So what exactly is it?
"Dandruff refers to excessive skin flaking from the scalp," explains Professor Rodney Sinclair of the Australian Hair and Scalp Foundation.

The myths
Firstly, dandruff is not in any way related to poor personal hygiene. "Individuals suffering from dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis have a particular susceptibility to develop symptoms," says Professor Sinclair. "Trying to compensate with excessive cleansing using regular soaps and shampoos can further aggravate this condition." But you needn't worry about your 'do when you're tackling the problem. The new breed of treatments won't cause hair damage or loss of colour from tinted tresses. "Modern anti-dandruff shampoos are mild and safe for hair, even with everyday use," assures Professor Sinclair. Successive washing of colour-treated hair with a dandruff treatment shampoo (one that contains zinc pyrithione) shows it to be no different than a cosmetic shampoo, or even regular tap water. So you can care for your scalp safe in the knowledge that your strands won't suffer.

The solutions
Try these treatments to fix flakes for good.
For dandruff: Head & Shoulders Intensive Solutions Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, $8.99.
For a sensitive scalp: L'Oréal Professionnel série expert sensi balance shampoo, $20.10.