Lemon is a powerful exfoliant. It takes away any shedding of dead skin cells on scalp which contribute to dandruff.
However, lemon may not be able to prevent dandruff. So, it needs to be applied periodically.
I would say once every fortnight is pretty much it. But, if you can do it once a week, then it is better.
Avoid applying lemon juice on scalp very frequently, like every day because it has a strong drying effect on skin. Natural oils too are stripped away and hair may look lifeless.
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2. Apply any hair oil regularly
Not many people would emphasize this but hair oil rejuvenates scalp skin as well. Get a healthy and natural oil for your hair. A hair oil not only makes the hair shafts shine, it helps the scalp to regularly release out dandruff. So, remember to put oil in your hair on a regular basis.
You can try these hair oils which have been used for centuries by people of different civilizations.
Amla ( Indian Gooseberry ) Oil - very rich in Vitamin C
Almond oil
Jojoba Oil
Coconut Oil
Avocado Oil
( Photo Courtesy : Wikipedia )
3. Olive oil
It is a nice remedy for dandruff . Dab some olive oil onto the scalp and massage the scalp gently. Wash it off after a few minutes. This reduces dandruff. A better way to use olive oil is in a shower cap.
- Ingredients
Olive Oil
Shower Cap
- Directions / How to use
Apply olive oil to scalp gently. Massage for 1 minute. Then wear a shower cap so that the oil stays there. Keep it on for 1 hour or so. Then wash it off in warm water. Scrub the scalp nicely to get all olive out. It takes away the dandruff with it.
" Please do not use pure olive oil as a hair oil as it is very viscous oil. It can lead to hair fall. "
( Photo Courtesy: sikachu )
3. Aloe Vera juice
The juice of Aloe Vera plant is very soothing and
heals the skin. Apply it on the scalp in small quantity only, avoiding hair shafts. Keep it for some time and feel the soothing effect it provides. Sometimes, due to dandruff or
itching, we may scratch our head hard and damage the skin. Aloe Vera heals that too, thus reducing redness and itching.
- Ingredients
Aloe Vera leaf
- Directions / How to use
Take 1 aloe vera leaf. Cut its edges and the thin protective layer over it, exposing the gel inside. Juice this using any juicer you have. Then apply that juice on the scalp. A little bit on the hair shafts won't cause any problem. Then wash it off with warm water after 10 minutes.
- Why it works ?
Aloe Vera gel has wonderful humectant and exfoliating properties. It attracts moisture and traps dead skin cells. When it is rubbed out, dandruff is released with it.
Aloe Vera also heals wounds and reduces inflammation. So , if you have injured your scalp by itching vigorously, this helps with that.
Why aren't we using just the Aloe Vera gel instead ?
Well, the gel is very sticky and it can stick very hard on to hair shafts in some people. If you have used it before and it can be removed, then it should work as well. The juice is less sticky and equally effective.
( Photo Courtesy: martius )
4. Rubbing salt on the scalp
Take some common salt and sprinkle it on the scalp. Now, rub the scalp with your fingers. This way, salt works as abrasive agent. It rubs off the dead skin and makes scalp cleaner. Shake head to remove the salt and take bath in warm water.
"Sugar can also be used in place of salt. Go with smaller sugar cubes as they work better ."
5. Butter Or Mayonnaise
Butter is a champion remedy for dandruff. Take ample amount of butter and rub it on hair. It can be applied to hair shafts as well. Wear a shower cap on your head and keep the butter on for about 1 hour. Then wash it off with plain water.
Butter moisturizes hair brilliantly and makes them look lustrous. It dissolves the dandruff and eliminates most of the flakiness. It is a very effective home remedy for dandruff on all kinds of hair, even for women.
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6. Vinegar wash
Applying white vinegar is a home remedy for dandruff that works nicely. Vinegar washes hair quite well and also the scalp. Its effect is somewhat like lemons. You can add 1 cup vinegar to a bucket of water and immerse your scalp into it. Wait for 5 minutes and the rinse hair with plain water. Or you can let it stay that way if you do not have any issue with a vinegar smell.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
This is a much better home remedy for dandruff than plain vinegar. That is because of the nutrition provided by raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Numerous women , particularly in North America use apple cider vinegar as a natural hair conditioner for keeping hair clean and looking gorgeous.
8. Fenugreek wash
Fenugreek is an additive in food. Soak some fenugreek seeds in water. Next morning, make a paste of these wet seeds, mix in some amount of water and apply onto the scalp.Wash after few minutes. This is a traditional Indian remedy for dandruff.
Fenugreek seeds or "methi ( Indian ) " helps in hair fall , dandruff, hair graying and dryness.
