{"id":1638,"date":"2025-07-17T11:00:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T11:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=1638"},"modified":"2025-07-17T14:58:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:58:06","slug":"dandruff-is-curable-5-other-hair-myths-exposed-by-a-top-trichologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/17\/dandruff-is-curable-5-other-hair-myths-exposed-by-a-top-trichologist\/","title":{"rendered":"Dandruff Is Curable & 5 Other Hair Myths Exposed By A Top Trichologist"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If the name Anabel Kingsley<\/a> rings a bell, it\u2019s probably because you\u2019re acquainted with a particular hair product: The Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Hair Mask<\/a>. You see, Kingsley is the daughter of Philip Kingsley<\/a>, the late founder of that cult hair mask and the eponymous hair care brand. She\u2019s also a trichologist in her own right, and arguably, one of the most sought-after.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When Kingsley isn\u2019t at the helm of Philip Kingsley\u2019s trichology clinic in New York<\/a>, she\u2019s transforming the hair of patients at its London residence<\/a>, and that\u2019s where I meet her on one rainy day in May. I\u2019m there for advice on how to better take care of my hair, and that involves letting go of all of the pervasive and impractical hair myths<\/a> that I\u2019ve internalized over the years. It seems I\u2019m not the only one keen to expand my hair knowledge, though. \u201cHow to use rosemary oil on hair<\/a>\u201d, \u201cPost-partum hair growth treatments<\/a>\u201d, and \u201cDo derma rollers work for hair growth<\/a>?\u201d are among a handful of commonly googled hair queries over the past few months.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a couple of hours with Kingsley and her extended team of treatment specialists, my lengths and scalp were subject to a high-tech camera, a slew of new products and the most thorough hair wash of my life. So here\u2019s everything I learned \u2014 and unlearned \u2014 about how to achieve healthy hair<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Myth: Dandruff Can Be Cured<\/h2>\n

Dandruff consists of fine, white flakes<\/a> on the scalp and in the hair, and while there are an abundance of anti-dandruff shampoos out there, Kingsley revealed that dandruff is not actually curable. Rather, it comes and goes \u2014 but it\u2019s easy to manage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYour scalp is skin. It\u2019s just an extension of the skin on your forehead,\u201d Kingsley told me. \u201cIf you didn\u2019t wash your face every day, it would get greasy. On your scalp, there\u2019s nowhere for those dead skin cells to go, so they get trapped at the root on your scalp and in your hair. The act of massaging when you shampoo exfoliates.\u201d For this reason, Kingsley starts many of her clients off with an anti-dandruff shampoo, like Philip Kingsley Flaky Itchy Scalp Shampoo, $43<\/a>, until they run out of the bottle. She advised keeping this in my bathroom cupboard and using it every other wash.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not all flakes are created equal, though. Kingsley\u2019s hi-tech camera uncovered some patches of seborrheic dermatitis (a common inflammatory skin condition where the flakes appear yellow and sticky), which is often mistaken for dandruff. I\u2019m no stranger to this and thought that I had got it under control, but Kingsley\u2019s advice was simple: to wash my hair more frequently. \u201c[Seborrheic dermatitis is caused by] an overgrowth of a yeast called malassezia,\u201d said Kingsley. She added that everyone has this yeast, but it tends to thrive in an oily environment. \u201cThat\u2019s one reason why shampooing is so important,\u201d said Kingsley, \u201cbecause you\u2019re depriving [the yeast] of its food source. Then you can use topicals like shampoos, tonics, and masks to help [further] reduce their levels.\u201d I\u2019ve found my groove every other day, but washing your hair as often as is manageable can help to improve the condition of your scalp.<\/p>\n

Myth: You Should Go As Long As Possible Without Washing Your Hair\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Recently trending on TikTok, the concept of \u201chair training<\/a>\u201d consists of going as long as possible without washing your hair to somehow \u201ctrain\u201d your scalp into not producing as much oil in future. I put the idea to Kingsley, who told me that you cannot train your hair or scalp. Now, imagine treating your face in the same way. Personally, I\u2019d be dealing with greasy skin, excessive breakouts and eventually hyperpigmentation<\/a> as a result of those spots. Considering your scalp is an extension of the skin on your face, regularly washing your hair \u2014 as often as you can manage depending on your lifestyle and styling habits \u2014 is beneficial.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, Kingsley advised shampooing twice: The first wash helps to dislodge dirt, oil and hair products, and the second makes sure it\u2019s all lifted away. Kingsley\u2019s top tip is to spend at least a minute massaging in the lather, concentrating on the scalp, rather than the lengths. If you can do it for longer without the arm ache, even better. (I timed almost three minutes when Kingsley\u2019s treatment team washed my hair following our consultation, and it certainly extended the lifespan of my blowdry.)<\/p>\n

Lastly, it\u2019s a myth that washing your hair frequently will \u201cdry out\u201d your scalp. Kingsley told me that the scalp is a particularly oily environment, considering that it\u2019s host to hundreds of thousands of glands inside hair follicles. Unless you\u2019re shampooing two or three times a day, said Kingsley, it\u2019s highly unlikely that washing your hair more regularly will cause a dry scalp.<\/p>\n

For more volume, try the Philip Kingsley Body Building Shampoo $36<\/a>. If it\u2019s softer hair you\u2019re after, I rate Philip Kingsley Re-Moisturising Smoothing Shampoo, 35$<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Myth: Glycolic Acid Is The Best Treatment For A Flaky Scalp<\/h2>\n

