11 Natural Home Remedies for Dandruff

It is not excessive to do everything in your power to make sure your hair looks flawless whenever you leave the house and spending significant amounts on cosmetic products is sometimes acceptable.

Struggling with dandruff pretty much defeats the purpose, and unless this condition is addressed first and foremost, it will offset all other gains. In the most severe cases, those who have dandruff notice it with ease, as the dead skin cells fall off their head and get scattered everywhere.

Add to this the fact that dandruff causes itches and sometimes reddening of the scalp and it is clear that is should be dealt with.

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Understanding the Causes
There is more than one cause to dandruff, and that’s what makes it so difficult to come up with a definitive and universally acceptable solution.

Stress and fatigue are responsible for many afflictions and dandruff are one of them, so try to take the foot off the gas now and then and rest a bit. It is no coincidence that hot summer days or ice-cold winters, dandruff accumulates much faster as the extreme temperature is also responsible for these symptoms.

After an illness, people are more likely to have their scalp littered with dandruff and the same goes for those who eat unhealthy food and have erratic meals.

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Other Causes

• Stress
• Extreme cold or hot weather
• Fatigue
• Poor diet
• Energy loss due to an illness or infection
• Artificial styling products
• Harsh shampoos

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Home Remedies for Dandruff

① DIY Aspirin Shampoo

Aspirin contains the same active ingredient (salicylic acid) as many medicated dandruff shampoos.

Keep flaking in check by crushing two aspirins to a fine powder and adding it to the normal amount of shampoo you use each time you wash your hair.

Leave the mixture on your hair for 1-2 minutes, then rinse well and wash again with plain shampoo. Read my post here.

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② Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds have anti-fungal properties that help control dandruff. Soak 3 tablespoon fenugreek seeds overnight or you can boil the seeds and let it sit overnight.

Blend the soaked fenugreek seeds and get it into a paste-like consistency, you can add a tbsp of coconut oil for added moisture.

Massage this paste into your scalp and leave it in for 2 hours. Wash it off with the homemade shampoo or any mild shampoo. You can read my post here.

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③ Tea Tree Oil

One study showed that shampoos with just 5 percent tea tree oil significantly improves the severity of dandruff. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your favorite shampoo as you wash normally.

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④ Baking soda

Wet your hair and then rub a handful of baking soda vigorously into your scalp. Skip the shampoo and go right to rinsing.

Baking soda reduces overactive fungi that can cause dandruff. Your hair may get dried out at first, but after a few weeks your scalp will start producing natural oils, leaving your hair softer and free of flakes.

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⑤ Apple Vider Vinegar

The acidity of apple cider vinegar changes the pH of your scalp, making it harder for the yeast to grow.

Mix a quarter cup apple cider vinegar with a quarter cup water in a spray bottle and spritz on your scalp. Wrap your head in a towel and let sit for 15 minutes to an hour, then wash your hair as usual

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⑥ Mouthwash

Wash your hair with your regular shampoo, then rinse with an alcohol-based mouthwash. Follow with your regular conditioner. Mouthwash’s anti-fungal properties help prevent dandruff-causing yeast from growing.

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⑦ Coconut oil

Before showering, massage 3-5 tablespoons of coconut oil into your scalp and let sit for about an hour.

Shampoo normally. You can also look for a shampoo that already contains coconut oil.

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⑧ Lemon

Massage 2 tablespoons lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 cup water and rinse your hair with it.

Repeat this daily until your dandruff disappears. Lemon’s acidity helps balance the pH of your scalp, which helps keeps dandruff at bay.

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⑨ Aloe Vera

Slice the aloe vera in half and massage aloe vera gel into your scalp before shampooing. The cooling effects of aloe vera will soothe the itch.

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⑩ Garlic

Crush garlic and rub it into your scalp. To avoid that potent smell, try mixing crushed garlic with honey and massaging into the scalp before washing as usual. Garlic’s anti-fungal properties are perfect for eliminating dandruff-causing bacteria.

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⑪ Olive oil

An overnight olive oil soak is a folk remedy for dandruff. Massage about 10 drops into your scalp and cover with a shower cap overnight. Follow your regular shampoo routine in the morning. For a quicker cure, look for a shampoo that contains olive oil.

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Prevention

• Take a shower soon after your workout or any laborious work.
• Keep a separate comb or brush.
• Always keep the scalp clean.
• Do not scratch your itchy scalp because your nails could wound the scalp.
• Avoid hair styling products like hair gel, mousse & spray.
• Massage shampoo gently and not vigorously.
• Wash your hair frequently. At least 3 times a week if you have oily hair and 2 times a week if you have normal to dry hair.