Many consumers end up asking the question “Do shampoo bars cause dandruff?” when they switch from liquid to bar or after trying a new brand.
In short, the answer is yes but rarely. The root is not from the shampoo bar itself but from the way you choose and use it. And the solution is to find anti-dandruff shampoo bars and learn how to use them properly to eliminate this situation.
This article will help!
Why Shampoo Bars Cause Dandruff?
Use poor-quality products
The idea of shampoo bars is great, thinking of how you contribute to a green environment by reducing plastic hair products. Moreover, shampoo bars often have biodegradable formulas of natural ingredients. Therefore, shampoo bars have become more and more common these days.
Unfortunately, the rising fame of shampoo bars leads to the introduction of many low-quality products. They feature a high content of synthetic fragrance, foaming agents, and many alkaline ingredients.
Together, they irritate the delicate and eczema skin around the nape and hair, which creates a favorable environment for dandruff to develop.
Wax build-up
Unlike a liquid form, shampoo bars can also leave a film-like residue on your hair if not rinse thoroughly. When combined with natural oils generated by the scalp and hard water, that residue becomes more challenging to wash out. It is another source of dandruff.
Your scalp needs time to adjust
Even reliable shampoo bars might cause the problem of dandruff when you use them for the first time. Your hair needs a break to get used to a new treatment.
Back then, chemical liquid shampoos often clean the residue quickly and strip natural oils away, and your scalp is conditioned to produce more oil to compensate.
Shampoo bars wash out less oil, but your scalp still does not balance the oil production yet. Hair may feel and look extra greasy or heavy during the transition period. As a result, dandruff can be seen more frequently.
Related:
Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Bars: A Treatment to Dandruff!
To sum up, three main reasons leading to dandruff situations are the choice of wrong shampoo bars, improper hair washing, and the lag transition time from liquid to shampoo bars.
So, get started with choosing a suitable bar. If the dandruff situation is severe, you can consider using anti-dandruff products. If possible, you should refer to the advice of your doctor first.
As its name suggests, the bars are designed to decrease yeast on the scalp and keep it from releasing too much oil. All ingredients are natural and comfortable on the delicate scalp, and there are antibacterial properties to treat the pain.
In general, the shampoos to treat dandruff often contain some active ingredients as follows:
- Salicylic acid to remove dead cells from the scalp.
- Selenium sulfide and coal tar slow down the growth of dandruff.
- Zinc pyrithione and ketoconazole to cope with the fungus.
How to Choose Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Bars?
You do not have to stick to a specific shampoo bar all the time. Rather than that, you should consider your choice based on your hair’s features.
Dry hair
Dry hairs also have dry scalp, which quickly gets irritation and dandruff. The cuticle layers tend to be frizzy due to the lack of moisture.
Thus, shampoo bars for dry hair should have rehydrating ingredients such as oatmeal, calendula, and manuka oils. Fruit oils from argan, avocado, or olive are also good at moisturizing the scalp.
Oily hair
If you have oily hair, it is most likely to suffer from nasty-looking grease and gets dirty quickly, an ideal environment for bacteria growth and dandruff.
Bars having natural components like apple cider vinegar, orange, lemon, aloe vera will help control the oil effectively.
Color-treated hair
Dyed colors look gorgeous; however, it also means you need to take extra care to nurture the hair from the scalp and strengthen it. Otherwise, it turns out to be dead dry and weak, resulting in dandruff development.
When dyeing, the chemicals like Ammonia or Ethanolamine will strip out the natural oil of hair. It means that your hair has lost its protective barrier, making it prone to dandruff. Let alone those chemicals themselves are irritating to your scalp and lead to dandruff.
We would suggest using coconut or argan shampoo bars
Dull hair
Lack of moisture links to dull hair. And it’s on the same boat with dry hair, which is open to dandruff.
Lemon and lime oils in several shampoo bars give a deep clean and help combat breakage and luster in the strands. Not to mention, they can fight dandruff and provide volume and shine to your dull hair.
3 Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Bars with Reviews
Even more, we give a shortcut to the best anti-dandruff shampoo bars for your reference.
