Home Remedies to Combat Dandruff
Dandruff is a skin condition that can cause itchiness and dry, flaky skin on your scalp. Sometimes this skin can flake off and be visible in your hair or on your clothes. This can be especially irritating during winter, when the condition can be made worse by the cold, dry air. Scientists still aren’t sure what causes dandruff, and there isn’t a cure. However, there are several natural remedies that can be used to treat it:
1. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is an essential oil produced from the tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to Australia. Tea tree oil is known for its antifungal properties and invigoratingly unique scent, so if you’re looking to get rid of dandruff naturally, here’s the tip for you. You can manage dandruff with tea tree oil by massaging a few drops of it onto your scalp before you wash your hair. Tea tree oil has such a fresh fragrance that you’ll look forward to washing your hair!
2. Coconut oil
Known for its luxurious texture and unparalleled perfume, coconut oil is a great treatment for dandruff because it is so moisturizing. The saturated fats in coconut oil are almost identical to sebum, the type of oil your skin produces to moisturize itself. This means that coconut oil is the best natural moisturizer for a dry, irritated scalp. Its additional benefit is that it makes hair extremely lustrous and shiny.
3. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has a multitude of uses. You can add it to salad dressing, you can clean your kitchen with it, and you can clarify your scalp with it. The acetic acid in vinegar is a powerful antifungal that will cleanse the dandruff off of your scalp. Just dilute a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into a cup of warm water to pour through your hair for a soothing rinse. Watch out for your eyes, though.
4. Natural dandruff shampoo
This is less of a home remedy, and more of a store-bought one, but some all-natural shampoos can be used to treat dandruff quite effectively. Look for shampoos that have pyrithione zinc in the ingredients – it works by killing the fungus that causes dandruff.
5. Aloe vera
The very same anti-inflammatory properties that make aloe vera so soothing for a sunburn are what make it effective in treating dandruff. Additionally, aloe vera has antifungal properties, making this method is a two-pronged approach when it comes to treating dandruff naturally.
6. Probiotics
Probiotics, especially the Lactobacilli found in cultured dairy products like yogurt and kefir, are certainly one of the most delicious home remedies for dandruff. Probiotics boost your immune system, which allows it to fight off the dandruff-causing fungus by itself without any additional products. If you needed an excuse to have some Greek yogurt with honey, here it is!
7. Baking soda
Baking soda can be made into a very gentle, pH-balancing shampoo. Commercial shampoos can contain harsh chemical detergents which strip essential moisturizers from your scalp. To make an anti dandruff shampoo from baking soda, simply combine it with water to form a paste. Massage it into your hair in place of your regular shampoo.