Review :: Phil Kingsley Itchy/Flaky Scalp Shampoo

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2.5
  • Ingredients
  • Wash
  • Scent
  • Price

Summary

If you have a sensitive scalp, then there are far gentler Piroctone Olamine shampoos than this one.   If you suffer from seb derm, there are more effective shampoos than this one.  If you have a dry scalp, there are more moisturizing shampoos than this one.

That said, it smells great and it washes well.  Which is rare for a medicated shampoo.

If you don’t suffer from a sensitive scalp and want a salon standard smell and wash with a medicated shampoo, then this is well worth a look.

For everybody else – there are gentler and more effective alternatives out there.

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User Review
2.17 (6 votes)

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99% of people (from a 95 person consumer trial) say Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo has cleared their flaky/itchy scalp.

These are impressive statistics.  Although it’s always worth bearing in mind who commissioned the trial.

In fact, advertisements for Philip Kingsley’s flaky/itchy scalp shampoo uses consumer quotes such as:

‘I can honestly say Philip Kingsley shampoo has changed my life’.

Can Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo deliver you the same results?

Relying on an antimicrobial active ingredient called Piroctone Olamine and accompanied by a side helping of 13 other ingredients – we’re here to find out.

First stop. The company behind Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo – can they be trusted?

With hundreds of celebrity launched brands, you’ll be surprised to learn Philip Kingsley (as the brand and the man) has heritage.

Since the 1930’s Philip Kingsley has been crowned as a ‘Hair Guru’ and the ‘Hair Doctor’.

It was off the back of this expertise that Philip Kingsley launched his award-winning, self-branded product range.

Philip Kingsley is not just about celebrity. In fact, Philip Kingsley has published numerous scientific papers on the condition and improvement of hair and scalp – including the British Journal of Dermatology and the American Journal of Endocrinology.

Philip Kingsley is here to offer you a holistic approach to hair care with the belief that healthy hair is beautiful hair.

With years of research behind them, Philip Kingsley can be trusted with the health of your hair and scalp. Now onto the shampoo itself. How does it arrive? What should you expect?

In a 250ml soft-to-touch bottle, Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo arrived in a simple carton with the on box promise to – provide comfort for flaky/itchy scalps.

The transparent nozzle lid is simply opened by pressing against its top. You’ll find the word press embossed in here – don’t attempt to open the cap at its base – that’s a nail breaker (ouch!).

Once open you’ll be greeted by the sweet-smelling cocktail of summer scents followed by a tinted yellow liquid of normal shampoo consistency.

With first impressions covered it’s time to use Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo on your itchy, flaky scalp. Here’s what to expect…

Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo has great performance.

The shampoo is a normal shampoo consistency while also performing in use like a normal shampoo – trust us, this is not always a given in the world of medicated shampoos.

Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo requires a gentle massaging to lather into a smooth and soft foam of medium sized bubbles – these help with spreadability i.e. they allow you to use a coin-sized dose to treat your entire scalp. Once you’ve used as per the Philip Kingsley directions, washing away is simple with no excessive dryness noted (a side effect of many anti-dandruff shampoos).

Now onto the ingredients list, what is and isn’t in your bottle of Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo? Do Philip Kingsley use ingredients scientifically proven to help treat an itchy/flaky scalp?

The key active ingredient in Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo goes by the name of Piroctone Olamine.

Piroctone olamine is considered a gentler anti-fungal active than other traditional anti-fungal ingredients like ketoconazole or selenium sulfide.

At this point, you might be wondering why would I need an anti-fungal to treat a dry scalp?  Aren’t they for conditions like seborrheic dermatitis?

Great question.

Shampoos containing piroctone olamine have been shown in published studies to:

  • Relive scalps of itching and redness when using 3 times per week for 5 weeks.
  • When used in combination with salicylic acid (an exfoliant) to be highly effective in reducing seb derm – used as a twice weekly shampoo for 4 weeks.
  • Used as a 1% formula can clear pruritus and seb derm rapidly while also helping decrease hair shedding and increasing hair density.

Making Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo a great choice for mild cases of seb derm as well as dry scalp.

Now what about the other 13 ingredients in the Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalp shampoo bottle? Are there any others worthy of note?

Let’s talk about a few standout ingredients in this formulation:

  • Cocamide DEA – somewhat mild, non-ionic cleansing ingredient – a good choice for itchy scalps as they can be sensitive
  • Glycerin – a hydrating ingredient to help improve your scalp condition

And now a few not so great standouts:

  • TEA-Lauryl Sulfate – an anionic cleansing ingredient (anionic cleansers are generally considered the strongest) which is considered to be drying/strong, therefore having the potential to cause contact dermatitis
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine – a mild surfactant, however, it’s noted a small amount of people may have an allergy to a common contaminant leftover from its making
  • Parfum – a mix of ingredients which may cause irritation
  • Benzyl alcohol – a known allergen
  • Methylisothiazolinone/Methylchloroisothiazolinone – preservatives with the potential to cause an allergic reaction
  • Cocamide DEA – a pretty severe source of contact allergens and in June 2012 the State of California listed Cocamide DEA as a chemical known to cause cancer. Wow!

If you have a sensitive scalp, then there are far gentler Piroctone Olamine shampoos than this one.   If you suffer from seb derm, there are more effective shampoos than this one.  If you have a dry scalp, there are more moisturizing shampoos than this one.

That said, it smells great and it washes well.  Which is rare for a medicated shampoo.

If you don’t suffer from a sensitive scalp and want a salon standard smell and wash with a medicated shampoo, then this is well worth a look.

For everybody else – there are gentler and more effective alternatives out there.


Author

  • First Class MChem in Chemistry A master of chemistry, a product formulation expert and a regular reviewer on this site. Megan wishes to remain partially anonymous so she can be candid about her employer's and competitor products.

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