appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Carolina Malis

Contributing writer for Style by SCMP, specialising in beauty, wellness and lifestyle


At some point in the last few years, the scalp quietly became prime real estate. We now have pre-wash masks, microbiome mists, and entire TikTok rabbit holes dedicated to “scalp cycling”. And yet, for all the newness, one very old character keeps crashing the party: flakes.
You think you’ve “handled” them – switched shampoos, maybe bought the fancy scrub, but a few weeks later, there they are again, dusting your shoulders like unrequested confetti.

“Recurring flaking is usually a sign that the scalp’s barrier and microbiome have fallen into a chronic imbalance,” says Arthur Corvin Powells, founder and CEO of HairLabs. On a healthy scalp, cells mature and shed over three to four weeks; with dandruff, “these cells can shed in just a few days, which creates visible flakes”.
At the same time, Malassezia yeasts metabolise scalp oils into free fatty acids, irritating the skin and further weakening the barrier, causing inflammation and itch. But even with good treatment, the scalp has a stubborn way of reverting to its own settings. Powells explains that sebum levels, pH and the microbiome drift back once treatment stops, so dandruff often behaves more like a chronic condition than a one-off flare.

That reality clashes with how dandruff is perceived. “One of the most common misconceptions is that dandruff is caused by poor hygiene,” Powells says. “In reality, it has very little to do with cleanliness; many people with dandruff actually wash their hair more frequently, trying to ‘fix’ it.” Another myth is that it is just “dry scalp”, something you can fix with more oil or a thicker mask, when it is usually linked to excess sebum, sensitivity to Malassezia by-products, and a disrupted barrier rather than simple dryness.
Complicating matters further, not every flake is created equal. “Dandruff looks simple, but it’s rarely caused by just one thing,” says Karlee Oz, founder of Hello Klean. “True dandruff is linked to an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast and a disrupted scalp barrier, but flaking can also come from dryness, hard-water build-up, product residue or irritation from certain ingredients.” Her advice is to pay attention to the pattern. “Oily, inflamed, or itchy patches often point to dandruff, whereas tightness, rough texture and fine white flakes usually signal dryness or mineral build-up.” Hard water in particular is an under-discussed trigger, depositing minerals and metals on the scalp that can disrupt the barrier over time.

Lifestyle and styling habits then quietly keep the cycle going. “Dandruff is sneaky, it loves a comeback tour,” says London-based celebrity hairstylist Paul Jones. “Stress spikes oil production, hard water can disrupt your scalp’s balance, heavy styling products can cause build-up, and even your diet or wash routine can play a role.”
If your scalp’s already sensitive, harsh sulphates and heavy fragrance make things worse. Oz sees a similar pattern with certain hair types and routines. Oilier scalps and tight, protective or high-tension styles create a warm, occlusive environment that yeast loves. “Heavy styling products, infrequent washing, and hard-water residue can also trap oils and irritants against the scalp, prolonging symptoms.”

Instead of treating dandruff like a one-off emergency, it helps to think of it as a long-term condition. Classic antifungal ingredients such as ketoconazole, piroctone olamine, selenium sulphide and salicylic acid are still the backbone, reducing Malassezia levels while normalising cell turnover. On shelves, that now tends to look like shampoos that pair those actives with gentle exfoliants and barrier-supporting ingredients rather than harsh detergents: derm-pharmacy formulas such as Vichy’s Dercos Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, which combines salicylic acid and piroctone olamine with soothing agents to exfoliate while calming a reactive scalp, and more indulgent blends like Hair Rituel by Sisley Soothing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, which focuses on rebalancing an itchy scalp without sulphate surfactants.
Your routine also can’t clock off the minute you step out of the shower. The newer wave of scalp care is about light leave-ons that keep the environment steady between washes, rather than one intense scrub and nothing in between. One direction is water-focused serums that use salicylic acid, niacinamide and calming agents to lift flakes and take the edge off hard water and product residue; Hello Klean’s new Fresh Start Anti-Dandruff Serum is one example of that water-first approach.

The other is overnight care, with fluid formulas such as Kérastase’s Symbiose Intensive Anti-Dandruff Night Serum, which combines salicylic acid, piroctone olamine and bifidus to quietly work on flake-prone, easily irritated scalps while you sleep.
Then there’s the reality of the in-between days, when most dandruff routines quietly fall apart. Traditional dry shampoos rely on starchy powders that soak up oil but leave a matte, dusty film on the scalp, which is the last thing an irritated microbiome needs. Jones prefers formulas that “respect the scalp’s ecosystem instead of suffocating it”, and points to a newer style of dry shampoo that uses translucent, mineral-based microbeads and odour-binding technology to absorb sebum and neutralise smell without clogging or over-drying the scalp. K18 AirWash Dry Shampoo is one version of that idea in practice, keeping roots fresh between washes while giving the scalp a far gentler ride.

Put together, a realistic routine ends up looking simpler than it sounds: a targeted anti-flake shampoo in regular rotation, paired with a basic, non-irritating conditioner on mid-lengths and ends; on other days, a gentle sulphate-free cleanser or a scalp-friendly dry shampoo steps in. Once or twice a week, a pre-shampoo scalp treatment helps clear mineral and product build-up (especially in hard-water cities), and a lightweight leave-in serum keeps the scalp comfortable between washes.
The specific products can rotate, but the philosophy stays the same: a scalp that’s supported regularly behaves far better than one that only gets attention when it’s already in crisis.


