Can Shampoos Really Get Rid of Dandruff? (My take on the top anti-dandruff shampoos)

If you’ve ever googled “best shampoo for dandruff,” and tried about everything, with no success. I feel you. 
I dealt with dandruff for over 8 years. It came and went, but overall I was constantly battling with an unpredictable and itchy scalp.

At the time, I believed dandruff shampoos were the only real option.
Every bottle promised “no dandruff in just a few uses.”
For me, it was the opposite.

The Anti-Dandruff shampoos I tried (and how they actually worked for me)

• Head & Shoulders:
  Helped temporarily, but the flakes came back. Left my scalp dry and tight.
• Nizoral:
  Worked briefly, then dried out my scalp and made it itch more. (i also started losing hair and seeing a change in my hair texture after using it..)
• Neutrogena T-Gel:
  Strong smell, no major change. A lot of people recommend it, but it didn’t help me.
• Coal Tar Shampoo (pharmacy grade):
  Slight improvement but too harsh for regular use. Not great for sensitive or inflamed skin like mine (I also have scalp psoriasis).
• Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo:
  Fast relief at first… but the results faded and I started reading about potential side effects from long-term use. 

What I Eventually Realized:

Shampoos were just a band-aid.
I wasn’t getting better, just cycling through relief and relapse.

Eventually, I got tired of the loop and started doing my own research.
That led me to a few surprising truths:

1. Dandruff is often caused by an overgrowth of malassezia, a type of yeast that lives on your scalp.
2. A weak scalp barrier makes it easier for that yeast to overgrow and all the harsh shampoos I was using were making that barrier weaker.
3. Gut health plays a big role.
   I understood that inflammation and poor gut function can directly affect skin issues, including dandruff.

The Natural Method That Actually Helped

Once I understood what was going on, I changed everything, not overnight, but with consistency.

Here’s what helped:

1. Rebalancing my gut
   I reduced sugar, gluten and alcohol, added fermented foods, and supported digestion with supplements.
2. Switching to gentle, natural topical care
   I started oiling my scalp with a blend of neem, black seed, and rosemary oil before washing. These helped calm inflammation and reduce fungal growth. Now I use Nima's Scalp Soothing oil about 1-2 per month when I feel my scalp needs a little help.
3. Ditching harsh shampoos
   I replaced them with a mild, non-stripping shampoo bar with no sulfates, no actives, no chemicals. 

What I’ve Seen Since

My dandruff isn’t gone forever, genetically I am prone to this issue, but now it’s manageable.If I’m stressed, eating poorly, or not sleeping, it can come back. But I know what to do now and that alone has changed everything.

I just return to my routine:
→ Oil my scalp, better sleep, healthy food, gentle wash.
→ a few days later, my scalp’s clear again.

After seeing my own results, I wanted to share what worked, without the marketing fluff or pretending that it's some miracle cure. 

NIMÀ is built around that exact method:
Topical support + internal balance + honest education.

If you’re stuck in the shampoo cycle, maybe it’s time to shift your approach.
Start with your scalp barrier. Start with your gut.
And I promise you will see changes.