By Michelby Whitehead
Dandruff is just so disrespectful. Have you ever nonchalantly scratched your scalp in public, only to cause an avalanche? Talk about embarrassing!
These pesky flakes are a result of your scalp acting up. Sometimes, this flare up is caused by daily stress or a poor diet. Other causes, according to Healthline.com, include:
- irritated and oily skin, a condition also known as seborrheic dermatitis
- not shampooing enough, which causes skin cells to accumulate and create flakes and itching
- yeast called malassezia, which aggravate your scalp and cause excess skin cell growth
- various hair care products that may cause contact dermatitis, which makes your scalp red and itchy
While some cases of dandruff are only curable by a doctor, others can be solved with home remedies and basic ingredients that are lingering around your home. Scratch dandruff for good with this roundup of basic household and organic items!
Tea Tree Oil
Dandruff can be caused by an overgrowth of yeast, so tea tree oil’s antifungal properties are great for treating it. For both dry scalp and dandruff, massage a few drops of the diluted solution into your scalp and leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing.
Coconut Oil
After washing your hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner, lubricate your scalp with liquid coconut oil, massaging it with your fingers for 3-5 minutes and paying extra attention to the crown of your head. Leave the oil on for 10 minutes, then wash it out with warm water and dry gently. Repeat this process once a week until your dandruff disappears.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has got to be the holy grail of home remedies! It whitens teeth, zaps zits, and fights dandruff. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with water until you reach the perfect paste consistency. Part your hair into sections, dab some olive oil onto your scalp, and apply the paste. Rinse after 10-15 minutes and style as usual.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another natural God-send for dandruff. You can use it as a shampoo to cleanse your scalp, or you can consume it daily to banish flakes from your hair. There are also actual shampoo products on the market that contain apple cider vinegar, such as Cantu’s Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse and Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend.
Aspirin
It’s not just for headaches! Crush two or three uncoated aspirin tablets and mix them into the normal amount of shampoo you generally use to wash your hair. This can help reduce inflammation in the scalp and exfoliate it.
Photo by Teymi Townsend on Unsplash
