Home Remedies For Dandruff

Dandruff is a common scalp problem faced among many people across the world. Several factors such as the dry scalp, bacteria, pollution etc. contribute to dandruff. This irritating hair problem leads to hair fall and itchy scalp. It even leaves a trail of flakes on your dress and makes you feel embarrassed. However, following a healthy hair care routine and using few effective home remedies can help treat dandruff easily. All you need to do is to find out whether you are having dandruff or not so that you can easily nip this in the bud itself at home.

Dandruff Home Remedies & Their Uses

Here are few home remedies that help treat dandruff problems:

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a chief kitchen ingredient useful to serve distinct purposes. It is necessary to include in several home remedies, as it does a good job.

Baking soda helps in clearing off dandruff from the scalp. It initially exfoliates the dead skin cells from the scalp. Baking soda acts as a natural fungicide that helps in killing the fungus thriving on the scalp, which can be a cause of dandruff. In addition, baking soda solution can help remove the loose flakes stuck in the hair.

How to Use

1. Add a tsp. of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Stir it well.
2. Use this solution daily instead of shampoo.
3. You hair might turn dry initially, but later it will restore its shine from the natural oils produced by the scalp.
4. If you also want to use a shampoo, just mix a tsp. of baking soda in a handful of shampoo and rinse your hair.

Caution: Too much baking soda will damage your hair. So, better add one tsp. of baking soda for every cup of warm water.

Neem Leaves

Neem leaves act as a natural home remedy in treating dandruff. It has antifungal properties and helps in obstructing the growth of dandruff caused by fungi. It also helps relieve scalp itching.

How to Use

1. Add a bunch of neem leaves in around four to six cups of water.
2. Heat it for few minutes. Leave it overnight.
3. Strain the solution next morning and use this solution for rinsing your hair.
4. You can even make a fine paste of neem leaves, coconut oil, and beetroot paste and apply it as a mask to your hair. Follow this remedy twice a week and leave it for an hour or two. Wash off with water.

Caution: Using neem pack topically on hair has no side effects. However, it might create an itching sensation initially, so use after diluting it. Itching sensation occurs due to leaves.

Lemon

Lemon is an ingredient that is free from harsh constituents and unnatural compounds. It aids in clearing dandruff. Lemons help in removing the dandruff flakes naturally and easily. They contain acids that help break down the fungi thriving on the scalp that causes dandruff. Lemons help restoring the pH balance of the scalp.

How to Use

1. Cut a lemon to half and rub it over the scalp.
2. Leave it for at least 20 minutes.
3. Alternatively, add two tsp. of lemon juice in water before rinsing your hair with it. Repeat this process daily until you see best results.
4. You can add plain curd to lemon juice and apply it as a hair mask. This remedy helps moisturize your hair and even keeps dandruff issues at bay.

Caution: Lemons are natural ingredients and have no side effects. Excessive use of lemon juice will lead to an extremely dry scalp and might even weaken your hair roots.

Fenugreek Leaves & Seeds

Fenugreek seeds and leaves have antifungal and antibacterial properties. Fenugreek is good in amino acids and protein that help clear away the dandruff flakes and stimulate hair growth. It contains lecithin that helps stimulate hair growth and makes it stronger and shinier.

How to Use

1. Soak few fenugreek leaves or seeds overnight.
2. Make it a fine paste next morning and then apply it on the scalp.
3. Leave it for an hour and rinse it off using a mild shampoo later.
4. It also relieves itchy and dry scalp problems.

This remedy has no side effects. However, you have to wash off your hair so that no residue is left over.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Washing your hair with apple cider vinegar solution might sound like a bad idea. However, it addresses the dandruff problem from the root. Dandruff is caused due to the breakup and accumulation of dead skin cells that causes irritation in the scalp. ACV helps in removing the unwanted skin that flakes up into dandruff, which might otherwise grow and clog the pores. Overgrowth of fungus can lead to the formation of dandruff and apple cider vinegar acts as a natural fungicide. It can be used to rinse your hair and following this remedy is easy. It helps clean off your hair naturally by unblocking the clogged pores.

How to Use

1. Mix a cup of ACV in a cup of warm water. You may instead prefer white vinegar as well.
2. You need to follow this combination depending on the volume of your hair.
3. Use this to wash your hair. Gently massage your scalp.
4. Rinse it off with water. Follow this at least once a week until it is no longer essential.

Caution: Do not use ACV directly on your scalp, as it is powerful and has a pungent smell. Dilute it with equal proportions of water. You need to wait for at least 10 hours to shampoo your hair after following this remedy.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera treats several skin and hair problems. It is often used to treat cuts and burns and even helps get rid of dandruff as well. The compounds present in Aloe Vera obstruct the process of skin cell proliferation. That is, it helps in slowing down how fast the cells grow and since, dandruff is caused due to rapid growth and dying of cells. Aloe Vera helps in restoring them to the normal rate.

How to Use

1. Slit an Aloe Vera stem and extract its gel.
2. Apply it on your scalp and allow it to dry.
3. Wash off your hair after few minutes using a mild shampoo to rinse your hair.

Caution: Using aloe gel is an affordable treatment for clearing off dandruff without any side effects. However, it might cause skin irritation in some people, but it is rare.

