Dandruff is a frustrating problem, as they come. Hair issues, in general, can be frustrating when your hair seems stubborn to change and remains damaged, dry, frizzy, or otherwise uncooperative no matter what you try. As far as hair and scalp problems go, though, dandruff is especially irritating because it causes severe itchiness in addition to gross, unattractive skin flakes falling off your hair and getting caught in it.
Wine and Dandruff
There are a lot of potential causes for dandruff, but would you have guessed wine would be one of them? As it turns out, there is a link between wine consumption—and for that matter, alcohol consumption in general—and dandruff, because the alcohol in wine can dehydrate you, which can manifest in a lot of ways, including dryer, rougher skin in general, but one of the first and most prominently affected areas from alcohol dehydration is the scalp, and dandruff is a common result.
How to Fight Dandruff and Still Enjoy Your Wine
The good news here is that you don’t have to swear off any kind of alcohol to prevent dandruff, you just may have to cut back a bit and take some other precautionary measures. Excessive drinking is dangerous for your health anyway, and can lead to alcoholism and liver issues at worst, heartburn and hangovers at best, so you really should be avoiding having way too much to drink anyway. For an average day, try making it an evening ritual to have one—two at the very most—glass of wine, either paired with dinner or on its own, and really take the chance to savor it. We’re not saying you can’t have a bit more (just use your best judgment) at parties and other social gatherings, but for your day-to-day, limit yourself. It will make that one glass be savored even more, and make those occasions where you do have more feel that much more special.
Stay Hydrated
Always drink water when you consume anything alcoholic, and lots of it. A good rule of thumb is that for every drink (where a drink is one beer, one glass of wine, or one shot of liquor) of an alcoholic beverage you imbibe, have a full eight ounce glass of water afterwards. Yes, you will have to go to the bathroom a lot, but let’s be honest, if you’re drinking, you’re going to be doing that anyway, right? That said, do be mindful of how thirsty you are, and never force yourself to drink if you’re not the least bit thirsty, as it can upset your electrolyte balance.
Try Red Over White
Additionally, consider drinking red wine more often over white wine. While anything alcoholic can contribute to a dry scalp, white wine and champagne are the biggest culprits here and the ones to be careful of. If you really like white wine, great, but maybe reserve it for an occasional treat. If you like to have a single glass of wine every day, make it a red one; reds are a good idea for health anyway as they have more antioxidants.
Shampoo Regularly
Finally, just shampoo regularly if you can (if you have very dry or curly hair, every single day may not be best, but keep it regular) and use an anti-dandruff shampoo if you do develop dandruff. If you’re staying hydrated, it probably won’t happen regardless, but sometimes genetic predisposition or other factors can complicate things.
Vine Vera 