Men are using the wrong shampoo - research

"Moisturize for a dry scalp" is the tip for millions of men around the world who are using the wrong shampoo.

Surveys conducted in South Africa‚ Germany‚ Hong Kong and Singapore found that an average one in four men surveyed had a dry scalp and most of them are using an anti-dandruff rather than a moisturising shampoo to address the problem.

In SA‚ a survey by independent market research company‚ Insight Survey‚ commissioned by a hair shampoo brand‚ found that 24% of men had a dry scalp and two-thirds of them are using anti-dandruff shampoo.

Dandruff and dry scalp are very different conditions‚ according to German scientist Dr Adolf Klenk.

“Dry scalp causes dry flakes and is often itchy. Many men think this is dandruff and try to fight the problem with an anti-dandruff shampoo‚ which may be worsening the problem.”

“A dry scalp needs a mild‚ moisturising shampoo‚ whereas dandruff is largely the result of an oily scalp‚ requiring a completely different solution‚” said Klenk.

The South African survey found that 71% of all 1‚011 respondents mistakenly believe a dry‚ itchy scalp causes dandruff. Of those with a dry scalp‚ only 35% are using a moisturising shampoo.