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Saldana
March 13th, 2008, 07:01 AM
Last weekend, I was doing a hair-brushing booth for a community fund-raiser event.

One of the most gorgeous heads of hair in our community came to get her hair done....I kid you not, this woman's hair is gorgeous, and I tell her so every time I get a chance - natural pale blonde, 1b, M/C, iii/iv, hip length.

Anyway. So I'm massaging and combing and brushing away, and we're chatting about hair. Of course, I ask her how she cares for it. She answered with the usual W/C, couple of times a week, airdry. OK. But then she tells me that she used to have a lot of scalp problems with dandruff and seborraeic dermatitis, until she discovered that doing Listerine rinse took care of it.

What she does - S/C, then pours about half a bottle of regular Listerine on her scalp. Massage, rinse. Air dry. Voila - cleared up all the dandruff, etc, and no scalp itchies, either!

Have any of you ever heard of such a thing?

quidscribis
March 13th, 2008, 07:05 AM
Listerine has alcohol in it, right? I wonder if that's what does it, or if it's something else? And no, never heard of that. It's interesting...

sandrak
March 13th, 2008, 07:12 AM
Yes, Listerine has alcohol in it and it is HOT! I couldn't imagine pouring it on my head.

jel
March 13th, 2008, 07:14 AM
Menthol as well, I believe - I have a drop of peppermint EO (and some others) in my scalp oil, and that helps clear the flakies, itchies or gunk.

ktani
March 13th, 2008, 07:17 AM
quidscribis

Yes it does - but I do not think it is a high enough concentrtion to do any harm - the ethanol content is designed to dissolve other ingredients according to this.

See "Composition"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listerine

ktani
March 13th, 2008, 07:25 AM
Saldana

This is interesting.

I wanted to see all of the ingredients so I checked here
"Active Ingredients: Thymol (.064%), Eucalyptol (.092%), Methyl Salicylate (.060%), Menthol (.042%)
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Alcohol (26.9%), Benzoic Acid, Poloxamer 407, Sodium Benzoate, Caramel"
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=15707&catid=1122

If you read the reviews, below the product description - one reviewer says that his/her dermatologist recommended Listerine for dandruff. drugstore.com issued a disclaimer.

quidscribis
March 13th, 2008, 07:28 AM
Ah, okay. Thanks. :)

cuddledumplin
March 13th, 2008, 07:33 AM
Actually, a lot of their vintage adverts tout it as a cure for dandruff. (I've seen them in Vintage Advertising Blogs and such). They also say that it makes a good astringent for pimples.

ktani
March 13th, 2008, 07:35 AM
Saldana

Apparently Listerine at one time advertised that the product could be used to treat dandruff.

ETA cuddledumplin - Sorry, I did not see your post.

Here are some instructions on how to use it.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2075261_treat-dandruff-listerine.html

More history on Listerine advertising, uses and recipes
http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespharmacy/408/60818.html

sandrak
March 13th, 2008, 08:04 AM
My son has some dandruff and says he might try it.

mira-chan
March 13th, 2008, 12:53 PM
Scalpicin, a saborrhetic dermatitis, dandruff and itch remedy contains similar ingredients to listerine plus salicylic acid and aloe, minus the coloring. So I don't see why listerine wouldn't be likely to help. Kaminomoto, a Japanese hair growth and hair fall remedy that is known to work is also alcohol filled with similar base ingredients, plus a couple of essential oils.

Saldana
March 13th, 2008, 01:35 PM
Huh! Very interesting! I'd never heard the 'cures dandruff' claim before...but then again, I don't pay a whole lot of attention to TV or advertisements.

But my 'client' absolutely swore by it, said she'd been doing it for quite some time. And her hair certainly showed no ill effects from it.

Maybe I'll give it a shot....I've dealt with seborrheaic (sp) dermatitis for years and years.....some times it's worse, sometimes it's better.....maybe this will help.

I wonder if it has to be Listerine itself, or if a knock-off brand will work...

lora410
March 13th, 2008, 01:46 PM
Wow that is really cool; I would never have thought of that.

ktani
March 13th, 2008, 01:48 PM
Saldana

According to the information I found, Listerine no longer advertises the dandruff connection and has not for a very long time.

It is apparently the original version of Listerine that was promoted to be used - check out the ingredients on the drugstore.com link to see the differences between versions - that will tell you about options in the line itself.

Also by having the ingredients for the original version - you can see how that compares to any knockoff.

