Dandruff—even the very word sounds unpleasant. Some women have never had to deal with it, some have found clever ways to hide it, and some have had to swear off their most treasured LBDs because of those embarrassing white flakes. Whatever category you’re in, it’s time to get educated. The road to thick, healthy tresses starts at your scalp, after all, and a dandruff problem can be easily soothed if you know your stuff. To get an expert opinion, we spoke with New York-based trichologist Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips from the Philip Kingsley Clinic. From the most common dandruff mistake to an easy DIY scalp soother, keep scrolling for Phillips’s advice!