How to Get Rid of Dandruff for Good with Davines Purifying

Dandruff always seems to show up at the worst time. It's itchy, annoying, and those little flakes can really knock your confidence. The good news? Pretty much everyone deals with it at some point. The trick is knowing that not all dandruff is the same. There are actually two different types, and once you know which one you're dealing with, it's so much easier to treat.

What dandruff actually is

Your scalp is skin, and like all skin it sheds old cells. Normally that happens invisibly. With dandruff, the cell turnover speeds up and the flakes clump together into something you can see. A naturally occurring scalp yeast, plus oil and a scalp that has tipped out of balance, is usually behind it. None of that means your scalp is dirty, by the way. Dandruff happens on clean and not-so-clean heads alike.

Dry or oily? It matters

This is the bit that changes everything.

Dry dandruff shows up as fine, white flakes that lift off easily and scatter onto your shoulders. The scalp often feels tight and itchy, and it tends to get worse in winter or in dry, heated rooms.

Oily dandruff is heavier. The flakes are larger, yellowish, and they cling to the scalp and the roots rather than falling away. The scalp can feel greasy even soon after washing.

They look similar from across the room, but they behave differently, which is exactly why a random anti-flake shampoo so often disappoints. You need to treat the cause, not just rinse the surface.

Or is your scalp simply dehydrated?

Here is a distinction worth making, because it changes what you reach for. Sometimes a scalp that feels tight, itchy and a little flaky is not dandruff at all, it is just dehydrated. Where dandruff is an imbalance that needs a treatment, a dehydrated scalp is simply short on moisture, often from over-washing, a harsh shampoo, heated indoor air, or a hard Wellington winter. The flaking tends to be finer, and the scalp settles once you put the moisture back rather than needing an active treatment.

For that, an intensive anti-dandruff shampoo is the wrong tool, and it can dry things out further. A gentler, moisturising wash is far kinder. We often steer people to the Davines Nourishing Shampoo, which cleanses gently and gives thirsty hair and scalp a proper drink of moisture, as the softer option for a scalp that is dehydrated rather than truly flaky. If a few weeks of that settles things, you were dealing with dryness. If it does not, you are more likely looking at genuine dandruff, and the Purifying range below is your answer.

What makes dandruff worse

Scratching feels good for a second and irritates the scalp for a lot longer, which only speeds up the flaking. Try not to.

Washing on the wrong schedule plays a part too. Oily scalps often need washing more regularly to keep oil and flakes in check, while dry, flaky scalps can be aggravated by too-frequent washing with a harsh shampoo.

Product build-up from dry shampoo, styling products and even conditioner sitting on the scalp gives flakes something to cling to, so rinse thoroughly. And stress and cold weather both have a real, visible effect, so do not be surprised when a flare lines up with a busy or chilly stretch.

The Davines Purifying range

When dandruff needs sorting, we reach for the Davines NaturalTech Purifying range. Think of it as a course of treatment rather than a forever shampoo.

Start with the Davines Purifying Shampoo, an intensive scalp-care cleanser made to target dandruff and flaking, on both the dry and oily kind, across all hair types. For more stubborn flaking, pair it with the Davines Purifying Gel, a professional at-home scalp treatment you apply directly where the flaking is worst.

Because it is a treatment, you use it for a focused stretch rather than forever. Once your scalp has settled, you move back to the rest of the Davines range for everyday care, so you are maintaining a calm scalp rather than constantly putting out fires.

How to use it, step by step

Wet the hair and massage the Purifying Shampoo into the scalp, not just the lengths. Let it sit for two to three minutes so the active ingredients have time to work before you rinse. This pause is the part people skip, and it matters.

If you are using the Purifying Gel, apply it to a clean scalp, focusing on the areas that flake most, and follow the directions on pack. Be gentle the whole way through. An angry, over-scrubbed scalp flakes more, not less.

Use the range as your treatment for a few weeks, then ease back to maintenance once things have calmed.

How long until you see a difference

Most people feel less itch and see fewer flakes within a couple of weeks of consistent use. A scalp that has been out of balance for a while takes a little longer to fully settle, so stick with the treatment period rather than stopping the moment it improves. Then keep it in your back pocket for the odd flare, especially heading into winter.

When it is not just dandruff

If the flaking will not budge no matter what you do, or your scalp is genuinely sore, red and inflamed, it is worth getting it looked at. Conditions like scalp psoriasis and eczema can look like dandruff but need different care, and that is a job for your GP or a dermatologist rather than a shampoo. We would always rather you got the right help than kept treating the wrong thing.

Dandruff FAQs

Is dandruff caused by a dry scalp? Sometimes, but not always. Dry dandruff comes from a dry, irritated scalp, and a genuinely dehydrated scalp can flake without being true dandruff at all. Oily dandruff is the opposite. That is why matching the treatment to the cause matters.

Is dandruff contagious? No. It is your own scalp out of balance, not something you catch or pass on.

Can I use the Purifying range on coloured hair? Yes, it suits all hair types. If you have any specific concerns about your colour, just ask us.

How often should I use it? As a treatment through a flare, then back off to occasional use once your scalp has settled. Daily forever is not the goal.

Still flaking?

If you have worked through the routine and your scalp still is not happy, come and see us, or get in touch first. Email Aurea at hello@sable.co.nz and describe what you are seeing, and she will steer you to the right products or book you in for a proper look. If oiliness is your bigger issue, our guide on an oily scalp and dry ends is worth a read too.

Ready for a calm, clear scalp? Shop the Davines NaturalTech range at Sable Boutique, with Afterpay and Zip.