Those with dandruff will likely have spotted TikTok\u2019s glycolic acid scalp trick<\/a>, which involves using an exfoliating toner (often The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Solution, $13<\/a>) as a pre-shampoo treatment to eradicate a flaky scalp. Having tried it myself, I know firsthand that it\u2019s beneficial, but it seems there\u2019s an even better solution, according to Kingsley. Enter: salicylic acid<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like glycolic acid, salicylic acid is also a chemical exfoliant, but it\u2019s far more gentle on sensitive, reactive skin. Plus, it can penetrate the skin more deeply, breaking down buildup caused by dead skin cells, sebum (oil) and hair products. Kingsley advised me to use a salicylic exfoliator on the top of my scalp where I usually see dandruff once a week, and to slather the ends of my hair with Elasticizer<\/a> before shampooing twice and then conditioning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Try The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, $17<\/a>. If you\u2019d rather skip a step, consider a shampoo with salicylic acid, like Revolution Haircare Salicylic Acid Clarifying Shampoo for Oily Hair, $12.50<\/a>, or my new favorite, L\u2019Or\u00e9al Paris Elvive Hydra Pure Shampoo with Hyaluronic and Salicylic Acids, $4.97<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Myth: Hair Growth \u201cHacks\u201d Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Scalp massagers can improve blood flow to the scalp, and this increased circulation is believed to encourage hair growth<\/a>. Realistically, though, it\u2019s unlikely that most of us are massaging for long enough to see real results, Kingsley told me. If you\u2019re considering buying a scalp massager for exfoliation, Kingsley reveals that your fingers are just as good and they are also much less likely to abrade your scalp or tangle your hair.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Using rosemary oil for hair growth<\/a> is questionable, too, suggested Kingsley. There is a lack of clinical evidence to suggest that massaging your scalp with the herb-infused oil actually works. One study<\/a> compared rosemary oil with 2% minoxidil \u2014 the only clinically-proven hair growth treatment. The problem here, Kingsley told me, is that 2% minoxidil is relatively low. Sure enough, products which contain the hair growth agent and are available over the counter contain a higher strength of 5% minoxidil. In short, any evidence that suggests rosemary oil may boost hair growth is likely to be anecdotal rather than scientific.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Myth: Heated Hair Tools Are Bad For Your Hair<\/h2>\n

Since having my hair cut into the \u201cbutterfly lob<\/a>\u201d, I style my layers with a heated brush \u2014 the Shark Smooth Style Hot Brush and Smoothing Comb, $129.99<\/a> \u2014 which I love because it makes light work of blow-drying. Still, I worry about hair damage, so I put my query to Kingsley. \u201cAnything that gets quite hot isn\u2019t great,\u201d she told me, adding, \u201cYou can treat your hair like a delicate flower all the time and that would be great for its health, but your hair is there to have fun with and if you want to style it, you\u2019ll want some heat on it.\u201d As such, a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment like Elasticizer<\/a> \u2014 used weekly \u2014 can help maintain the integrity of hair while preventing breakage. I follow this with shampoo and conditioner as usual, then a generous amount of heat protector (Redken Quick Blowout Accelerated Blowdry Spray, $28<\/a>), and my hair feels strong and soft. Kingsley advised paying special attention to the front of my hair, particularly my curtain bangs and top layer of my hair, which I subject to the most heat.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alongside heat protection, it pays to apply sunscreen<\/a> to exposed parts of your scalp. Kingsley\u2019s camera showed that my temples were darker in color (indicating skin damage<\/a>) compared to the rest of my scalp, which is protected by my hair. Now that the weather is sunnier, I apply SPF much higher on my hairline to shield my skin against UV rays. The e.l.f. Suntouchable Invisi-Stick SPF 50, $14<\/a>, is lightweight, invisible, and doesn\u2019t make my hair greasy.<\/p>\n

Myth: Hair Shedding Is Worrying<\/h2>\n

Everyone\u2019s \u201cnormal\u201d is different when it comes to shedding, said Kingsley. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that we can lose between 50 and 100 hairs<\/a> a day, and for some, it can be a little more. You might also experience some seasonal hair shedding, said Kingsley, which typically occurs during September and October. If you leave four or five days in between shampooing, it\u2019s also likely that you\u2019ll experience more hair shedding because you\u2019ll naturally have an accumulation of hair follicles that have been dislodged. Personally, my flaky scalp could have been increasing my daily hair fall as it impacts the integrity of the cuticle, causing the growth of weaker hair, Kingsley concluded. That\u2019s why washing and exfoliating regularly came highly recommended, as did using a hair-friendly accessory like a claw clip<\/a>. \u201cThey don\u2019t have any sharp edges and aren\u2019t overly heavy,\u201d said Kingsley.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lastly, I asked Kingsley when might be the right time to seek help from a hair specialist if you think you\u2019re losing more hair than usual: \u201cHair telogen effluvium [the excessive shedding of hair] is not subtle,\u201d Kingsley told me. In this instance, you might notice that you\u2019re losing up to around 300 hairs a day<\/a> and that the shedding lasts much longer. If you\u2019re concerned, consider paying a visit to a qualified trichologist for tests.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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If the name Anabel Kingsley rings a bell, it\u2019s probably because you\u2019re acquainted with a particular hair product: The Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. You see, Kingsley is the daughter of Philip Kingsley, the late founder of that cult hair mask and the eponymous hair care brand. She\u2019s also a trichologist in her own right,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1640,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1638"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1638"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1641,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1638\/revisions\/1641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}