Tea Tree Oil

Excess oil could be the major cause of dandruff. However, some oils could be helpful in controlling this condition. Tea tree oil is used to treat several allergic conditions since many years. This essential oil has fungicidal properties and helps treat itchy scalp and dandruff problems.

How to Use

1. Dilute one tsp. of tea tree oil with a cup of warm water.
2. Use this solution to spray on your scalp.
3. Massage your scalp with this solution and allow it to enter the roots of the hair.
4. Rinse it using a milder shampoo.
5. Alternatively, try diluting tea tree oil with any other carrier oil (olive oil or coconut oil) for massaging your scalp.

Caution: Tea tree oil is safe to use topically. However, you need to dilute tea tree oil. In addition, you must not take it internally.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt or any salt we use regularly could be used in numerous ways. One surprising fact is that it aids in treating dandruff. The crystals in Epsom salt help in exfoliating dead skin on the scalp and helps flush off the excess oil as well. Using Epsom salt to clear your dandruff flakes will let the shampoo enter into the roots of the hair and work effectively. You need to gently massage your scalp with Epsom salt to treat dandruff and itchy scalp issues.

How to Use

1. Take around three tsp. of Epsom salt on your scalp directly on your dry scalp for few minutes.
2. Shampoo your hair later.

Olive Oil

Olive oil helps in rejuvenating your scalp and improves the volume of your hair. It helps kill fungi and bacterium present in the scalp and helps enhance blood circulation. It helps treat dandruff and has natural moisturizing properties.

How to Use

1. Take a half cup of olive oil and slightly warm it.
2. Massage your scalp with this oil.
3. Brush your hair to clear off the loosened dandruff flakes.
4. Clean off your scalp with a milder shampoo.
5. Try this remedy whenever you shampoo your hair as it helps in moisturizing your hair and make it look lustrous.

Do not overheat the oil. Make sure it is slightly warm as it would easily seep into the roots and loosens the dandruff flakes.

Soap Nuts

This is an amazing natural remedy to treat dandruff easily. Soap nuts are used as an ancient remedy in treating dandruff and other scalp issues. It is due to the presence of antibacterial properties. The natural disinfectants in soap nuts help kill fungi and bacteria.

How to Use

1. Soak at least 15-20 soap nuts overnight in a bowl of hot water.
2. Remove the seeds from the soap nuts and now strain the solution. Make sure you see froth in this solution. Wash your hair totally and rinse off the dandruff flakes.
3. Rinse with water and follow this remedy until you see best results.

Caution: This herbal solution prepared using soap nuts has no side effects. However, do not let the solution enter your eyes as it causes burning sensation.

Indian Gooseberry

Indian Gooseberry (Amla) is one such natural remedy that helps treat dandruff. It helps in clearing dandruff and other scalp problems effectively and addresses every scalp disorder from its root. Amla powder can be mixed along with few basil leaves powder and can be applied as a hair mask.

How to Use

1. Add around 2 tsp. of Amla powder in a cup of warm water. One can also add 1 tsp. basil leaves powder for better results in equal amount.
2. Apply this mix to your hair and allow it to dry for an hour.
3. Wash it off with warm water. Try this remedy twice a week until it is no longer necessary.

Caution: Do not add excess Amla powder for your hair pack, as it can make your hair become too dry.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil acts as a natural moisturizer that will add shine to your hair. It is an excellent remedy for treating dandruff due to the presence of Lauric acid, a natural disinfectant. It moisturizes the scalp and does not let bacteria thrive on the scalp.

How to Use

1. Take around 30ml of coconut oil in a cup and slightly warm it.
2. Dip your fingers in it and massage your scalp.
3. It not only nourishes your hair, but also protects hair from hair fall and damage.
4. Follow this treatment at least twice a week for effective results. Coconut oil can be used regularly.

Henna (Mehndi)

Henna powder is a natural remedy for treating dandruff. Henna is often used as a conditioner, but it even helps rejuvenate hair growth by treating dandruff issues.

How to Use

1. Add 10 grams of henna powder along with the a small cup of unsweetened black tea, little curd, few drops of lemon juice, and around 5 grams of Amla powder in a bowl.
2. Mix all the ingredients until the consistency turns creamy.
3. Leave it for more than 12 hours.
4. Apply it on your hair and wash off your hair with mild shampoo after an hour.
5. Repeat it at least once a week.

Caution: Henna might change your hair color to brown. So, better follow oil treatment before applying henna as a hair mask.

Orange Peel Powder

Vitamin C and citrus properties of oranges can help nourish your hair and treat dandruff. The dried orange peel powder could be used for dandruff therapies. The acidic properties present in the dried orange peel powder helps soak all the excess oil present on the scalp.

How to Use

1. Take a cup of sour curd and add around 25 grams of dried orange peel powder.
2. You can add orange peel powder depending on the length of your hair. Mix it well.
3. Add few drops of lemon juice to it and apply this hair mask.
4. Wash off after an hour. Follow this remedy until it is no longer necessary.

Caution: Orange peel powder has no side effects, but adding it in excess quantities can dry your hair. So, include olive oil in this hair mask for added benefits.

Dr. Anu Saini                                                                                        https://www.ayurtimes.com/home-remedies-for-dandruff/