Olaplex is exploding in popularity because of its proven ability to strengthen and repair your hair’s protein bonds. It’s gentle, non-toxic, and incredibly effective! But what can it do for your scalp? Does Olaplex help with dandruff?
If you want to know if Olaplex can be used as a dandruff treatment, keep reading. In this article, we’re going to look into Olaplex’s effect on the scalp and share with you some of the most effective anti-dandruff treatments available.
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Does Olaplex Help with Dandruff?
Olaplex products can help with dandruff. While Olaplex is best known for its bond repairing technology, but some of the products they carry can also help ease dandruff symptoms. The best Olaplex products for dandruff are Olaplex No. 4, Olaplex No. 7, and Olaplex No. 8.
Want to know more? In the next section, we’ll cover each of these Olaplex products in more detail.
Olaplex No. 4
Olaplex’s signature shampoo contains a versatile mix of ingredients that can address a number of hair and scalp issues.
It gently cleans and nourishes your locks while anti-microbial ingredients like oregano, rosemary, vinegar, and noni extract calm your inflamed scalp. Olaplex No. 4 will leave your hair and scalp cleaner, shinier, and easier to manage after every use.
Olaplex No. 7
Olaplex No. 7 is a blend of oils that can soothe your skin and reduce inflammation. It’s packed with nutrient-rich ingredients and anti-inflammatory properties, including moringa, neem oil, and pomegranate extract.
In addition to its scalp soothing properties, Olaplex No. 7 repairs and strengthens fragile strands. With regular use, you’ll see improvements in your hair’s shine and overall health.
Olaplex No. 8
If your dandruff is the result of dry skin, Olaplex No. 8 can help. Dry skin results in flakes that look similar to dandruff and can make actual dandruff worse.
This hydrating mask fights dry skin with wholesome ingredients, such as amino acids, rice bran oil, rose hip oil, and ceramides. It’s also clinically proven to improve your hair’s shine, body, moisture, and smoothness!
Proper Dandruff Treatments to Consider
While Olaplex products can be helpful in your fight against dandruff, that’s not their primary purpose. Using a product or treatment specifically formulated to treat dandruff will give you much better results.
Here are some of our recommendations for proper dandruff treatments.
Anti-dandruff Shampoo
When it comes to fighting dandruff, anti-dandruff shampoos are your first line of defense. They treat dandruff at the source with powerful anti-microbial ingredients.
However, some people may find their formulas extremely drying, so try not to use anti-dandruff shampoos more than twice a week. If you wash your hair more often than that, alternate between the regular and medicated shampoo.
Another thing to keep in mind is that various fungus-fighting active ingredients are available. So, if one type of shampoo doesn’t work well, just try another!
Similarly, your anti-dandruff shampoo may become less effective as the yeast becomes immune to the anti-fungal ingredients. In that case, switch it out for a different shampoo, and you’ll start to see your symptoms improve again.
Soak up Some Sun
Got a dandruff flare-up? It might be a great time to take a short walk or do that yard work you’ve been procrastinating on. The UV rays in sunlight can kill fungi and bacteria and help reduce flaking.
Still, sunlight can damage your skin and hair, so make sure you slather on some sunscreen before you head outside. It doesn’t take long to get the sun’s dandruff-fighting benefits, so go inside or cover your head with a hat after a few minutes have passed.
Use an Anti-fungal Cream
Anti-fungal creams, like the ones made to fight athletes’ foot and yeast infections, effectively reduce the size of fungal colonies on your scalp. They’re an excellent option for anyone who doesn’t wash their hair often or has a severe case of dandruff.
Just apply a small amount to the affected area once or twice a day, and you should notice your dandruff improving within a couple of weeks.
Try a Baking Soda Scrub
Baking soda is a cleansing agent that has powerful anti-microbial effects. Additionally, its abrasive nature can help break down build-up and dead skin flakes so you can rinse them away quickly.
Just be careful. Baking soda is extremely drying, so you’ll have to replenish your scalp’s natural moisture with deep conditioning treatments.
To make a baking soda scrub, mix four tablespoons of baking soda, one cup of water, and several drops of essential oil. Shake well and apply the paste to your hair.
Gently massage the mixture into your scalp and rinse well with warm water. Follow your typical wash day routine, and repeat the process up to once or twice a month.
3 Ways to Prevent Dandruff
In addition to hair products, there are a few lifestyle changes that you can make that will reduce flaking and dry scalp. Here are three of the most effective ways to soothe your scalp and prevent dandruff.
Wash Your Hair More Often
When you wash your hair, you’re getting rid of the yeast’s food source and making your scalp a less hospitable environment. But that doesn’t mean that you should wash your hair constantly.
Overwashing your hair can dry out your hair and scalp, so try to strike a balance between washing your hair enough and too much. For people with curly hair, washing your hair once or twice a week is usually sufficient.
If you don’t wash your hair enough, slowly increase the number of times you wash it each week and see how your scalp responds to the change.
Wash Your Accessories
Dirty hair accessories are your worst enemy when you have dandruff. Every time you wear a dirty hair accessory, you’re transferring all that dirt and oil back onto your strands.
The excess oil gives the yeast more food, leading to an explosion in fungal growth. You can fight this by washing the following accessories and hair-related items after every few uses.
- Hats
- Scarves
- Pillowcases
- Brushes and combs
- Headbands
Get a Water Softener
Hard water, which is common in American homes, can cause your dandruff to flare up. Hard water contains high amounts of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium carbonate.
When the minerals combine with your shampoo, it dries out your scalp. A dry scalp gets irritated and flaky, which leaves you with flakes that look just like dandruff.
Hard water can also make it easier for yeast to take over your scalp. You can combat this by installing a water softening filter onto your showerhead and using the purified water to care for your locks.
Showerhead filters remove the dissolved minerals before they settle on your scalp and dry it out. Once you switch over to cleaning your hair with purified water, you won’t go back!
Limit Your Use of Hair Products
Some products contain harsh ingredients that can aggravate your dandruff. If you notice more flakes when using a specific gel, cream, or spray, try to avoid it.
Instead, find wholesome alternatives that will soothe and nurture your scalp.
While everyone reacts to products differently, anyone fighting dandruff should try to avoid anything with drying ingredients like:
- Alcohol
- Sulfates
- Synthetic fragrances
- Parabens
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While Olaplex isn’t specifically made to treat dandruff, some products may offer you relief from mild dandruff symptoms. However, if your dandruff is moderate to severe, you shouldn’t treat it with untargeted products.
You’ll benefit more from a specialized dandruff cream, shampoo, or prescription treatment. Treatments like these will yield positive results with minimal setbacks.
We hope you were able to find all of the information you were searching for to keep your hair gorgeous and banish dandruff for good!
Kenneth Byrd holds a BS in Accounting and Management Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. With over 15 years of experience, Kenneth has been dedicated to hair care since 2008, when he co-founded Curl Centric® and Natural Hair Box alongside his wife. As a team, they promote healthy hair care practices through their comprehensive platform, Curl Centric. Curl Centric is a website operated by a husband and wife team that encourages healthy hair care. At Curl Centric, we aim to help our readers take control of their hair care journey and make good decisions about products, hairstyles, and maintenance techniques. We also have strict editorial integrity; here’s an explanation of our editorial guidelines and how we make money.