Review of Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo

Every winter I tend to get very dry scalp. I've used Head and Shoulders that has zinc added, but it never seemed to work. This winter while shopping at my local Walgreen's I looked over the vast array of shampoos made for everything from dandruff to psoriasis.

I've seen commercials for Neutrogena's T-Gel shampoo and figured I would give it a try. The active ingredient in the product is 0.5% coal tar. The bottle is clear so you can see the gel through it. It's a clear, dark brown color. Not the type of shampoo you want sitting around when company comes. The shampoo is a bit pricey for a 4.4oz bottle, but since I only need to use it for less than half the year I figured it would be worth it-if it worked.

When I got home I decided to try right away it since I was sick and tired of having a dry, itchy scalp. Upon opening the bottle, the first thing I noticed is the smell. It's very medicinal smelling. Like a combination of tar and menthol. The texture is very gel-like. I applied it to my hair and scalp, then let it sit for a few minutes as I went about my other shower duties. My scalp tingled and stung a bit, even after washing it out. It wasn't a bad feeling though.

I had to use conditioner afterward since I didn't want the tar/menthol smell left on my hair. When I used the conditioner though I didn't apply it to my scalp since this can lead to itching and flaking.

What I noticed right away, after just one use, was that I was nearly itch-free and I didn't have as much dandruff. I used it daily for the first two weeks and my scalp was back in normal condition. Now I use the Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo twice a week just for maintenance. Out of all the products I've used for dry scalp, dandruff, and dermatitis, this shampoo has worked the best.