Dry, Itchy or Flaky Scalp in Winter? 3 Salon Products From Our Helsinki Shelf

Every winter, the same thing happens at our salon in Helsinki: more clients mention a tight, itchy or flaky scalp. Dry indoor heating, hot showers and wool hats all play a part. Below are three scalp products that sit on our shelf at Happy Oskar, photographed by us (backgrounds styled), with what each one is designed for.

How we wrote this: product details come from the packaging and ingredient lists of the products themselves. It is general information, not medical advice. Read How We Research.

First: dry scalp or dandruff?

• Dry scalp usually means small, fine, white flakes and a tight, itchy feeling, often worse in winter.
• Dandruff often means larger, slightly oily or yellowish flakes, and is linked to a yeast that lives on the scalp.

They need different care, so it helps to know which one you are dealing with. If your scalp is red, sore, bleeding or the problem does not improve, see a pharmacist or doctor.

1. System 4 Climbazole Shampoo 2: for flakes on dry or coloured hair

System 4 is a Finnish scalp care brand by Sim Sensitive. The number 2 version is made for colour-treated and dry hair, and the box is marked perfume free. Its key ingredient, climbazole, is an antifungal agent commonly used in anti-dandruff shampoos.

• Good for: flaking and itch, especially if your lengths are dry or coloured.
• How to use: massage into the scalp and leave for a few minutes before rinsing, so it has time to work.

2. System 4 Moisture Scalp Lotion (M): for a dry, irritated scalp

A leave-on scalp lotion from the same Finnish range, labelled for dry and irritated scalps, and also perfume free. A leave-on product is useful when shampoo alone is not enough, because it stays on the skin.

• Good for: tight, itchy, dry scalp without much oiliness.
• Tip: apply to the scalp, not the lengths, by parting the hair in sections.

3. Cutrin Bio+ Hydra Balance Scalp Treatment: soothing care for dry scalp

Cutrin is a professional hair care brand from Espoo, Finland. This leave-on treatment is labelled "soothing care for dry scalp". Reading the ingredient list on the box, it includes several barrier and moisture ingredients we also like in skincare: oat kernel oil, panthenol, glycerin, urea, ceramides, cholesterol and sodium hyaluronate, plus piroctone olamine, an ingredient often used against flaking, and menthyl lactate, which gives a cooling feel.

• Good for: dry scalp that also flakes a little.
• Good to know: it contains fragrance (parfum), so very sensitive scalps may prefer a perfume-free option such as the System 4 products above.

Quick comparison

Winter scalp habits that help

• Wash with lukewarm, not hot, water.
• Rinse shampoo out thoroughly.
• Do not scratch, even when it itches.
• Wash wool hats regularly, and consider a hat with a smooth lining.

For the lengths of your hair, read our winter hair care guide.

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