How to Get Rid of Dandruff: 11 Natural Treatments
Skip the dandruff shampoo and try these homemade dandruff treatments to banish those pesky white flakes.
What gets rid of dandruff?
Dandruff
may be the result of a dry scalp, or a skin condition called seborrheic
dermatitis. It could also be caused by eczema, psoriasis, or, very
commonly, an overgrowth of a yeastlike fungus called malassezia.
Drugstore remedies might include shampoos with zinc pyrithione, which
targets fungus and bacteria; ketoconazole, which also fights fungus;
coal tar and selenium sulfide, which slow the growth and die-off of skin
cells on your scalp; and salicylic acid, which loosens flakes so they
can be washed away. For natural treatments, read on.
Aspirin
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.
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.
Baking soda
Your
kitchen could hold the key to an itch-free, flake-free scalp. 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.
Apple cider vinegar
Dr. Mehmet Oz swears by apple cider vinegar
as a dandruff treatment, as the acidity of apple cider vinegar changes
the pH of your scalp, making it harder for 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. Do this twice a week.
Mouthwash
To
treat a bad case of dandruff, 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.
Coconut oil
Crunchybetty.com
says coconut oil is a "tried and true" dandruff treatment, and it
smells nice too. 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.
Lemon
Dandruff
relief may be no farther away than your refrigerator. Just 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.
Salt
The
abrasiveness of ordinary table salt works great for scrubbing out
dandruff flakes before you shampoo. Grab a saltshaker and shake some
salt onto your dry scalp. Then work it through your hair, giving your
scalp a massage. You'll find you've worked out the dry, flaky skin and
are ready for a shampoo.
Aloe vera
Stop yourself from scratching by massaging aloe vera into your scalp before shampooing. The cooling effects of aloe vera will soothe the itch.
Garlic
Garlic's
anti-fungal properties are perfect for eliminating dandruff-causing
bacteria. Crush garlic and rub it into your scalp. To avoid that potent
smell, healwithfood.org suggests mixing crushed garlic with honey and massaging into the scalp before washing as usual.
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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