9. Eggs
Make a paste of one egg in a utensil. Shake it nicely. Now, apply it to wet hair. Egg may not smell nice in hair, but it is a worthwhile treatment for many hair conditions. Let it stay that way for some minutes, like half and hour or so. Then, wash it off in cold water and then in hot water. One will find that it leaves the scalp and hair healthier with much less dandruff.
( Photo Courtesy: gradin )
10. Shampoo Twice in the Shower
Yeah, you heard it right, shampoo two times in each hair wash. But, do not shampoo everyday. Most anti dandruff shampoo are much more effective if they are given a second chance at the dandruff.
However, too much shampooing is quite harmful for hair, leaving it frizzy and lifeless. So, shampoo less frequently but when you do, make sure you do it twice.
11. Oil of Bergamot
This essential oil of citrus fruit Bergamot is excellent in reducing dandruff. One should use only a few drops of this oil in a shampoo and then rinse it off.
Plus it leaves your hair smelling the best they possibly can. Bergamot has a brilliant smell. So, be ready to be complemented on your hair aroma.
11. Indian gooseberry paste ( Amla )
This small fruit is dried and turned into a paste which can be applied to the scalp. It promotes
hair growth and clears dandruff efficiently.
Amla is given prominent status in Ayurveda for its miraculous properties. It is one of the finest prevention remedy for premature hair graying. Its paste eliminates dandruff completely, leaving not a single flake.
You can either get fresh amla fruits or you can it in powder form.
( Photo Courtesy: prashantby )
12. Egg Oil ( Powerful ! )
This is somewhat unheard of product. Egg oil is an oily product extracted from egg yolks. It is a moisturizer which repairs damage to scalp skin. It is an incredible natural remedy for dandruff and many other skin conditions like hemorrhoids, eczema.
13. Thyme Tea Wash
Prepare a mild thyme tea by putting thyme in ample amount of water and boiling it once. Let the water aquire some color and aroma of thyme. Strain out the tea and let it cool a bit. Use this tea to wash hair. It can help with dandruff. Thyme also imparts a wonderful aroma to hair.
14. Apples
Apples are plenty and they can be used for curing dandruff naturally. You need just 1 apple for a single treatment of dandruff.
- Ingredients
Apple
Juicer
Warm Water
- Directions / How to use
Juice an apple. Add 2 tablespoon water to dilute it. Then apply this on scalp, massaging your way into the hair. Let it stay for 15 minutes. Then wash it completely.
- Why it works ?
Apple juice in warm water helps to unclog pores. Apples also contain a specific enzyme called phenolase which reduces cell turnover rate. That means your skin sheds slowly, so dandruff doesn't accumulate. After all, it is just dead skin cells.
15. Get Some Wind
Take some time out of your busy schedule to enjoy mild or strong soothing breeze. Natural air is a healer. It prevents pathogens from staying on skin. It blows away dandruff and itching is considerably reduced. It would make you feel much better.
Similarly, sunshine also helps in killing certain skin infections.
( Photo Courtesy: dominicspics )
Home remedies for severe dandruff
An event of bad dandruff is generally an infestation of a fungus. There are some powerful dandruff remedies against all types of fungus.
- Coconut Oil : This is the most powerful among anti fungal on planet Earth. It contains agents like capric acid which have shown very strong anti - fungal activity. Applying coconut oil on scalp thus helps in getting rid of bad dandruff.
- Baking Soda : This natural powder is a strong anti fungal. It helps to completely eliminate dandruff causing fungus.
- Tea tree oil in shampoo : Adding a few drops of tea tree oil in your regular anti dandruff shampoo makes it more potent. You just need to add 4 - 8 drops per bottle and it does the trick. Just make sure that it does not enter eyes.
To reduce itching due to dandruff, one can use arnica montana oil. Arnica is a famous flowering herb which has been used since ages for many conditions in Europe.
Herbal remedies for dandruff
Ancient Egyptian remedy for this condition is to use sesame oil. It is not difficult to procure this oil.
Ayurvedic remedy for dandruff is to apply a paste or reetha or "soapnuts ". This is actually a berry which is excellent for hair and scalp health.
Pet dandruff
if you dog, puppy, cat or kitten suffers from dandruff, then it can be treated easily using a hair spray which has apple cider vinegar and lemon in it. Just add juice of 1 lemon and few tablespoons of ACV to a bottle of water and make the hair spray.
If they do not like it, make them bathe with this water.
Staying healthy and exercising daily improves blood flow throughout the body, which also helps in reducing dandruff formation in people who recurrently face this condition. Taking fish oil also seems to help some people with hair and dandruff issues.
The above mentioned dandruff remedies can also be used for dandruff on other areas, like eyebrows, armpits, chest, groin and shins.