Eeeekkkk! I cannot stand to see a flake on me so I try to get the best dandruff shampoo available - what about you - which brand do you use?
Head and Shoulders, the one which combines shampoo and conditioner. It's the lazy way of washing hair, but it does a good job with dandruff, at least for me.
I used to use Head and Shoulders, but it seemed like my 'flakes' were getting worse. Then I was told by my hairdresser girlfriend to stop washing my hair in hot water. Use lukewarm and use a cheap shampoo. I buy TreSomme and dilute it: one part shampoo to three parts water. Then I rinse with Listerine. Yep, the mouthwash! The regular one, not the minty fresh. One part Listerine to three parts cold water.
The hot water strips your hair of the natural oil, thus your scalp(body) makes more oil. This adds to the dandruff problem and also makes your scalp oily and it is not good for the hair. Washing with lukewarm water is much better on your hair and on your scalp. Then rinse with lukewarm water and once all the soap is out, a final rinse with the cold listerine water - if you have dandruff - or plain cold water if you don't.
The more expensive shampoos have so much perfume and other unnecessary additives in them, that just drag your hair down and are not all that good for your scalp and hair. If you need a conditioner, then use one ~ but dilute it in water first. Equal parts is good. This also extends the usage of your conditioner. It also saves on the amount of water you use to rinse it out of your hair.
I have had dandruff problems as well as dry scalp for years and wish I knew what I could do to prevent this from affecting me but since I have not found a scientific solution to these problems I have found Selsum Blue. It has been the best remedy that I could find and after using it for nearly 3 years now I couldn't be happier with it. It comes highly recommended by me and if you question how well it works simply ask cwahsheh if I leave flakes everywhere.
My wife has a very itchy dry flaking scalp as well. She used Head and Shoulders, the tried Selsum Blue when we had a coupon. She says that the Selsum is much better for her than the head and shoulders. Another one she uses is something from v05, but thats a little expensive.
Timotei is the best one in my opinion, I believe it works far better and far quicker than it's other main competitors.
The advice from Agene about diluting it with water first works well too, you still get a good lather even though it is diluted.