," says Trichologist and Viviscal ambassador, Hannah Gaboardi.

After washing my hair, I gave my hair a good rinse and towel-dried it before brushing my hair and then giving it a once over with the air dryer. My hair smelled amazing and was bouncy and shiny. Dandruff can occur when the skin on the scalp loses its balance. To effectively combat dandruff, you need to act on visible flakes whilst caring for the scalp, helping to maintain a natural balance. L’Oreal certainly has the means to make their Phytoclear anti-dandruff shampoo a revelation – can it match up? Gaboardi suggests using scalp treatments, such as a scalp scrub, to prevent build up which can cause dandruff. To prevent dandruff don't overuse things like scrubs or clarifying shampoos as this can mess with the natural oils in the scalp. Where to buy: You can buy Head and Shoulders Supreme Moisture from Wilko, Superdrug, Tesco and Boots.

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It sounds cliché, but being kind and gentle to your hair is key when suffering from dandruff. "I would always recommend using a regular cleansing and gentle shampoo to reduce oil and skin-cell build up. If you suffer from really bad dandruff, I recommend using a dandruff-specific shampoo. I love using a scalp massager anyway, but I would recommend putting the shampoo on first, then massaging it into your scalp. This is a great way of exfoliating the scalp and removing any dead skin cells," says Gaboradi. L’Oreal are a cosmetics company – they make body lotions, mascaras, nail varnish, perfume and shampoos. They are the largest cosmetics company in existence – they own La Roche-Posay, Vichy, The Body Shop, Kiehl’s and more. Their aim in all endeavors is to ‘provide the best in cosmetics innovation to everyone around the world’. Although L’Oreal does not specialize in the treatment of the scalp, they absolutely invest well in their research and development facilities. In 2015 investment stood at €794M – a figure which by now, is sure to have risen. I asked trichologist, Sey, what I should know about the shampoo before I start using it. She told me it is a "clinically proven treatment for dandruff flare ups, which treats the cause of dandruff, relieves itching, helps remove flakes and soothes inflammation, with an active ingredient that gets right to the cause of the problem". Now we have the ‘ science but not science ’ marketing terms covered, on to the real-life active ingredients…

One mistake I made was convincing myself my scalp was just a little bit of dryness and not dandruff. Gaboardi explains the difference. "Dandruff causes the scalp to flake and causes visible flakes on clothing or in the hair. In contrast, a dry scalp means your hair isn't producing or holding enough moisture—not necessarily producing dandruff," she tells me. What can you do to prevent dandruff? After a few uses of the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Shampoo, I still haven't noticed any change in texture from swapping to a cheaper brand. Result! You must assess your hair's needs. If you go to the gym everyday you may need to wash your hair more often, the same if you have oily hair for example. People do tend to over wash when they have dandruff as they feel it helps improve things – but I would suggest not over washing, as you want to keep your scalp ecosystem as balanced as possible," Sey explains. How often should you use dandruff shampoo? I have taken to using this shampoo twice before applying conditioner to ensure it is fully clean and oil free, which has made a huge difference to how often I need to wash my hair or use dry shampoo during the week - and it definitely doesn’t get greasy as often now. This shampoo has given me the shiny, fresh looking hair I've always wanted and I've recommended it to everyone I know.Where to buy: You can buy Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Moisturizing Lather Shampoo from Look Fantastic and Feel Unique. If you've been suffering from dandruff for some time, you may want to go see a trichologist or your doctor. This here is the shampoo recommended to me by the trichologist I saw. Salicylic acid is an acid, but not one you should be scared of. Although acid brings to mind sensations of pain, salicylic acid, in fact, has a pH very similar to skin, which itself is also slightly acidic. Salicylic acid is a very effective keratolytic meaning it will soften and dissolve visible and dry patches of dandruff. It will also go on to prevent the formation of more, softening the skin in such a way that it can no longer leave you with snowy shoulders. Dandruff is usually caused by an imbalance on the scalp, whether that is triggered by stress or hormonal imbalances. The scalp is similar to the skin on our face, and when there is an imbalance, it gets inflamed. On the scalp this shows up as itchiness, dead skin cells and flakes. What is the best way to look after hair with dandruff?