How to choose the best curling tool for your hair, from wands to air stylers

Hong Kong to table cooling-off period bill for beauty, fitness deals by mid-2027

Luxury bar soap revival: how Chanel, Jo Malone, Diptyque and Aesop elevated everyday cleansers

New York Fashion Week 2026: Coach celebrates 85th anniversary with festive SS27 show

Beauty

Why your scalp care routine is just as important as hair care – and not just because of dandruff

French brand Typology makes natural vegan skincare, including a scalp care line. Photo: Handout

Ouai Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Photo: Handout

Cécred Clarifying Shampoo and Scalp Scrub. Photo: Handout

Hello Klean has a range of products to deal with scalp issues. Photo: Handout

Hair Rituel by Sisley Soothing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Photo: Handout

Straand anti-dandruff products. Photo: Handout

K18 AirWash Dry Shampoo. Photo: Handout

Start your 2026 wellness journey right with Hoka, Nike, Apple and more

American Vintage is a buzzy French brand with a line of colourful retro fitness looks. Photo: Handout

American Vintage apparel channels 1980s styles and colours. Photo: Handout

Apple Fitness+ brings together workouts, advice from trainers and workout playlists. Photo: Handout

Hoka x Halfdays sneakers for the snow. Photo: Handout

Nike Football’s bold Hollywood Keepers collection. Photo: Handout

Sporty & Rich’s activewear has a varsity vibe. Photo: Handout

How celebrities are reshaping self-care with wellness brands, from Hailey Bieber to Kourtney Kardashian

Lemme, founded by Kourtney Kardashian, offers nutritional gummies and even lollipops. Photo: Handout

Goop The Martini Emotional Detox Bath Soak. Photo: Handout

Venus Williams has tapped the sports-meets-wellness space with her Happy Viking brand. Photo: Handout

Kin Euphorics is a functional beverage brand by Bella Hadid rooted in Ayurvedic medicine. Photo: Handout

Respin Health, a menopause care brand by Halle Berry. Photo: Handout

Kate Moss’ Cosmoss failed to find an audience. Photo: Handout

Stripes, another menopause care brand, by Naomi Watts. Photo: Handout

InBloom by Kate Hudson offers nutritional solutions. Photo: Handout

Cosmoss Dawn Tea. Photo: Handout

Wellness in 2026: from shaman rituals to Ikigai in-pool sound baths at the Four Seasons

Heanney Banks’ Yana Method offers practical tools for mothers in Hong Kong, including breathwork sessions and live group coaching. Photo: Handout

Langham Chuan Spa Tea Soundbath & Moxibustion Therapy. Photo: Handout

Maaike Steinebach, host of the podcast Femtech at Work, says women’s health issues boil down to the three ‘M’s of menstruation, maternity and menopause. Photo: Trunk Archive

Heanney Banks’ Yana Method is a breathwork-based community and app. Photo: Handout

Pure Fitness’ Re:set facility includes individual cold-plunge pods. Photo: Handout

The Ice Bath Club went big with its launch, opening three locations in its native Singapore in just 18 months. Photo: Handout

Ikigai x Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong Full Moon Floating Sound Bath. Photo: Handout

Say bye to bags with these 4 under-eye patches – just like Joe Jonas, Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber

Joe Jonas makes under-eye patches look cool. Photo: @joejonas/Instagram

Chanel Beauty Le Lift Flash Eye Revitalizer set. Photo: Handout

The Eye Patches by Augustinus Bader. Photo: Handout 

The 111Skin Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask. Photo: Handout

Rare Beauty Find Comfort Under Eye Patches. Photo: Handout

Fashion month hair and make-up looks: from Chanel’s chrome glitter to Gucci’s Y2K revival

Chanel (left) and Simone Rocha wowed with their hair and make-up looks at the fall/winter 2026 fashion week shows. Photos: EPA, Handout

Prada’s runway saw models like Liu Wen with softly smeared liner and bare skin that embraced undone elegance. Photo: Handout

Bella Hadid sporting the “tired girl” look at Prada, complete with smudged charcoal eyes. Photo: Handout

Dramatic, smoked-out liner adds to the noughties drama at Gucci. Photo: Handout

Channelling Y2K party girl vibes at Gucci. Photo: Handout

Sleek centre-parted hair pulled into a low ponytail harks back to the 1990s at Fendi. Photo: Handout

A model at Fendi wears a low-effort nape ’do that nods to 90s minimalism. Photo: Handout

Dramatic electric-blue winged shadow brings a graphic edge to the Balenciaga runway. Photo: Handout

A model at Balenciaga wears a bold cobalt wing sweeping towards the brow. Photo: Handout

Artfully rumpled waves and gleaming boho hair trinkets at Chloé. Photo: Handout

Silver eyeshadow complements glitter-slicked hair at Chanel. Photo: EPA

The classic matte red lip is the star of the show at Celine. Photo: MeetEurope/Handout via Xinhua

A sleek, slicked-back bun at Schiaparelli. Photo: Handout

Softly smudged black kohl, artfully applied at Dior. Photo: Handout

A model at Simone Rocha sports rows of faux silver eyebrow piercings that give her otherwise soft look a razor-sharp edge. Photo: Handout

Magazines

Style

Wellness

Dandruff persists due to scalp imbalances, not poor hygiene – but regular care with antifungal shampoos and gentle serums can help manage it


Dandruff persists due to scalp imbalances, not poor hygiene – but regular care with antifungal shampoos and gentle serums can help manage it.


Skincare

TikTok

Why your scalp care routine is just as important as hair care – and not just because of dandruff

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Dandruff persists due to scalp imbalances, not poor hygiene – but regular care with antifungal shampoos and gentle serums can help manage it

Dandruff persists due to scalp imbalances, not poor hygiene – but regular care with antifungal shampoos and gentle serums can help manage it