Nizoral vs Head and Shoulders: Which One Is BEST for Your Hair?

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Dandruff is a common problem among people, which is why an increasing number of people want to compare Nizoral vs Head and Shoulders.

Both brands have been around for some time and both have anti-dandruff shampoos. However, you need to know whether they work and which one is better.

If you’re reading this article, then you’re on the right path.

It’s important that you should understand your condition well enough so you can choose a very effective treatment. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend weeks or hours doing that.

What’s important is to know the main cause of that condition (which is fungi/bacteria) and which shampoo contains the ingredients that can combat/treat it.

In the following paragraph, I’ll be comparing both Nizoral and the Head and Shoulders shampoos. Are they effective? And which one should you go for?

Nizoral vs Head and Shoulders – Which Is Better?

The main difference between Nizoral and Head & Shoulders is that the active ingredient in Nizoral is ketoconazole while that of Head & Shoulders is Pyrithione Zinc.

Also, Nizoral is more expensive than Head & Shoulders. Not by much but if you’re on a shoestring budget, you might want to go with Head and Shoulders.

Nizoral is extremely popular, with thousands of reviews on their product on Amazon and of course, the majority being positive.

On the same platform, Head and Shoulders have only received a couple of hundred reviews even though a lot of these are positive.

Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo vs Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Nizoral vs Head and Shoulders
One of the foremost and most recognized dandruff shampoo treatments is Head and Shoulders. Head and Shoulders anti-dandruff works for most people.

However, a lot of people have found that it stopped working after a period of time due to the fungus developing immunity to the treatment.

Head & Shoulders uses pyrithione zinc, which has been tested to treat mild dandruff well. It’s easy and an affordable way to control dandruff.

A lot of people are able to afford Head and Shoulders which is probably why it’s so popular.

Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Nizoral vs Head and Shoulders
According to the manufacturer, the Nizoral shampoo can help you control scaling, itching, and flaking, which are the by-products of dandruff.

There is 1% of ketoconazole in the shampoo. This dandruff-fighting ingredient is used to treat infections caused by fungus. And dandruff is one of these.

What Can the Shampoo Do for You?

According to the manufacturer, the Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff can help you eliminate dandruff, leave your hair soft and clean as well as control hair loss that results from dandruff.

This product is sold over the counter, which is how you get most shampoos with ketoconazole.

However, some sources claim that these kinds of shampoos should be taken as the last resort because of the dangers involved in using one improperly.

According to Drugs.com, it can result in liver problems and other complications.

The formula claims to not only clean up your scalp but also make your hair soft and smelling fresh.

From my research, a lot of users have found it very effective against hair loss and dandruff, more so than the Head and Shoulders shampoo.

As with all products, there are a few complaints here and there. But the majority seem to see improvement in their itchy scalp, seborrheic dermatitis, hair loss, and dry scalp.

The Right Way to Tackle Dandruff

If you use the right shampoo, you should be able to get rid of your dandruff. There are also home remedies that can help you with the condition.

But sometimes, they’re not so effective or easy to prepare and maintain. An easy way for most people is to use shampoo.

If after using antidandruff shampoo for two weeks or more without improvement, you may need to see a dermatologist.

Now that you know that, let’s see how you can choose the right product:

How to Choose Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Choosing the right anti-dandruff shampoo is more than knowing that you need one. You also have to know how to select the right one. And that involves knowing what to look for.

While it can be complicated when it comes to making the right choice, you can simplify it by only focusing on those that have the right ingredients.

Aside from using the right shampoos, you should understand that there are other things you need to do to ensure you’re procuring the best treatment for the condition. This article should help with that.

Look for Shampoos With Zinc Pyrithione

This is an antibacterial and antifungal agent. As you probably know, the main cause of dandruff is fungi. That’s why the shampoos those shampoos that contain this ingredient are an effective treatment for dandruff.

They can stop Malassezia fungi, which causes seborrheic dermatitis that’s also called dandruff.

Tar-based Shampoos are Great

When skin cells die and flake away, it becomes easier for dandruff to thrive. That’s why coal tar shampoos like the T/Gel are so popular.

They slow down the rate at which these cells fade away, which is also responsible for slowing down psoriasis as well as seborrheic dermatitis.

Try Shampoos With Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid can strip away the dead skin cells on the scalp, thereby slowing down the growth of dandruff.

It’s important to be careful when selecting the shampoos that fall in this category as it can cause side effects like flaking and dryness to occur.

Ketoconazole Shampoos are Good too

Like Zinc Pyrithione, Ketoconazole is also an antifungal agent that can be used to treat the condition. However, this kind should be used as a last resort.

There are a lot of other shampoos that come first and only when they don’t work should you resort to those in this range.

Other Tips:

Use Your Shampoo Regularly

The best treatment of dandruff comes with the consistent use of anti-dandruff shampoos. You shouldn’t go a week, for example, without using your shampoo. Using it once or every two days is a good one too.

Choose a Suitable Shampoo for Your Hair Type

While some shampoos are formulated for different hair types, a lot have only one formula. This can make it difficult to get one that’ll work for your hair type.

In some cases, some people experience worse situations such as weak hair from using a particular formula. Therefore, you need to look for the one that has the right formula and that wouldn’t aggravate your condition.

Don’t Use Shampoos With Harsh Ingredients

Some shampoos contain ammonium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant that can dry your scalp.

And dry scalp means a worse dandruff situation. Instead, look for shampoos that are free from sulfate and other anionic surfactants.

Try Anti-Dandruff Conditioners

There are a lot of anti-dandruff conditioners out there that you can try too. The advantage isn’t in the treatment of dandruff.

Instead, it can help balance the effect of the shampoo. Make sure you go with one that’ll work with the shampoo and not against it, eg. stripping away the active ingredients in the shampoo.

Also, a good one can help with itching and other scalp problems. There are also a lot of bad ones. So, you want to be careful here.

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