Flaking is the complaint people bring to the salon most often, and it is also the one most often treated with exactly the wrong product.
That is because flaking has two more or less opposite causes, and the fix for one makes the other worse.
The two problems
Both mistakes are common, and both feel like the product simply did not work. The cause of build-up is residue: styling products, dry shampoo, hard water and long-worn protective styles all leave behind more than ordinary shampooing clears.
How does your scalp feel the day after washing?
The check our partner salon consultants use is simple. Pick the answer that sounds most like you.
The second useful signal is timing.
- Dryness tracksThe seasons and your washing habits
- Build-up tracksYour stylingHeavy product use, dry shampoo, or a protective style worn a long time between rests
A weekly reset, in the right order
Congestion responds to a weekly reset rather than daily scrubbing. The Neofollics Scalp Therapy routine runs in a specific order, and the order is the part people get wrong.
Scalp Therapy
The Scalp Therapy Routine
- Peeling SerumApplied to the scalp before you wash, and left at least five minutes to loosen what is sitting there.
- Exfoliating ShampooWashes the serum, and the loosened residue, away.
- Nourishing MaskApplied to the scalp afterwards and left in. Best left overnight. It is not rinsed out.
Once a week is enough for most people. Keep your usual shampoo for the days in between.
Shop the Scalp Therapy RoutineDryness asks for less, not more
- Cooler water
- Fewer washesWith a stripping shampoo
- Something left onOn the scalp, rather than rinsed off it
The Nourishing Mask does that job on its own, without the peeling step, for people whose scalp is dry rather than congested.
Also thinning? The daily Hair Growth routine is gentle enough to use alongside — its shampoo is designed to clear the scalp without stripping it.
When it is neither
- The flaking is heavy, greasy or yellow
- There is redness, soreness, weeping or crusting
- It spreads to your face or ears
- It comes with hair loss
That pattern points to something that needs treating properly rather than a cosmetic routine, and the routine will work better afterwards anyway.
Common questions
Is dandruff the same as a dry scalp?
No — and that confusion is the reason this article exists. Fine, dry flakes with a tight scalp and larger, softer flakes with a coated scalp are different problems with different answers.
Can I exfoliate my scalp more than once a week?
There is rarely a reason to. Weekly clears build-up; more often tends to irritate, particularly if the leave-in step is being skipped.
Which routine should I buy if I have both?
Scalp Therapy weekly for the congested areas, and a gentle daily wash for everything else. If you would rather not guess, get in touch and we will point you towards a consultation.