Flaking is not always dandruff, tightness is not always dryness, and product build-up looks like a lot of things it is not.
Most people arrive convinced they know what their scalp is doing. Usually they are describing a symptom, not a cause.
Flaking, for instance, splits three ways: genuine dandruff, a dry barrier, or product residue that has not been washed out properly. They look nearly identical and want completely opposite treatments. Treating dryness with an anti-dandruff wash makes a dry scalp worse - and that is the most common mistake we see.
Tightness after washing almost always means the cleanser is too strong for you. If your scalp feels squeaky, you have taken the barrier down with the dirt.
Build-up is the sneaky one. It shows up as roots that go greasy in a day, colour that will not take evenly, and a faint itch. A single detox treatment resets it, and then the maintenance is just washing properly rather than often.
If you are not sure which of the three you have, book a scalp consultation. It is fifteen minutes, it is free, and it will save you from buying the wrong shampoo for the fourth time.
