Best ever beauty tips: beat dandruff

Feeling flaky? Dandruff can certainly be a headache, but there are a few simple ways to treat irritable scalps and banish flakiness.

Dandruff is actually caused by a rapid turnover of skin cells on the scalp, and can affect oily scalps as well as dry ones, although dry scalps often produce more dandruff.  If you fall into the latter category, celebrity hairdresser Mark Hill suggests treating your scalp in the same way as the rest of your skin: ‘If you suffer from dry skin, you would use a moisturiser to hydrate and the same goes for your scalp.  Use a moisturising conditioner and massage into your scalp, leave for a few minutes and then rinse.'

If you're prone to dandruff but have oily hair, shampoo twice - the first lather will break down any oily residue while the second will rinse away this residue along with flakes.

Dandruff can also be caused by stress or a lack of zinc and omega-3 fatty acids, so make sure your diet contains plenty of nuts, fish and dairy. Look for a shampoo which contains salicylic acid, which helps exfoliate dead skin cells. However, your hair and scalp can often build up a resistance to these shampoos, so try switching brand every month or so.

Products to try

To keep hair flake-free throughout the day, keep a nourishing leave-in spray in your handbag. Aveda's Scalp Remedy Dandruff Solution (£17, www.aveda.co.uk) soothes irritated scalps with a blend of rosemary, sage and exfoliating salicylic acid.

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