I’ve struggled with dandruff and an irritated scalp my entire life. I’ve rotated through multiple dandruff shampoos, finding what’s worked perfectly for me and my scalp concerns. However, I’ve had to limit my use of dandruff and scalp care products since coloring my hair. Before going purple, I didn’t realize that most dandruff shampoos are not color safe in the least bit. In fact, it’s a well known DIY hack to use dandruff shampoo to actually strip color from the hair if you want to change your shade. Because of that, I’ve limited my use of scalp care products to about once a month, and right before I touch up my color. It’s the bare minimum I need to keep things under control, but I know my scalp could use more TLC.
A few weeks ago, the Derma E Scalp Relief Shampoo and Conditioner landed in my inbox and from what I knew about the brand, I was determined to try it out and hoped for great results. The brand is known for sulfate-free, eco-friendly and vegan products with clean ingredients, so I was hopeful that this regimen would be effective against flakes, yet gentle on color. Spoiler alert: I was not disappointed!
The formula’s highlights are a Therapeutic Psorzema Herbal Blend with Neem, Burdock and bearberry which help replenishes a dry irritated scalp, Tea Tree Oil and Menthol to help soothe itchiness with a cooling effect and keep the scalp clear, and finally Salicylic Acid to get rid of surface buildup.
The first time I used this duo, my scalp was in bad shape. It was itchy, flaky, and irritated from me scratching and picking at it. A bad habit, I know, but sometimes I can’t help it, and my scalp was actually feeling sore. Right after applying the shampoo and rubbing it in, I felt the cooling effect take over. It felt amazing and immediately soothing. Another thing I noticed straightaway was that unlike many other dandruff shampoos with menthol, the scent was not overpowering at all. There was a slightly minty scent, but it wasn’t too strong and nor did it linger in the hair after rinsing out.
But the biggest surprise when using this dandruff shampoo was that I hardly had any color run-off! I was even said “wow” out loud, because other dandruff shampoos cause the purple color to slip right out of my hair. The water ran only slightly tinted, so I knew that this shampoo wasn’t disturbing my color any more than a normal color safe shampoo.
Another characteristic of dandruff care products is that they can sometimes be drying to the hair— another thing I like to avoid. When rinsing out this shampoo, my hair did feel a bit tangly but not too unruly. I followed up with the Derma E Scalp Relief Conditioner which uses the same ingredients to really maximize results. Again, I experienced very little color rinsing out of my hair. I was actually blown away with how soft this made my hair feel after I got out of the shower and dried off. It was similar to as if I had done a deep conditioning treatment. There was also no residue or heavy feeling, and my waves looked healthy and shiny.
This dandruff shampoo and conditioner duo immediately became my favorite after one use, and after incorporating it into my routine for a few weeks now, I’m seeing a lot less flakes and irritation as a whole. Overall, they check all the boxes for me, and I’m ecstatic that I can give my scalp the care it deserves more often without worrying about my color. You can find the Derma E Scalp Relief Shampoo and Conditioner at Ulta Beauty for $10.99 each!
How do you care for dandruff?
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