White Flakes On the Scalp – Dandruff or Just Dry Scalp? (Query)

Hi, people! Today I thought to write on one of the most submitted queries – I’ve got white powdery flakes on my scalp. Is it dandruff or dry scalp?

I also shall be sharing a few ideas from my hair care routine to eliminate this scalp flakiness easily at home in less than a week. (Do try it and let me know how it worked for you!)

So have you ever wondered why your scalp starts producing these tiny white flakes just a day or two after hair wash, sometimes earlier, when you actually follow the right routine, use the right products and treat your hair good? Now, here’s some good news – this is not always dandruff but can just be normal scalp dryness. Dandruff can be greasier, bigger, white or yellow in color and clings to your scalp often causing redness/itchiness whereas the powdery flakiness is just your regular scalp-dead-cell shed.

I experience it too, especially if I go 2-3 days without hair wash and I’ve my own ways to fix it. Before sharing with you how I do it, I want you to know the causes so that you can plan your treatment right.

What causes the scalp flakiness?:
– Dehydration
– Dry skin throughout the body
– Unsuitable hair care products
– Not oiling your hair
– Sweat & dirt

How to fix these white flakes in less than one week?
– First up, increase your water consumption (this fixes your dehydration instantly)
– Include good fats in your diet – almonds, fish and ghee etc. (This is essential for your skin to maintain the moisture balance – skin on the scalp as wel. Dry skin (scalp) tends to flake a lot)
– Use mild hair cleansers. (Many people panic spotting the white flakes and immediately switch to an anti-dandruff shampoo which can make things worse, by drying out your scalp more. Do NOT do it.)
– Oil your hair regularly, at least before every hair wash. This is going to moisturize your scalp, loosen the dead skin cells and wash them off when you shampoo. This way, your scalp will flake less. (I’ve made a post on how long to leave oils on your hair. Do check it!)
– Use pure coconut oil or any other oil of your choice. But if your scalp is flaky (sensitive), avoid scented/colored oils or the ones filled with preservatives.
– Avoid direct sun exposure (this is going to help with your hair growth as well) and if you sweat, make sure to rinse your scalp and hair with clean, cold water to remove the deposited sweat residue. You need not shampoo but just rinse it if you feel like your scalp is covered with sweat.

What if you let the flakes develop and do nothing?: Actually, nothing bad is going to happen as long as your scalp is healthy and immune. It will just stay flaky and dirty till next wash. But if you’ve got a sensitive scalp, itchiness can develop and mind you, this can increase your shed rate leading to loss of hair. So the best option is to maintain your hair clean if our scalp is prone to flakiness. (Wash your hair once in 2-3 days) and don’t forget your oiling routine. I would have never been able to grow out my hair long if I hadn’t maintained it clean. Read my recent hair growth update and oiling routine if you need an idea on what my hair care routine is like.

Can it develop into dandruff?: I’m not very sure. But if your scalp starts producing sebum/fungus due to the dirt, flakes, and sweat, I think it can develop into dandruff. And dandruff is not good to deal with. Anti-dandruff shampoos can be drying and trigger more flakiness. So if you doubt your dry scalp is producing dandruff and not just flakes, add a teaspoon of neem oil to your weekly (or bi-weekly) oiling treatment and you should see good results! Even if you beleive you’ve got actual dandruff, the ideas mentioned above are definitely going to work for you. Try once.

Even if you don’t follow the other ideas I had mentioned above (hydration, diet-changes etc), as a quick fix, try oiling your hair pre-wash and see if your flakiness gets reduced/delayed. If your scalp starts flaking after day 3, it’s only normal and you can be sure your routine is right.

If you develop flakiness right on the hair wash day, your scalp lacks moisture and that needs to be fixed both internally and externally. Some people tend to develop flakiness during summers and some during winters. Every skin, every scalp is different. So experient, and share your experiences below!