ETA I took a quick look at the different Listerine versions - the active ingredients are the same percentages in all of them - they added sorbitol and sucralose to some versions which could make them more moisturizing and extra colours, chemicals and flavourings.

If you can, I would ask the woman who told you about it - which one she uses.

longhairedfairy
March 13th, 2008, 10:20 PM
People have actually been using it for dandruff for a pretty long time. My grandmother, age76, said her family used it for that purpose when she was young.

capelli lunghi
March 13th, 2008, 10:37 PM
Yep! An older gentleman.. who is a little on the ecentric side.. told me that he poured listerine into his hands (like after shave) and smoothed it over his hair and scalp every day.. he also DRANK a lid full every day.. he said it kept him healthy and dandruff free... *rolls eyes* LOL

coppercurls
March 13th, 2008, 10:40 PM
I have heard that it will kill nail fungus too. Just soak nightly. I have no idea if this works, but I am sure the effected area would smell minty fresh!:p

sweetkandi
March 13th, 2008, 11:32 PM
That sounds like it might burn. But if I had a really bad problem, im betting I'd try it out.

KiwiLiz
March 14th, 2008, 05:30 AM
I used to put it on my horses mane to stop the skin underneath from flaking. It seemed to work, so I guess it could work for people too.

Patrycja
March 14th, 2008, 10:13 AM
I trhink I might muster enough guts to give this a go.Can I request someone reporting back here when they try it?I hate to put someone on the fireing line before me though :(

Alaskanheart
March 14th, 2008, 01:48 PM
I haven't heard about it helping with dandruff . Though now I have I might try it, but I think I will have to take alot of precaution not to get it on the length of my hair, (I think it will dry it out).

A few years ago though, a male friend told me that he used it on his hair to prevent hairloss and to grow hair back, he said listerine has the same active ingrediant as rogaine. I never looked into it, so I have no idea if that is true.Something to research though if it is just as effective as Rogaine. Rogaine is expensive!

ktani
March 14th, 2008, 02:13 PM
According to the reviews - the Vanilla Mint is somewhat milder than the other versions for some people - the active ingredints - the same percentages as the Original version.

Ingredients and some reviews for Vanilla Mint
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=155154&catid=1122&brand=7915&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=1122&trxp2=155154&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND&cmbProdBrandFilter=7915

All reviews for Vanilla Mint
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=155154&catid=1122&brand=7915&trx=29983&tab=1#1

longhairedfairy
March 14th, 2008, 02:26 PM
I haven't heard about it helping with dandruff . Though now I have I might try it, but I think I will have to take alot of precaution not to get it on the length of my hair, (I think it will dry it out).

A few years ago though, a male friend told me that he used it on his hair to prevent hairloss and to grow hair back, he said listerine has the same active ingrediant as rogaine. I never looked into it, so I have no idea if that is true.Something to research though if it is just as effective as Rogaine. Rogaine is expensive!

Active ingredient in Rogaine: minoxidil

Active ingredients in Listerine: menthol, thymol, methyl salicylate, and eucalyptol

Could one of these be similar?

Alaskanheart
March 16th, 2008, 10:14 PM
I have no Idea longhaired fairy. maybe if the balding is caused by a fungus or mite then I can see listerine helping to kill the crud enabling the hair to grow freely, but thats just a vague theory. I really dont know anything about balding, but the guy friend claims he was told this info by a doctor or a hair specialist , I cant remember exactly.

Carina
March 16th, 2008, 10:35 PM
I think listerine is not for my scalp since it is very dry already.I must say that my first thought was What?Listerine in your hair,this must be a joke.But the more I read about it it starts to make a little sense.

Saldana
March 16th, 2008, 11:07 PM
Ok - I clarified it (pun intentional) with my friend - more info: She's kind of generic Celtic/Germanic Caucasian, middle aged, with extremely thick, wavy, M/C hip length blonde hair, starting to grey (but you can't tell it's greying, really....it's natural blonde).

She said when she started growing her hair longer several years ago, she started having trouble with a lot of dandruff, flakes, and itching. A friend told her about the Listerine, so she tried it and found it stopped the dandruff, the flakies, and the itching....almost immediately. AND keeps it at bay. I had my hands in her hair, massaging her scalp...and it felt very healthy and clean.

What she does:
She uses the regular, yellow, Listerine brand Listerine; just buys a big bottle of it.
She shampoos and conditions about twice a week, air-dries, combs and/or brushes, that's about it. (I forgot to ask what kind of S/C she uses...but I don't think it's anything special)

Once every other week or so, she'll wet her hair, shampoo it, rinse, condition the length. Then, with the conditioner on the length, she just takes the Listerine bottle and pours it carefully onto her scalp. Then she massages it in, and rinses. That's it. She does say that she's careful not to get too much onto the length.

