Natural ways to get rid of dandruff.
Arrival of winter brings with it the time of seeing white pesky flakes on your shoulders. Not only during winter, some people have dandruff all the year round. When our scalp doesn’t get the required moisture, it becomes itchy and dry, causing dandruff.
Thankfully, there are some DIY ad easy-to-follow home remedies to cure dandruff. 13 of those remedies are listed below. Scroll down.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Dandruff
1. Coconut Oil
This oil has a ton of health benefits and one of them is that it improves skin hydration and saves it from dryness. It gets deep into the epidermis and works its magic from within. The fatty acid in it have regenerative properties which really comes in handy when treating dandruff.
You can apply coconut oil instead of your regular conditioner after washing. It also makes a nice hair mask. Rub the oil directly into your scalp and rinse it off after a few minutes. Do it once a week until you see results.
Also Read
Coconut Oil for Dandruff: Does It Really Work? How to Use?
2. Tea Tree Oil
Yet another oil that fights microbes and soothes inflammation tea tree has been used to treat skin issues for centuries, dandruff included. Mix a few drops of it with your regular shampoo in a cup and rub it into your scalp. In about 5 minutes rinse it out well.
If you have sensitive skin, you can also add a few drops of coconut oil to the mix to make it more moisturizing. Since tea tree oil can be pretty dry, this method is most effective when you use it everyday for one week in a row.
3. Lemon Juice and Yogurt
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Mix a bowl of yogurt with the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon and put the mixture on your hair. A cool tool to apply it with could be the lemon peel. You can also try massaging your scalp with it. Leave this citrusy hair mask on your scalp for 10 minutes and then wash it off with shampoo.
If you apply this treatment three to four times a week, it’ll start working its magic sooner than later against dandruff. Well, lemon juice has antimicrobial properties in its citric acid and yogurt is a natural moisturizer. So, you’re preventing dandruff and healing your scalp at the same time.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is used to treat different skin conditions because of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. That’s right both bacteria and fungi that naturally live on your scalp can cause the condition that leads to dandruff. Aloe’s ability to break down dead skin cells also makes it excellent remedy for dandruff.
The gel is most effective when you take it straight from the plant. A small amount will be enough for one treatment. Put it on your scalp and leave it on for 15 minutes. During your morning shower, you can rinse it with a mild shampoo. Repeat this on a regular basis for best results.
5. Egg Yolks
This breakfast staple is brimming with proteins and vitamins that your hair and scalp love and need as an added bonus. Eggs are an excellent natural hair conditioner that’ll make your locks look bright and shiny.
Beat two egg yolks in a bowl and put the goop on your scalp. When your hair is completely dry then put on a plastic shower cap for about an hour. The trapped heat from your help the yolks do their best. Make sure to thoroughly wash off the yolk with a good shampoo. You might have do it twice but you’ll be sunny side up.
6. Olive Oil
This one will work as a natural moisturizer on your dry scalp. After all it’s that dryness that’s making you itchy. So you get the flakes coming down like snow. Another benefit of olive oil is that particularly scaly areas absorb it easily and their fall off as one large piece. This makes it easier for your skin to heal afterwards.
Apply a few drops of olive oil to your scalp in the morning 10 minutes before washing your hair or before you go to bed. If you choose the first option you can simply wash it off with shampoo. If you decide to do it at night put a towel on to absorb the extra oil and wash it off when you wake up and whichever method you go with make sure the oil is warm not burning hot.
7. Fenugreek Seeds
This heart has just the right vitamins, proteins and acids to help combat dandruff. The seeds are also great at reducing hair fall if that’s and other concerned for yours.
Anyway grind up one tablespoon of seeds and pour 2 cups of hot water in the powder. Let it sit overnight. Strain the mix next morning and rinse your hair with the remaining fenugreek water.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
This natural ingredient offers one of the natural ways to get rid of dandruff. Thanks to its high acidity which slows down the growth of yeast.
You can either add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your regular shampoo and just wash your hair with it or mix it with water. In this case you should have equal parts of both. Leave it for 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. You can do it every day for a week. Just be extra careful that the mix doesn’t get in your eyes or in any scratches on your scalp because it will burn.
9. Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids are super important for your body because they also support your immune system lungs, heart, and skin health. When you get enough of them, they help regulate oil production and hydration.
So, if you’re lacking you are much more likely to experience dry hair and skin which means dandruff. You can get the omega-3s you need from fatty fish like salmon and trout, cod liver oil, flax and chia seeds, walnuts and soybeans just to name a handful.
10. Probiotics
Probiotics have healthy bacteria in them that can help your body fight fungal infections. But even if you don’t have dandruff probiotics are great for strengthening your immune system, improving your digestive health and even lowering cholesterol.
If you want in on any of that, make sure your diet includes fermented foods like yogurt, certain kinds of cheese including gouda, mozzarella, cheddar and cottage cheese and even pickles, sauerkraut, kefir and kimchi.
11. Aspirin
If you’ve been looking for natural ways to get rid of dandruff, you must have come across this ingredient. There’s one important compound in aspirin that has anti-inflammatory properties and makes it an excellent exfoliator and that salicylic acid you might recognize that word from acne treating face washes and spot treatments or your high school chemistry class well. It’s also a common ingredient in anti-dandruff shampoos.
Simply take 2 aspirin tablets. Crush them into a powder and mix it with the shampoo you normally use. Massage it into your hair. Leave it on for a couple minutes and rinse it right of presto. You have less dandruff and your headache is gone.
12. Baking Soda
That baking soda you have in your kitchen is actually a natural exfoliant with anti-fungal properties. It can remove dead skin cells, reduce excess oil and help you to forget about scaliness and itching.
Take one tablespoon of baking soda. Put it on your wet hair and massage it into your scalp. Leave it for a minute or two but not any longer since it can dry out your hair. Then shampoo and condition as usual. Try using the baking soda method twice a week for better results.
13. Relaxation
Stress could be the reason why you have dandruff. In 2007, a group of French scientists studied the connection between tress and seborrheic dermatitis which is one of the most common causes of dandruff. In the end they found that these two are in fact connected.
Stress weakens your immune system so it can’t fight fungal and bacterial infections as well as it should. There are countless ways to reduce stress levels in your life. You might try yoga and meditation, a favorite hobby relaxing music or spend more quality time with your friends and family. Just do more of what makes you happy.
Of course, if your dandruff doesn’t go away for a long time no matter what do and you start noticing other symptoms such as redness or swelling in your scalp, then it’s time to see the doctor. All of that can speak of a more serious skin condition that requires professional help.
