Confirmed: The Key to Achieving Expensive-Looking, Shiny Winter Hair Lies in This Overlooked Shower Step.

      I’ll be honest: I’m willing to try almost anything to achieve glossy hair. My routine includes hydrating hair masks, temporary in-shower glazes, and a variety of serums and oils to keep my mane shiny and soft. While it’s beneficial to use ultra-hydrating products for a healthy sheen, many people overlook the fact that shiny hair starts at the scalp. In winter, our scalps can become challenging due to dandruff buildup (a common issue that nearly everyone experiences!). Dandruff, those white flakes that dust your roots like snow, often results from irritated scalps caused by dry weather, irritating products (temporary hair dye is a frequent culprit), or skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Many individuals face these annoying flakes from time to time, which is why beauty editors typically keep dandruff shampoo in their showers, even if they don’t openly acknowledge it. After trying a new shampoo and conditioner duo from Briogeo that treated my scalp like skincare and effectively eliminated my dandruff, I’m eager to share my experience.

      Associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia of Who What Wear after using the Briogeo Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Shampoo and Conditioner.

      **The Products**

      Briogeo Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Shampoo

      Size: 8.4 oz. | Key ingredients: 3% salicylic acid, charcoal, AHA | Hair type: All, especially suitable for those with dandruff, psoriasis, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis | Frequency: Twice weekly | Color-safe: Yes | Fragranced: Yes

      Briogeo is behind many of Who What Wear’s beloved haircare products, including growth serums and slick-back wax sticks. (Indeed, the Briogeo Style + Treat Hair Styling Sleek Stick won a WWW Beauty Award in 2025.) As someone with eczema, these new products from Briogeo have become winter essentials that I only wish I had discovered sooner. This shampoo contains exfoliating salicylic acid and detoxifying charcoal along with a blend of AHA and BHAs to cleanse and soothe the scalp in a chemical rather than physical way. Many dandruff shampoos use physical exfoliants like salt, sugar, and beads, which are effective for removing dead skin but can irritate dry scalps if overused. This shampoo resembles a milky toner or a mild chemical peel for your scalp; it’s gentle on dry, irritated skin, removes flakes to enhance absorption, and hydrates your strands for a calmer, healthier, and ultimately shinier appearance.

      You may be familiar with salicylic acid from acne products (it's prevalent in many for blemish-prone skin), but this shampoo and conditioner set demonstrates its benefits for your scalp as well. “Salicylic acid is a keratolytic agent that exfoliates dead skin cells by breaking cell-to-cell adhesion, which improves the look of dandruff by removing scaly, flaky skin,” said board-certified dermatologist Rachel Westbay, MD, FAAD, to WWW. However, this formula goes beyond that. The shampoo also includes sodium PCA, which penetrates deeply into the skin to hydrate your scalp and prevent future flakes. The matching conditioner ties it all together.

      Briogeo Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Conditioner

      Size: 8.4 oz. | Key ingredients: 1.8% salicylic acid, coconut oil, colloidal oatmeal | Hair type: All, especially suitable for those with dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis | Frequency: Twice weekly | Color-safe: Yes | Fragranced: Yes

      If the Briogeo dandruff shampoo acts as a toner for your scalp and hair, then the conditioner serves as a moisturizer. Consider it akin to the colloidal oatmeal baths that home remedy enthusiasts often recommend for eczema. This silky formula contains colloidal oatmeal, along with a nourishing blend of coconut oil, bisabolol, and 1.8% salicylic acid. You’ll notice that the conditioner has a lower concentration of salicylic acid because the shampoo has already performed the heavy lifting; this serves as a final, gentle dose, making it ideal for winter. The coconut oil, oatmeal, and bisabolol collaborate to alleviate dryness and provide an extra layer of hydration to your scalp and hair. However, if you’re skeptical about applying conditioner to your scalp, I understand—it’s the only one in my entire collection that encourages doing so.

      **Real Testing Results**

      To set the scene, I tested this shampoo for two weeks in the frigid weather of Chicago and the dry cold of New York City, which left my scalp particularly dehydrated when these products arrived. Although I was eager to eliminate those bothersome flakes, I must admit I have an overflow of shampoos and conditioners in my shower vying for attention with each wash. Sticking to a routine can be challenging when your job involves testing new