Dandruff is a common scalp condition that causes dry and flaky dead skin to shed off. Some people, however, experience large amount of flaking accompanied by dryness, itchiness, redness, and irritation on the scalp, while others have small amount of dry flakes. It can be quite embarrassing when you get those dry white flakes over your shoulder when you are wearing your favorite black dress or shirt for a dinner or a formal meeting. Dandruff is caused by a fungus named Malassezia which grows on your scalp and causes the dry skin to shed. Dandruff can occur due to the dryness of the scalp or excessive oil production on the scalp. The cold weather during winter leads to dryness and the hot and humid weather during summer causes excessive sweating which leads dandruff.
Some of the other causes of dandruff can be improper diet, not shampooing your hair often, harmful hair care products, dermatitis, eczema, stress, improper brushing of hair, and of course environmental conditions. Dandruff is a common problem that can occur to anyone from young age to adulthood. There are many anti dandruff products available for you to try and treat your scalp condition but we can always try some home remedies which will, not only treat your dandruff problem but will also make your hair soft and shiny.
Yogurt/Curd:
The antibacterial properties in yogurt will help prevent scaling of the scalp and the protein in the yogurt will nourish your hair making it strong, soft, and shiny. This is one of the easiest remedy to try at home.
Take about ½ cup of plain yogurt and apply it to your scalp and to your dry hair. Cover your entire hair with yogurt. Leave it for about 20-30 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly with water and wash it with a natural shampoo. You can see the positive results from the very first use. This remedy can be done twice a week to get dandruff free hair.
Coconut Oil and Lemon Juice:
The coconut oil will help moisturize the scalp and will soothe itching. It will also reduce the flaking of the skin, making your hair strong from its roots. Lemon juice acts as a natural conditioner and the acidity in lemon juice will help balance the pH of your scalp which will eventually keep dandruff away.
Mix 2 tablespoons of coconut oil with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix it well and apply this mixture to your scalp and hair. Leave it for about 30 minutes. Later wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Repeat this 2-3 times a week.
Olive Oil:
Olive oil is a natural and effective moisturizer that will reduce the dryness and inflammation of the scalp. You can either leave in the olive oil treatment overnight or you can do the warm towel treatment.
Heat some extra virgin olive oil until it is warm. Massage it onto your scalp and apply the remaining oil to your hair. Cover with a shower cap and leave it overnight for the oil to get into your scalp. Wash it with a natural shampoo the next morning. If you are out of time, you can also wrap a warm towel onto your shower cap and leave it for 30-45 minutes before washing it off with a mild shampoo. This will help the moisture to remain intact in the scalp.
Fenugreek Seeds:
Methi Seeds widely known as fenugreek seeds have been used to treat problems such as hair fall, dandruff, grey hair, and split ends of hair. The anti-fungal properties of fenugreek seeds helps to fight dandruff which is caused by yeast or fungal infection and promotes healthy hair growth.
Soak 2-3 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. The next day grind the seeds into a fine paste. Apply this paste all over the scalp and leave it for about 30-40 minutes. Rinse it thoroughly and wash your hair with a mild shampoo. For best results repeat this remedy once or twice in a week. You can also add 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice or plain yogurt to this paste before applying it to your scalp.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV):
The enzymes present in apple cider vinegar are strong enough to kill the fungal and bacterial infections. Just like lemon the acidic levels in ACV balances the pH of the scalp and helps getting rid of dandruff to a great extent.
Take 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix it with equal quantity of water. You can add few drops of lavender oil or tea tree oil to this mixture to get rid of the strong odor of the vinegar. You can either spray the mixture or apply it to you scalp. Leave it for at least 15 minutes before rinsing it with warm water. You can follow this remedy for 1-2 times a week.
These are some of the best and effective remedies that work wonders on treating dandruff and are used since grandma’s time. If you are sensitive to any ingredient, then try avoiding it and consult a health expert before trying anything new to your skin. If you have mild to severe dandruff and want to get rid of it soon, then do try these home remedies to treat dandruff naturally. If you have any other natural remedy that can free your scalp from that flaky dead skin, then please share with us and drop your comments.
