Confirmed: The Key to Achieving Luxurious, Glossy Winter Hair Lies in This Overlooked Shower Step.

      I'll be straightforward: I'm willing to try nearly anything for glossy hair. I regularly use hydrating hair masks, temporary in-shower glazes, and a variety of serums and oils to keep my mane shiny and soft. However, while treating your strands with deeply hydrating products is beneficial for that healthy glow, many shoppers often overlook the source of those shiny locks—your scalp.

      During winter, our scalps can become challenging due to dandruff buildup, a common issue that nearly everyone experiences. Dandruff, characterized by white flakes that sit on your roots like snow, typically occurs when dry weather irritates the scalp or when certain products (like temporary hair dye) and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis aggravate it. Many people occasionally deal with these annoying flakes, which is why beauty editors always ensure their showers are stocked with dandruff shampoo—though they might not advertise it publicly. After trying a new shampoo-and-conditioner combination from Briogeo that treated my scalp like skincare and obliterated my dandruff, I’m eager to share my experience.

      Who What Wear's associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia tested 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

      - Suitable for: All hair types, especially those with dandruff, psoriasis, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis

      - Use frequency: Twice weekly

      - Color-safe: Yes

      - Scented: Yes

      Briogeo produces many of Who What Wear’s favorite haircare items, from growth serums to slick-back wax sticks. As someone with eczema, I consider these new products from Briogeo essential for winter that I wish I had discovered years ago. This shampoo is enriched with exfoliating salicylic acid and detoxifying charcoal, featuring a blend of AHA and BHAs that cleanses and calms the scalp chemically rather than physically. While salt, sugar, and beads are common physical exfoliants in other dandruff shampoos and can effectively remove dead skin, they may worsen dry scalps with frequent use. This shampoo acts like a milky toner or a mild chemical peel for your scalp: it’s gentle on irritated skin, removes flakes for better absorption, and hydrates your strands, leading to calmer, healthier, and shinier hair.

      You might recognize salicylic acid from acne treatments (it's commonly found in products for acne-prone skin), but this shampoo-and-conditioner duo illustrates its benefits for the scalp. According to board-certified dermatologist Rachel Westbay, MD, FAAD, “As a keratolytic agent, salicylic acid exfoliates dead skin cells by breaking cell-to-cell adhesion, helping to remove scaly, flaky skin and thus improving the appearance of dandruff.” However, this formula goes beyond that. In addition to its skin-clearing and scalp-degunking advantages, the shampoo contains sodium PCA to penetrate deep into the dermis, providing hydration to prevent future flakes. The complementary conditioner ties everything together.

      **Briogeo Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Conditioner**

      - Size: 8.4 oz.

      - Key ingredients: 1.8% salicylic acid, coconut oil, colloidal oatmeal

      - Suitable for: All hair types, particularly those with dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis

      - Use frequency: Twice weekly

      - Color-safe: Yes

      - Scented: Yes

      If Briogeo’s dandruff shampoo works like a toner for your scalp and hair, then the conditioner acts as a moisturizer. Think of it like the colloidal oatmeal bath often recommended for eczema sufferers, as this creamy formula contains just that, along with a blend of coconut oil, bisabolol, and 1.8% salicylic acid. You’ll notice there’s less salicylic acid in the conditioner since the shampoo has already performed the bulk of the work; this is merely a gentle finishing touch—ideal for winter. Coconut oil, oatmeal, and bisabolol all work synergistically to alleviate dryness and provide an additional layer of hydration for both your scalp and hair. If you're hesitant about applying conditioner to your scalp, I can understand your concern—it’s the only one in my collection that encourages such use.

      **Real Testing Results**

      To give context: I tried this shampoo for two weeks in the frigid Chicago climate and dry, cold New York City, resulting in an exceptionally dehydrated scalp by the time these products arrived.

      While I typically have a plethora of shampoos and conditioners vying for my attention, I found myself genuinely wanting to stick with this duo because my hair looked and felt so shiny and healthy after every wash.

      Dandruff shampoos often aren’t