I don't know when the formulation changed, but she seems to have started this maybe a couple of years ago.

I'm thinking of giving it a shot....

nowxisxforever
March 16th, 2008, 11:14 PM
Actually, a lot of their vintage adverts tout it as a cure for dandruff. (I've seen them in Vintage Advertising Blogs and such). They also say that it makes a good astringent for pimples.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/Cosmopolitan/9-1953/xlg_listerine_dandruff.jpg

:)

MadHatter
March 17th, 2008, 01:13 AM
That's interesting. Definitely something to keep in mind if my scalp starts acting up again.

longhairedfairy
March 17th, 2008, 02:08 AM
Yeah, I think I'll try it the next time my scalp gets irritated, too. I wonder if maybe a diluted version could be used for acne on the face or possibly just the back.

tiny_teesha
March 17th, 2008, 05:59 AM
ive read if you want to go inbetween washing to douse a cottom ball with it and rub it along your scalp (like part the hair and use the alcohol to dry up the sebum) or something....but hte harsh ingredients scared me from trying. They recommend the same thing with the alcohol in hair spray.

ktani
March 17th, 2008, 06:47 AM
Saldana

The yellow one she referred to is probably the one called Original - so if you like - start with that one.

The differences between formulas are not the main ingredients - just extras like flavours and colours and a few chemicals which would not affect how it works on flakes, IMO.

Miss World
March 18th, 2008, 03:40 AM
a friend of mine uses it for her dandruff... I might give it a try :)

Keiera
March 18th, 2008, 09:20 AM
Wow, this sounds like something that might actually work. I've had problems with dandruff for years now. It's not flaking out anymore unless I scratch, but it's still a major annoyance. I'm going to try this out soon.

Shimmy
March 18th, 2008, 05:45 PM
I'm going to try this :D

Rosemary
March 18th, 2008, 05:54 PM
I've used Listerine for YEARS, but not for dandruff. I like the way it clarifies my hair. It feels very tingly when you pour it on, and makes your hair feel "squeaky". After you rinse it off it's still a bit squeaky, (as in extra clean) and after it dries, my hair is very fluffy. But when I get buildup, it really seems to cut it. My Mom taught me this when I was about 7 years old. Don't get it in your eyes though lol! I've never heard of using it for dandruff however.......

Hairstorm
March 18th, 2008, 07:28 PM
I think there could be a logic to this old-fashioned remedy. If people back then were washing with soap, it could cut through the soap scum.

CaityBear
March 18th, 2008, 08:30 PM
I read about that tip somewhere a long time ago, but I've never tried it or anything.

Nienna
July 20th, 2008, 05:23 PM
So, has anyone tried this yet?
I found this thread whilst searching for results on 'scalpicin', and now I'm really curious to see if it worked for anyone 'cause I'm about at my wits end with trying to rid myself of the itchies and flakies.

thankyousir74
July 20th, 2008, 06:16 PM
I may have to try this, I've been getting some buildup but I'm not shore what from. I mean I stopped using cones 7 months ago! I must admit I'd like my hair to smell tingly fresh too ^ ^

bgarrison
September 19th, 2008, 11:05 AM
Any reports back on listerine or scalpicin for itchies??

fingers crossed, bg

Áine
September 19th, 2008, 11:59 AM
Saldana

According to the information I found, Listerine no longer advertises the dandruff connection and has not for a very long time.

It is apparently the original version of Listerine that was promoted to be used - check out the ingredients on the drugstore.com link to see the differences between versions - that will tell you about options in the line itself.

Also by having the ingredients for the original version - you can see how that compares to any knockoff.

ETA I took a quick look at the different Listerine versions - the active ingredients are the same percentages in all of them - they added sorbitol and sucralose to some versions which could make them more moisturizing and extra colours, chemicals and flavourings.

If you can, I would ask the woman who told you about it - which one she uses.

