If ditching the shampoo doesn't help with the itchy scalp, you might go to your dr. I had the same problem & it ended up I have psorriasis on my scalp. Only on my scalp, go figure. I use Head & Shoulders shampoo & my dr gave me a steroid gel for when it flairs up. I am looking for some herbal remedies, though, too, that I could use on my scalp w/o smelling like a pasta dish or affecting my hair health or color.

Even though THIS SITE is selling something, it seems like a pretty good source of info on what may cause dandruff: scalp yeast imbalance. Click on "All about dandruff". (Note, I do not own Johnson & Johnson stock.) :) I have used tea tree shampoos in the past. They feel nice for sure, but my problem just got worse. Some shampooing alone can remove flakes and give the appearance of helping, plus that "tingly" feeling will override the itching for a while. I would definitely recommend seeing a good dermatologist. My problem was intermittent, the occurrence and severity often related to stress. It was worse in winter as the site says. In addition, the dermatitis irritated my eyes. My doctor proscribed Nizoral. This worked! There are also OTC versions of Nizoral available. I have also used prescription and OTC T-Gel shampoos as well. Luckily drandruff shampoos do lather up better than they used to. This makes it easier to use a minimum amount for savings. Do yourself a favor and go to a dermatologist. Whatever he/she recommends, you will save a lot of money and frustration from ineffective OTCs (like Head and Shoulders) and herbal solutions. Good luck!

Just to note: Almost all liquid 'soaps' have a preservative in them to prevent mold and to keep them from solidifying. This is true of body wash, shampoo, lotions, you-name-it. Remember the stinky frog you dissected in high school? The stink was the preservative formaldehyde. (Bar soaps have *different* icky stuff.) Also, as our immune systems age, our body's ability to tolerate these things decreases, and manufacturers change the formulas for products we *used* to tolerate. It can be impossible to find one with out a 'sudser' (sodium laureth sulfate) because...people believe they need to have 'lather' to clean. (Not true.) Neutrogena makes T-Gel and T-Sal. My DH has been happy with T-Sal.

Pat, After MUCH trial and error over the years I ended up with the following, which works very well for me. In the spot intended for fabric softener I put about a tablespoon of Citric Acid Powder. Then where detergent goes I put about a tablespoon of STPP Powder, the same amount of Borax, and about 1-1/2 tablespoons of Charlies Powder. Except for the Borax, I buy everything on the internet, usually from Amazon or Ebay. I have a front loader, so the amounts may be different for a top loading machine. Before I found my magic mix, I tried all the name brand and natural brand Free of fragrances, etc. versions. None worked as well in my extra hard water and with my extra cranky skin, so I stick with my own mixture. I hope this helps.