The trick is not just what’s in the shampoo and how it interacts with your skin / hair but also in how long you apply it and leave it.
I’m not entirely certain why I’ve developed an itchy and flaky scalp but if I had to guess, I’d say it has to do with what I’m eating / stress etc. This is a long-term problem that needs a trial and error solution. Meanwhile, I’m dying scratching my head, literally.
I had been using the T-Gel for almost a year now and was not seeing visible results. Then I finished the bottle and wanted to do some research to find a better product. It turns out, I wasn’t using the product correctly. I was using it like regular shampoo : apply it, lather, rinse. Doesn’t work. Now, I apply it, lather it and leave it while I do other stuff in the shower – soap up the rest of the body / shave / scrub etc. Leave the shampoo in for at least 5-10 minutes.
I tend to alternate between these two shampoos and I use them about 2-3 times each week. Once a month I go all out, wear my bath robe, wet my hair, apply the T-Gel and leave it in for a good 20-30 minutes.
The itching in my scalp is massively alleviated. None of these shampoos claim to solve the problem. They claim to soothe the symptoms and I concur.
From a negative side-effects point of view, I do shed more hair than I’d like. There’s no visible difference but it “feels” like it. I’ll run my hand through my hair and my fingers will pull out 5-6 strands just like that. Also, the texture of my hair becomes more coarse than usual. So don’t forget the conditioner and other protective treatments. Both shampoos are quite strong, so please use with caution, especially if you already have sensitive skin and hair.
I’m just glad I don’t spend most of my day with my fingers stuck in my head itching away to eternity. Whether I was having a conversation with a client or a friend or family, invariably, at some point, I would notice that I was scratching my scalp. That has gone away thankfully.
Now that I’ve figured the correct way to use these shampoos, I’m going to use for 3-6 months regularly to see if the itchy flaky stuff goes away completely.
Here are Amazon.in links to both products. ( These have my affiliate codes. )
Neutrogena t-Gel Therapeutic Shampoo
MG217 Therapeutic 3% Salicylic Acid Shampoo and Conditioner
Previous health-related features and beauty related features on this blog.
3 comments
Are these parabens, sulphate and silicone free products? Change to those and the itch will disappear. I have tried it.
Mostly due to the chemicals rather than stress. ?
Hey Inderpreet! These are medicated products with coal tar & Salicylic acid as the active ingredients. They have sulphates but I’m not sure of parabens or silicone. I’m not sure what’s causing the issues on my scalp, stress is a guess. I have used non-sulphate, paraben free, non silicone shampoos earlier to no avail unfortunately. Is there a particular one you recommend? I’m up for giving it a shot! In any case, I don’t intend to use the above shampoos in the long run. They are more for immediate relief/SOS when I’m dying itching 🙂 I am sure these will have adverse effects in the long run.
There is this fb group I recently joined that is about embracing our naturally curly and wavy hair. I found good advice there and am transitioning from rebonded hair and very itchy sclap to natural wavvy hair. I am using KAMA products right now.
Do check it out https://www.facebook.com/groups/520287928111407/
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