Actually, yes they do still sell it in certain local drugstores. The old, old, original yellow-brown version. Not the minty newer stuff.

sahiba
September 19th, 2008, 01:31 PM
The mouth wash Listerine??? I'm really surprised. Who could think of a mouth wash having so many other qualities.

ladystar
September 19th, 2008, 01:56 PM
When I was younger my grandmother would tell me to spray this on my scalp for dandruff. It worked.

c_adkins
September 19th, 2008, 03:00 PM
Really? I just quit using tea tree shampoo (too much sulfate) and my scalp is about to drive me crazy. I might just have to try it. I don't have dandruff just dry, itchy scalp. I see you guys talk about clarifying before you do a SMT, how do you do that?

mira-chan
September 19th, 2008, 05:39 PM
Any reports back on listerine or scalpicin for itchies??

fingers crossed, bg

Both work but be careful not to use them too much as they do contain a lot of alcohol. This is especially true if you have dry hair/ scalp. If you have oily scalp and true dandruff this will work nicely. If your flakes and itchiness are from dry scalp, this is not something you want to use.

Kirin
September 19th, 2008, 06:13 PM
My grandmother still uses the original listerine for several purposes. She washes her hair with ivory soap, which she's done since what seems is the dawn of time, and rinses with listerine dilluted in warm water. She said its to get rid of the "soapies". I'm assuming it clears out the gunky feel of soap.

She also uses it, dilluted on a cotton ball as a skin toner, and under her armpits instead of deodorant. Local markets touted it for these uses when she was much younger.

It will also kill apparently toe nail fungus and fingernail fungus, help remove warts, and kill athelete's foot if soaked in a dilluted warm mixture of it for a half hour.

I have no idea if any of those things actually work though, but in reality it seems feesable to me.

NurseMama
September 19th, 2008, 06:16 PM
Yes, Listerine has alcohol in it and it is HOT! I couldn't imagine pouring it on my head.

I know! Let alone half a bottle! Aaack!

Kirin
September 19th, 2008, 07:44 PM
Yes, Listerine has alcohol in it and it is HOT! I couldn't imagine pouring it on my head.

Listerine (and alcohol) are only "hot" to mucus membranes, or broken skin. If you poured Listerine straight on say, your forearm or palm of the hand, you will feel nothing. On more thin skin, such as that of the face and scalp, you would feel a tingling, but not the burning sensation one gets in the mouth.

Places I'd never use it is the eyes, nose, or genetaila or where i had a cut or fringe fingernail *shudder*

berr
September 19th, 2008, 08:13 PM
It makes perfect sense to me. I use sea breeze for sensitive skin if my scalp starts getting itchy. I put conditioner on my length and sea breeze on my scalp only. It tingles and really seems to clean the scalp. It's an astringent. My scalp feels really cool and tingly after rinsing. I've been using jasons tea tree oil shampoo for my scalp in between washing with naked naturals but I'm getting some buildup. I might try the listerine because a large bottle of listerine is much cheaper than a small bottle of sea breeze.

Reila
November 12th, 2008, 02:26 PM
Sorry for reviving an old thread! But I had to reply on here after rising with the original listerine.

This morning I conditioned my length, shampooed my scalp, conditioned my length again and rinsed with the original listerine. My scalp felt sooo nice and refreshed -- like it was finally breathing! And guess what? No itchies at all. :] I think I might do this once a week because it made my scalp feel so nice and clean.

LawyerGirl
November 12th, 2008, 02:35 PM
On a scalp that is scabby from S/D would it burn?

mira-chan
November 12th, 2008, 02:50 PM
On a scalp that is scabby from S/D would it burn?
Listerine is made of a high percent of alcohol so if you have any open wounds then yes, it will burn. It's also antiseptic so it will disinfect those wounds.

ktani
November 12th, 2008, 03:03 PM
The original Listerine has about 26% alcohol, the newer ones about 21%, see "Composition".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listerine

By comparison, Purell hand sanitizer contains 62% alcohol, almost 3 x more.
http://www.raytechcatalog.com/product_info/purell-hand-sanitizer-376.html

MandaMom2Three
November 12th, 2008, 06:04 PM
Bizarre as it sounds, Listerine is the ONLY thing that gave my scalp any measure of relief when I had a sever reaction to black hair dye about 6 years ago. I ended up loosing about 90% of my hair (and shaving the rest). My scalp was covered in INSANELY itchy sores and the ONLY thing that would give even temporary relief was dabbing on Listerine!

truepeacenik
November 13th, 2008, 01:32 PM
ha. When I lived on the road, listerine was called hippy bath, and a friend called it folksinger bath recently.
Neither of us ever tried it on hair.
we both have longer hair, so you think we'd try at some point.

but I'm going to get some for the artists' closet at the venue.

patissegrietje
December 13th, 2008, 09:39 AM
I think i'll go out to buy some listerine for my scalp; will report back after use... :D

patissegrietje
December 14th, 2008, 04:05 PM
Okay, tried it! but didn't use half a bottle, just a cup, and poured it over my head after cwc, the tingling(? is that proper English?) felt kind of nice, and no dandruff, my scalp is always very dry, but no problems with this either, don't think it dried it more...

ktani
December 14th, 2008, 04:13 PM
For anyone wanting to try this, you could pour some out and let it sit a bit to let some of the alcohol evaporate. I do not think that it would be all that drying either way.