Ethique Heali Kiwi Shampoo For Dandruff – Good for All Dandruff Hair
This pick is a versatile shampoo bar that can win any heart. As mentioned, some shampoo bars may cause wax build-up after using, but this is not the case for Ethique Heali Wiki. It’s soap-free and won’t leave a waxy feeling for your hair, thus reducing the risk of dandruff.
As its name suggests, one of the main ingredients is Kiwi oil, which is full of zinc. This is an antibacterial mineral, fighting off yeast, treating and preventing dandruff.
Not to mention, there are coconut oil, neem oil, and karanja oil in this solid shampoo to condition your scalp and promote healthy hair growth.
The only problem is that the bar disintegrates quickly. When not in use, the bar should be stored in a dry place.
ArtNaturals Orange Shampoo Bar – Best for Sensitive Scalp
Orange oil is both anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, which can soothe your irritated and itchy scalp to prevent dandruff. It’s sweet orange scent also brings you a relaxed experience during showertime.
But dandruff treatment is not the only highlight of this ArtNatural shampoo bar. It is packed with palm oil, olive oil, and coconut oil, essential to condition and nourish your hair.
With the skin-friendly formula (vegan, gluten-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free), you can rest assured that this shampoo bar can work well for even sensitive scalp without allergic reaction.
A small note from our experience, the ArtNaturals Shampoo Bar 3 Piece Set dries quickly and leaves the residue behind. You had better wash the shampoo carefully.
Noble Formula 2% Pyrithione Zinc – Best for Dry Hair
If you have dry hair with dandruff, you can consider using Noble Formula 2% Pyrithione Zinc bar.
The product features a unique formula of active Pyrithione Zinc. This ingredient has antimicrobial and antifungal properties that effectively treat dandruff.
Moreover, there is a goodness of emu and olive oils. They often penetrate the scalp, provide moisture from the inside, and keep it on your hair for a long time.
Interestingly enough, this bar can be used for both hair and body. Its antibacterial feature makes it a great treatment for acne and eczema. With this safe and versatile profile, it’s understandable that many users trust this product as their go-to shampoo bar.
It does not feature a good lather, though. You might overuse the shampoo sometimes.
How to Use Shampoo Bars to Get Rid of Dandruff?
After choosing the right product, the second step is to use the shampoo bars correctly on your hair to prevent grease and damage to the scalp. That time, you can follow the five steps as follows.
Step 1: Soak hair with comfortable water
You must wet your hair with clean and fresh water. You should not use hot water since it badly dehydrates your scalp and worsens dandruff.
Make sure that the hair is fully immersed and if you have some time, massage your head to have the water penetrate the scalp.
Step 2: Wet the shampoo bar and lather up
You do not need to douse the shampoo bar in water but only pass it lightly under the shower.
You can either rub the shampoo on your hair or create suds with your palm. Then, apply a coat from the root to the tip of the hair.
Step 3: Work the shampoo hair in
When you create enough suds on your hair, you can wash the hair like the way you use the liquid shampoo.
Massage it lightly into your scalp to remove the build-up and dandruff. Imagine sandwiching the hair within two palms and rubbing them together from the top down.
Step 4: Rinse the residue carefully
You have to avoid leaving any product behind, particularly within your curls. Wax build-up is one of the common causes of dandruff.
Thus, give the hair a good rinse under clean water and repeat the process a couple of times.
Step 5: Apply conditioner, if possible
Besides shampooing your hair, you should also add more nutrients to strengthen the scalps to find against dandruff.
It is also necessary to find natural conditioners as well.
See also: 6 Steps to Use Shampoo Bars in Hard Water
Be Patient During The Transition Time
Finally, you had better give your hair some time to adjust and balance the oil production. In the first week of the new routine, you can experience some build-up and dandruff.
It is a good idea to alternate between the new bar and your old liquid shampoo in the beginning. Then, you can even buy several shampoo bars and swap them one now and then. This way helps your scalp to get contact with different formulas and adjust more quickly.
Wrapping Up
Next time someone asks you, do shampoo bars cause dandruff? We believe that you can now answer their question and even give them advice on choosing the best products.
Shampoo bars can’t cause dandruff unless you choose the wrong product and use it in the wrong way. Some are even your saviors with the anti-dandruff property.
The keys are to pick up a shampoo bar based on your hair type; apply it properly on your hair, and be patient with the new haircare routine.
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