Connecticut Hairdresser Licensure Practice Exam 2026 - Free Hairdresser License Practice Questions and Study Guide

The most common cause of dandruff is often attributed to a dry scalp or a fungal infection, particularly an overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus known as Malassezia. This fungus is naturally found on the skin of many individuals, but in some people, it can lead to irritation, which causes an increase in skin cell turnover. These excess skin cells can accumulate and flake off, resulting in the visible appearance of dandruff.

While excessive heat styling, using the wrong shampoo, and allergic reactions to hair dye can contribute to scalp issues, they are not the primary causes of dandruff. Heat styling might dry out the scalp or damage hair, but it does not lead to the flaking associated with dandruff as commonly as a fungal infection does. Similarly, using inappropriate shampoos can irritate the scalp but is not the root cause. Allergic reactions to hair dye can cause scalp irritation and redness, but again, these symptoms would not typically present as dandruff. Therefore, the link between dandruff and either a dry scalp or a fungal infection is much more established.