Scalp care

Why is my scalp itchy?

Four causes, one of them yours. Work out which, and the fix is usually a change to how you wash rather than another product.

Why is my scalp itchy?

The short answer

Nearly always one of four things: a dry scalp, product build-up, an oily scalp that has tipped out of balance, or sensitivity to something in your shampoo.

None of them need a medicated product to start with. Change how you wash, give it two weeks, and see which way it moves.

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Which scalp is yours?

Itch reads the same whatever is behind it, so the trick is matching the feeling to the cause. Find the card that sounds like your head.

01

Itchy and flaking

Feels like Tight and prickly, often worse a day or two after washing. Small dry flakes that lift away rather than sit greasy.
Usually A dry, under-conditioned scalp, usually from water that is too hot and a cleanser that strips more than it needs to.
Start with A gentler wash and cooler water
The itchy scalp guide
02

Oily roots, dry ends

Feels like Flat and greasy at the crown by day two while the ends still feel rough and thirsty.
Usually Conditioner and oil sitting at the root, and a routine treating the whole head as one hair type when it is really two.
Start with Cleanser at the roots, conditioner from mid-lengths down
Managing oily roots
03

Coated and heavy

Feels like Dull, weighed-down hair that will not hold a style, with an itch that keeps coming back for no obvious reason.
Usually Product build-up, dry shampoo residue or hard water minerals forming a film the skin underneath reacts to.
Start with A clarifying reset, then back to your usual wash
Clarifying and build-up
04

Reactive and tender

Feels like Sensitive to the touch, stings under heat or a tight ponytail, and settles whenever you leave it alone.
Usually Over-washing, heat, friction, or a sulphate or fragrance your scalp has simply had enough of.
Start with Fewer washes and a sulphate-free cleanser
Shop sulphate-free washes

Persistent flaking, soreness, bleeding or hair loss is not a styling problem. See a GP or a dermatologist before you change products.

Why it happens

It is usually the routine, not the product

A scalp is skin. It has a barrier, it produces oil, and it reacts when either gets disrupted. Almost every itch we hear about in the chair traces back to one of the habits on the right rather than to anything wrong with the hair itself.

Which is good news. Change the habit and the scalp usually settles on its own, with the right cleanser doing the rest. If greasiness is your main concern rather than the itch, start with our shampoos for oily hair instead.

  1. Washing too often

    Strip the oil daily and the scalp simply makes more, which is how people end up washing more and feeling worse.

  2. Water that is too hot

    Hot water lifts the cuticle and dries the scalp. Warm to start and cool to finish is enough.

  3. Conditioner at the root

    Conditioner belongs from the mid-lengths down. At the scalp it weighs roots flat and gives build-up somewhere to gather.

  4. Dry shampoo as a wash

    It absorbs oil, it does not remove it. Layered day after day it leaves a film the scalp reacts to.

  5. Not rinsing long enough

    Residue left at the hairline and nape is one of the most common causes of itch we see, and the easiest to fix.

Most itchy scalps are not under-treated. They are over-washed.
KEVIN.MURPHY Education Team

The method

The wash that settles it

Four changes, none of which cost anything. Most people feel the difference inside two washes.

The wash that settles it

Cleanser at the scalp, conditioner from the mid-lengths down.

  1. Wet it properly first

    60 seconds

    A full minute under warm water before any product. Cleanser spreads further on soaked hair, so you need less of it and it rinses out faster.

  2. Cleanse the scalp, not the lengths

    Fingertips only

    Work a small amount into the scalp with your fingertips, never your nails. The suds running through the ends on the way out is all the cleansing they need.

  3. Rinse for longer than feels necessary

    Twice as long

    Pay attention to the hairline and the nape, where residue collects and itch usually starts. Finish on cool water to close the cuticle down.

  4. Conditioner from the mid-lengths down

    Ends only

    Squeeze the water out first so it absorbs instead of sliding off. Keep it off the scalp entirely, which is what fixes oily roots with dry ends.

How often

Two to three washes a week suits most scalps. If you are washing daily, step back one day at a time rather than stopping overnight, and expect a greasy fortnight while things rebalance.

Clarify once a fortnight, not every wash. More than that and you are back to stripping.

Build the routine

What to use on a scalp like yours

Four products, each doing one job. You almost certainly do not need all four at once, so start with the one that matches your card.

Everyday Start here

STIMULATE-ME.WASH

Scalp-stimulating daily shampoo

WhyEnergises the scalp and helps regulate oil, so it suits an itch that comes with greasiness.

$47.95

Weekly reset

MAXI.WASH

Deep-cleansing detox shampoo

WhyClears product build-up, dry shampoo residue and hard water minerals in one wash.

$51.95

Ends only

HYDRATE-ME.RINSE

Lightweight hydrating conditioner

WhyLooks after dry mid-lengths without going near the root, which is the fix for oily roots with dry ends.

$53.95

Between washes

FRESH.HAIR

Dry cleaning spray

WhyBuys you a day without a wash. Use it on clean roots, not as a substitute for cleansing.

$53.95

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Straight answers

Scalp questions, answered

Why is my scalp itchy?

Most often one of four things: a dry scalp from washing too hot or too often, product build-up forming a film the skin reacts to, an oily scalp where excess sebum has upset the balance, or simple sensitivity to a sulphate or fragrance. Work out which sounds like yours, change the wash routine first, and give it two weeks.

How often should I wash an itchy scalp?

Two to three times a week suits most people. Washing daily strips the oil your scalp needs and it responds by making more, which is the loop that keeps the itch going. Step back gradually rather than stopping overnight and the adjustment is much easier.

Is an itchy scalp the same as dandruff?

No. Dry-scalp flakes are small, white and lift away easily. Dandruff flakes are larger, oilier and often yellowish, and usually come with redness. A gentler routine helps both, but persistent dandruff is a medical condition and worth a pharmacist or GP visit.

Can product build-up actually make my scalp itch?

Yes, and it is the cause people miss most often. Dry shampoo, styling product and hard water minerals layer into a film that traps oil and irritates the skin underneath. A clarifying wash clears it. Our guide to clarifying and build-up covers how often to do it.

My roots are oily but my ends are dry. What do I use?

Treat them as two different hair types, because they are. Cleanser goes on the scalp only, conditioner from the mid-lengths down and never near the root. That one change fixes it for most people. The full routine is here.

Are KEVIN.MURPHY shampoos sulphate-free?

The wash range is sulphate-free and safe on colour, which is why it suits a reactive scalp. If sulphates have been the irritant, that alone often settles things within a couple of washes.

When should I see a doctor about it?

If the scalp is sore, bleeding, weeping or scaly, if flaking will not shift after a few weeks of a gentler routine, or if you are losing hair. None of that is a styling problem and no shampoo is the right answer to it.

Still not settling? A stylist can look at your scalp properly and tell you whether it is a routine problem or one for a doctor.

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