If you have a full head of hair, chances are you’ve developed dandruff at least once over the years. There’s nothing more annoying than finding snowflakes on your shirt in the middle of summer. It is as uncomfortable, and even embarrassing at times, as it can get. But it doesn’t have to be! Dandruff can be tackled with a little bit of care and some good shampooing and conditioning. Here’s a basic guide to combating dandruff.

What is dandruff?
Dandruff is a condition that occurs when the scalp begins to dry up and turns flaky. This is a result of the body’s reaction to the yeast that lives on everyone’s head. In some individuals, it leads to inflammation of the skin, which, in turn, causes dandruff.

Wondering how to deal with it? Dandruff can be treated with the help of the right shampoo and conditioner and by offering some TLC to your scalp.

Choosing a suitable dandruff shampoo
When looking for ways to get rid of dandruff, you need to start by exploring the top shampoos that can help.
To pick one out of the scores of options available in the market, you must understand the ingredients of the top dandruff shampoos. The five most common ingredients that help rid dandruff are:

• Pyrithione zinc
• Selenium sulfide
• Ketoconazole
• Salicylic acid
• Coal tar

Apart from ensuring that your dandruff shampoo has one of these ingredients, you need to check whether that particular one works for your scalp. When choosing a suitable shampoo, here’s a list of the top dandruff shampoos that will make your life easier and your hair healthier without overshooting your budget:

• A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: More commonly known as Nizoral®, this shampoo contains a potent anti-fungal known as ketoconazole. This element is effective enough to be a part of prescription-grade medication, but it is present in lower doses in OTC products like this shampoo. You can get it for around $15.
• Dermacare Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: Part of Dove’s large range of products, this shampoo is made to combat dandruff. It costs around $5 and contains pyrithione zinc to help fight scalp inflammation. It also contains hydrating elements like shea butter that nourishes your hair.
• Head & Shoulders® Green Apple 2-In-1 Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: Costing around $10, this anti-dandruff shampoo is worth splurging on. It contains pyrithione zinc to combat dandruff. Its 2-in-1 formula comes with the amazing conditioning capabilities that will leave your hair healthy and shiny, with the scent of green apples.
• T/Sal® Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control: Another shampoo known to combat dandruff, Neutrogena’s T/SAl scalp control shampoo acts as an exfoliant and controls the crusty buildup on the scalp that causes dandruff. You can grab this nourishing and protecting shampoo off the shelf for as little as around $8.