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Jokes aside, it’s not your fault your dandruff won’t go away.
Here’s why oils (including coconut 🥥) will make your dandruff worse…
Myth #1: Dandruff is a dry scalp.
Fact #1: Dandruff is caused by fungus.
Many people think dandruff is simply a dry scalp, but they are not the same.
Dandruff is caused by a fungus called Malassezia, which thrives on the oil your scalp makes (aka sebum).
As the Malassezia yeast feeds on oils, it creates waste that irritates the skin and causes dead skin to build up and form the larger, oily flakes associated with dandruff.
In contrast, a dry scalp results from a lack of moisture, usually due to dry air or harsh hair products, producing tiny, transparent dry flakes that may not itch.
TLDR: While a dry scalp can sometimes cause tiny flakes, true dandruff (which is more common) is caused by Malassezia fungus living rent-free on your head.
Dandruff |
Dry Scalp |
---|---|
More severe and visible symptoms |
Usually less severe symptoms |
Larger oily yellowish or white flakes |
Tiny dry white or transparent flakes |
May be associated with skin redness or irritation |
No skin redness or irritation |
Caused by Malassezia fungus and inflammation |
Caused by toxic hair products, dehydration, hard water in the shower, etc. |
Requires an anti-fungal solution that can disrupt the biofilm and soothe skin without fungus-feeding oils |
Requires a scalp moisturizer or toxin-free shampoo that won’t dry your scalp |
Myth #2: Moisturizing can help.
Fact #2: The fungus feeds on oils like coconut.
The Malassezia fungus behind dandruff thrives on oils, waxes, and butters - especially those with fatty acid chains between C11 and C24, like coconut oil.
And yes, coconut oil is usually antifungal. But when it comes to Malassezia, the lauric acid in coconut oil is like fuel feeding the fungal fire 🔥
While these oils are often recommended for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (even on medical sites), they tend to make symptoms worse.
Dermatologists on the leading edge understand this, but most of the internet has not caught up.
The only truly safe oils for Malassezia-prone skin are MCT oil (without lauric acid) and squalane, which the fungus aren’t able to feed on.
🧔🏻♂️🧔🏾♂️ Got beard flakes? Or know someone who does?
By the way, the same fungus that causes flakes and itching on the scalp can also run wild in beards.
Most men with itchy, flaky beards try to fix it with beard oils.
But as you now know…that’s like feeding the enemy.
If you’ve got beard flakes and moisturizing hasn’t worked, you probably need an anti-fungal solution to kick the yeast off your face.
Myth #3: Dandruff is harmless and can never get worse.
Fact #3: Dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis (aka seb derm) and can get worse if it’s not stopped.
While dandruff might seem like a minor annoyance, it’s often a sign of seborrheic dermatitis, a condition that can progress to cause red, scaly patches on the scalp, face, and other areas.
If the Malassezia fungus is not stopped, it often continues to spread across the body (especially the face), pollute the microbiome of the skin, and make symptoms far worse.
Symptoms of severe seborrheic dermatitis include persistent itching, larger flakes, scaly patches (build-up) on the scalp, and inflamed, red patches.
People with full-blown seborrheic dermatitis will tell you…it’s extremely challenging to get rid of and it takes a toll on your mental health and social life.
Prevention is key—taking action early to clear away the Malassezia fungus can greatly reduce or even stop your flakes and itching, giving you the best chance for a healthy, happy scalp.
Myth #4: Any dandruff shampoo will do the trick.
Fact #4: Most dandruff shampoos fall short for stubborn dandruff.
If you have very mild dandruff, buying a “blue dandruff shampoo” might be enough to prevent your flakes and itching.
But for many of us with stubborn (or what we call “treatment-resistant”) dandruff, those shampoos don’t give us relief.
I tried countless dandruff shampoos and they all left me disappointed. After years of research, I realized there are four reasons why those of us with stubborn dandruff need something more.
1. There’s a biofilm protecting the fungus.
And most dandruff shampoos don’t penetrate this shield.
If you don’t target the fungal biofilm, the Malassezia stays protected from antifungals, even prescription-strength treatments from your dermatologist struggle to pierce this outer wall.
Fortunately, our overnight scalp serum and shampoo both use a proprietary process to disrupt the biofilm naturally, allowing antifungal ingredients to be far more effective.
2. They contain oils that feed the fungus.
You already know this by now. But sadly, most shampoos (even those meant for dandruff) are made with oils and waxes that feed the fungus.
The stronger the fungus… the worse your symptoms.
3. Toxins damage your skin and health.
Take a look at the back of your dandruff shampoo bottle.
9 out of 10 are full of toxic chemicals like sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and synthetic fragrances, which have all been shown to irritate skin, disrupt hormones, promote cancer, and cause all kinds of issues.
Even one of the most commonly used active ingredients in most dandruff shampoos, pyrithione zinc, has been banned in the EU for toxicity and damaging DNA 😳
Yet famous dandruff shampoos you have definitely heard of (some in white bottles and others in blue bottles) continue to use this toxic ingredient in America.
You deserve dandruff relief that doesn’t threaten your health–and actually works.
4. Time on Scalp (TOS)
Even if a dandruff shampoo was formulated to break through the biofilm, and was made without fungus-feeding oils, it still would have one big weakness…
Time on Scalp. Or what we like to call TOS.
Most shampoos have a TOS of 2-5 minutes. That’s not much time to make a difference.
Our overnight serum on the other hand has a TOS of over 8 hours 🏆
That is 96x more TOS than even the best shampoo. And 96x more time for the natural ingredients to absorb, clear away fungus, and soothe your skin.
Our breakthrough answer to stubborn dandruff
We struggled with stubborn dandruff and full-blown seborrheic dermatitis for years.
We know the headache of trying every product, natural remedy, and diet change to see if your skin improves. And the heartbreak when it doesn’t.
After years of research, trial and error, and consulting with dermatologists, we created a breakthrough solution for treatment-resistant dandruff.
Our 3-in-1 formula targets the root cause of dandruff by disrupting the biofilm, clearing away the Malassezia, and soothing your skin without fungus-feeding oils.
And now it’s your turn to calm your scalp 🙂