Dandruff is a very common hair problem, and it is a problem that can ruin your hair health as well if not taken care of. But before you need to understand why dandruff occurs, actually, it happens because of the growth of a free fungus called Malassezia on your scalp. Mostly, this and other fungus starts to build upon the scalp because of the excess oil which our scalp’s upper skin layer secretes.
But to help you fight against this common hair problem, there are majorly two different options present. The first one is the anti-dandruff shampoo, and the second one is anti-dandruff oil. And people often find themselves in a confusing situation while choosing the right one to tackle the dandruff problem. But we suggest you should make the final decision as per your needs and type of scalp. Thus, we have decided to come up with a detailed comparison between anti-dandruff shampoo and oil to lead you towards the right one as per your requirements.
Anti Dandruff Shampoo
Anti-dandruff shampoos are the most common and accessible options to fight against the dandruff problem these days. And if you are dealing with continuous white flakes falling from your hair or a little bit of itchiness, then going with Anti-dandruff shampoo can benefit you.
Why Do You Need It?
Like we mentioned earlier, anti-dandruff shampoos can help you with white dandruff or skin flake falling from your hair. Unlike other normal shampoos, the anti-dandruff ones can directly work on removing excess oil from your scalp to low down the risk of bacterial build-up. It ultimately helps you to keep your scalp dry and away from the Malassezia and other fungal infections.
But the thing to keep in mind is that some shampoo brands offer additional ingredients in their formula, making the situation worse. Therefore, we always suggest that it would be better for you to consult this problem with a specialist if you have a very severe dandruff problem. And do not ever try to use a mild sensation anti-dandruff shampoo because it could have the alcohol, which is not good for hair health.
Application
Anti-dandruff shampoos usually come with chemicals or ingredients such as pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, and piroctone olamine. These chemicals can directly show the effect on removing excess oil and killing the bacterias at the hair roots. But these chemicals are the highly reactive ones; therefore, it would be better for you to rinse off the shampoo after a few minutes.
After consulting with your hair health specialist, you can choose an anti-dandruff shampoo based on your scalp type. Then you only need to apply it as you usually apply other shampoos. But keep in mind to massage it a bit longer, from at least 5 to 8 minutes. Then you should rinse it off with water properly, and that’s it, there is nothing else to do.
Anti Dandruff Oil
Some people think that oiling is a bad choice for the dandruff problem, but some think the exact opposite. We all know that dandruff occurs when the bacterias start to build up in the hair roots because of the excess oil. Right? But there are plenty of anti-dandruff oil options present in the market that comes with anti-bacterial ingredients, and they can also balance the pH of our scalp.
Why Do You Need It?
Like we mentioned earlier, anti-dandruff shampoos contain anti-bacterial ingredients; therefore, you can expect a better effect after each use. If you are a person who not only wants to get rid of dandruff but also wants to nourish your hair, then anti-dandruff oils are the best option for you.
There are some criteria an anti-dandruff oil must pass like it should have the anti-bacterial ingredients to kill the fungus and bacterias. Along with this, it must balance the unbalanced pH of the scalp because of the excess oil and bacterial build-up. It will be an add on if you choose an option that provides moisturization to your hair for better hair health.
Application
The application of an Anti-dandruff oil is completely different from a shampoo because shampoo has highly active chemicals. Thankfully, there is no such case with oiling because anti-dandruff oils usually come with ingredients that react slowly and deeply.
Most anti-dandruff shampoo brands suggest you leave the formula or oil in your hair or on your scalp for at least 3 hours to overnight. It’s because the oil needs to go a bit deeper into the hair roots and scalp; therefore, it would be better for you to leave it on your scalp after the massage. And do not forget to wash off your hair and scalp after the oiling with a regular shampoo. In this way, you can remove all the oil present on your scalp, which ultimately prevents bacterial or fungal growth.
Which One Is Better?
Well, if you are seeking the answer of which one is better between anti-dandruff shampoo and oil, then no one can tell you exactly which one you should choose, except your hair health specialist. We always suggest you consult your hair related problem with a medical professional, then after you should move forward to choose an appropriate product.
But in our opinion, it depends upon what is your requirement if you are feeling confused while choosing the right one between these two. But let’s keep it simple and understandable for everyone, so if you don’t have too much dandruff issue and don’t want to oil your hair more often, then anti-dandruff shampoo is the right choice for you. If your motive is to remove the dandruff problem and maintain good hair health, you should possibly go with the anti-dandruff oil option. Also, keep in mind that oiling is a slow process, but it is great for greater long-term results.
Final Thoughts
Asking recommendations from friends about anti-dandruff shampoo and oil is not the right approach to tackle this problem. Therefore, consulting it with a hair health specialist is recommended for all. But if you want to know more about the differences between anti-dandruff shampoo and oil, then this post was all about you.