1. Go More Than a Few Days Without Shampooing Hair
When your hair is shedding and thinning, every time you shampoo it you probably stand back and wait to see how much more hair will shed in your brush. But fearing your next shampoo session isn’t a reason to avoid it. According to Dr. Liu, sebum and "dead skin buildup" on the scalp contribute to dandruff and inflammation, and both of these can get in the way of proper hair growth. If you’re struggling with hair loss, Dr. Liu encourages keeping up with your scalp health and washing your hair more frequently. Depending on your lifestyle, this can mean every day or every other day if you work out and your scalp becomes sweaty.
2. Using Anti-Dandruff Shampoo On a Daily Basis
Even though anti-dandruff shampoos can curb inflammation and dandruff, they’re often very drying for your scalp and hair, especially formulations like ketoconazole. If you use these on a daily basis, your hair can become dry and frizzy. A better option is to use them once or twice a week if you are prone to dandruff and to only apply them to your scalp (not hair). Leave it on for five minutes before rinsing it out.
3. Applying Olive Oil to Scalp and Hair
The magic of essential oils on the scalp, particularly rosemary, is well documented. Many experts swear by these oils to nourish the scalp and provide benefits that help curb hair loss and shedding. But one oil that Dr. Liu says she’d never use? Olive oil. Olive oil has not been demonstrated to help with scalp issues. Since dandruff is due to "overgrowth of yeast," she discourages using any product that can feed on sebum and lipids, and olive oil is just that.