• Vitamins & Supplements
  • Food & Drink
  • Sports Nutrition
  • Free From
  • Natural Beauty
  • Weight Management
  • Offers
  • Summer Shop
  • The Health Hub
  • Learn more Healthbox
  • Account
Track your order Delivery & Returns Help Centre My subscriptions

Customer Service

  • Contact us
  • Site map
  • Site map
  • Store locator

About us

  • Who are we
  • Working at Holland & Barrett
  • Press releases
  • Privacy & cookie policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Holland & Barrett More
  • Holland & Barrett International
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Modern Slavery Statement

Connect with us

Store
0370 606 6606
My account
Rewards
  • Sign in
  • How do I join?
  • What are the benefits?
  • FAQs
Holland & Barrett :: the good life
  • Menu
  • Account
  • Store
  • Basket
    Search for
    • Vitamins & Supplements
    • Food & Drink
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Free From
    • Natural Beauty
    • Weight Management
    • Offers
    • The Health Hub
    • Healthbox

    Home / Conditions / Skin Health / Dry Skin / Our pick of the best scalp treatments

    woman applying scalp treatment to her dry scalp
    woman applying scalp treatment to her dry scalp

    Our pick of the best scalp treatments

    Your scalp probably isn’t high on your list of beauty priorities. It’s hidden away beneath the hair, and we only seem to pay it any notice when it’s acting up.

    However, there’s no such thing as a healthy head of hair without a healthy scalp.

    Why a healthy scalp = good hair

    Your scalp is covered in hair follicles. These can easily get clogged with dead skin and sweat, as well as random particles (such as pollen or dust) and environmental pollutants which find their way onto the scalp throughout the day.1

    Hair follicles which are blocked don’t do as good a job of growing strong, healthy hair, and general build-up on the scalp can leave it flaky, itchy and sensitive. This is looking after your scalp is so important.

    A guide to scalp treatment products

    Here are our top tips for products which can help restore balance to stressed-out scalps.

    Shampoos

    Choose the right shampoo for your scalp type. If you don’t know your scalp type, it’s simple. Dry or sensitive scalps tend to flake and itch, whereas oily scalps are prone to flat, lank hair. If you have oily or dry skin on your face, you’re most likely to have this type of skin on your scalp, too.

    You could ask your hairdresser next time you’re in their chair if you’re unsure.

    • Oily scalps – a clarifying shampoo will help minimise the oil on your scalp to help prevent clogged follicles. Ingredients like tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and clary sage oil can rid your scalp of excess oil. We like the Earth Kind Tea Tree & Eucalyptus Shampoo Bar for Improved Scalp Health
    • Dry scalps –the best shampoo for dry, itchy scalp is a nourishing formula which helps to relieve dandruff. Try the Jason Dandruff Relief Shampoo
    • Sensitive scalps – using too many detergents and strong shampoos could upset a sensitive scalp. The best shampoo for sensitive scalp is one with organic plant extracts and natural ingredients, such as Natura Siberica Shampoo – Neutral for sensitive scalp or Ethique Heali Kiwi Shampoo Bar For Touchy Scalps.

    Conditioners

    Conditioners shouldn’t be applied to the scalp. Instead of giving you shiny, soft hair, you’re more likely to overload your scalp with heavy products and cause the hair at the scalp (where it’s newest and naturally most soft) to become lank and oily.

    Keep conditioners for the ends of your hair, where the hair is oldest and driest.

    Scalp Serums

    Your scalp is covered in skin. You wouldn’t consider a flaky, itchy face par for the course, so why do we so often ignore such issues on our scalp?

    Moisturise your scalp with a scalp serum, scalp cream or scalp oil. Some formulas are designed to be washed out and others are supposed to be applied to towel-dried hair and left in, so check the label.

    • Try Hanna Sillitoe Intensive Scalp Oil and leave the rich oil in overnight and wash out the following morning.
    • Sensitive scalps might like the Gallinée Scalp and Hair Serum, a lightweight oil-free serum enriched with fermented rice water.

    Scalp Masks

    A hair mask for dry scalp issues will give you serious scalp TLC and can make a real difference in the condition of your scalp and hair over time.

    The best dry scalp treatment will work like a scalp conditioner, delivering both clarifying ingredients and moisture to a parched scalp without weighing down your hair at the roots.

    • The Sea Magik Seaweed Scalp Mud Mask harnesses natural minerals from seaweed and Dead Sea mud. Used like a deep conditioner but concentrating on the roots not the ends, this mask is used after shampooing.
    • Dr Organic Hemp Oil Rescue & Restore Hair & Scalp Treatment is a leave-in scalp treatment which contains lots of natural ingredients such as aloe leaf juice, hemp seed oil and horsetail extract

    Dry scalp treatment: DIY

    If cash is short or if you just prefer making your own products, you can make an easy scalp mask at home. Try this:

    Honey is one of nature’s best offerings for beauty. It contains antioxidants2 and is also a humectant, meaning it attracts water which is great news for dry, flaky scalps.

    Manuka honey scalp scrub mask

    You’ll need:

    • 1 tablespoon manuka honey
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon sugar

    How to use:

    1. Mix ingredients apart from the sugar in a suitable bowl and microwave for 15 – 30 seconds. Once warm, add the sugar.
    2. Massage the warm mask into damp hair, allowing the sugar granules to act as an exfoliating scrub. Cover hair with a warm towel and leave for up to 30 minutes before rinsing out and shampooing thoroughly. Use weekly.

    Buy Hair Care

    Last updated: 10 August 2020

    Sources
    1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6369642/
    2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222484/

    Tweet
    Follow on Instagram
    Dry Skin Haircare Skin Health

    You may also like

    10 different curly hair types and how to look after them

    Article

    10 different curly hair types and how to look after them

    Curly hair comes in all shapes and sizes. That’s why some products and care routines..

    READ MORE...
    Hyperhidrosis: What exactly counts as excessive sweating?

    Article

    Hyperhidrosis: What exactly counts as excessive sweating?

    It’s mid-winter, and you’re pretty sure putting on the kettle isn’t usually classed as sweat-inducing..

    READ MORE...
    Your guide to using semi-permanent hair dye

    Article

    Your guide to using semi-permanent hair dye

    Have you got an urge to switch things up a bit with your hair by..

    READ MORE...

    Connect with us

    • Log in Register
    • rewards for life

    Customer service

    • Store locator
    • Contact us
    • Site feedback
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Delivery & returns
    • Site map
    • My account

    About us

    • Who we are
    • Working at Holland & Barrett
    • Press room
    • Privacy & cookie policy
    • Terms & conditions
    • Holland & Barrett More
    • Holland & Barrett International

    Brands

    • Holland & Barrett
    • Bootea
    • Dr Organic
    • Precision Engineered
    • Manuka Doctor
    • Good n Natural
    • Miaroma
    Register
    Click to verify if this website is operating legally

    Copyright © Holland & Barrett Retail Limited, 2017. All rights reserved. hollandandbarrett.com is a trading name of Holland & Barrett Retail Limited,. Registered office: Samuel Ryder House, Barling Way, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 7RH. Registered in England: company no. 2758955. Registered VAT no. 211727395.