NeilTheFuzz
December 14th, 2008, 04:17 PM
We are talking listerine as in the mouth wash? I don't care if it could give my hair super powers (maybe I do a bit). I would not want to smell of the inside of a mouth.

ktani
December 14th, 2008, 04:27 PM
I wanted to see all of the ingredients again.
"Active Ingredients: Thymol (.064%), Eucalyptol (.092%), Methyl Salicylate (.060%), Menthol (.042%)
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Alcohol (26.9%), Benzoic Acid, Poloxamer 407, Sodium Benzoate, Caramel"
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=15707&catid=1122

Methyl Salicylate is toxic. This link is good to have on hand IMO, both about Methyl Salicylate and the following.
"Before Calling Emergency
Determine .... following information:
Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed
.... National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions."
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002683.htm

There is a warning on the bottle
"Do not use in children under twelve years of age.
Keep out of reach of children. If more than is used for rinsing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away."
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=15707&catid=1122

The warning is slightly different for the Cool Mint
"Do not administer to children under twelve years of age. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children. Do not swallow. In case of accidental overdose, seek professional assistance or contact a poison control center immediately."
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=15711&catid=1122&brand=7915&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=1122&trxp2=15711&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND&cmbProdBrandFilter=7915

Ingredients
"Active Ingredients: Contains: Thymol (0.064%), Eucalyptol (0.092%), Methyl Salicylate (0.060%), Menthol (0.042%)
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Alcohol (21.6%), Sorbitol Solution, Flavoring, Poloxamer 407, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Saccharin, Sodium Benzoate, FD&C Green 3"
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=15711&catid=1122&brand=7915&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=1122&trxp2=15711&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND&cmbProdBrandFilter=7915

Sissy
December 14th, 2008, 04:29 PM
ha, I couldn't imagine using Listerine on my hair.

nowxisxforever
February 2nd, 2010, 11:31 AM
Hey, thought I'd resurrect this. I tried it last night and it made my scalp feel very odd-- I'm assuming this is normal and not harmful? :) Felt really tingly and minty. Hrmmmm.

Anyone still doing this? How's the success?

snnej
February 3rd, 2010, 02:24 PM
I use Listerine 50% with water on my horse for minor skin issues (infections and fungus) under his saddle. I think it could work for fungal infections on the scalp. Some dandruff is caused by a fungal infection so it may work for minor dandruff.

nowxisxforever
February 3rd, 2010, 06:32 PM
Ok, so I got some of the yellow Listerine, that I plan on trying... hopefully it won't make me smell quite as odd, but I guess we'll see.

christine1989
February 3rd, 2010, 07:23 PM
I have heard of this for scalp problems but I would NEVER think of putting a product with alcohol in my hair to improve the condition of the hair itself. Im guessing that her beautiful hair has nothing to do with the listerine.

nowxisxforever
February 4th, 2010, 06:09 AM
The yellow listerine didn't make my scalp feel nearly as weird as the blue stuff. Hrmmmm. I did soak my hair in conditioner up to my ears before putting it on my scalp, though.

So that makes it twice I've used the stuff-- still waiting to judge it.

curlywurlygurly
February 4th, 2010, 07:05 PM
Sounds interesting. I'm not exactly fond of the Listerine smell - does it linger in the hair?

nowxisxforever
February 5th, 2010, 05:36 PM
Sounds interesting. I'm not exactly fond of the Listerine smell - does it linger in the hair?

The blue stuff did, actually, but I used it as a rinse at the very end over just my scalp.

I got the yellow stuff, and ran it over my scalp FIRST with conditioner in my length, then rinsed, then S&C and applied a serum to my ends, and I could only barely smell it afterwards, and I can't smell it at all, now. I did leave the yellow stuff on and massage for a few minutes.

indigonight
February 5th, 2010, 05:52 PM
I once used this to kill head lice however I do not recommend it for anything else it dried out my hair no end. If you have scalp issues try neem oil infused in coconut oil or something gentler!