Before we dig in to the article, someone asked, “what’s the difference between dry scalp and dandruff? Doesn’t dry scalp lead to dandruff?”
Celebrity Hairstylist and CEO of Hair Room Service, Michael Dueñas says, “Dry scalp happens a lot in the winter, and surprisingly in the summer too! Dry scalp is loss of moisture in the skin, and the dead skin cells flaking off. Dandruff is product buildup, and excess sebum buildup on your scalp. Dandruff is your scalp’s way of trying to clean itself!”
Having dandruff can be a totally embarrassing and frustrating thing to deal with. It can also be hard to get rid of. The shampoos don’t always work as advised, and it can mean that you’re left worse than you started off. Sometimes, the best way to deal with dandruff is using natural remedies. But, if you’re wanting to find a better way to get rid of your dandruff, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. Thankfully, there’s plenty of natural remedies for dandruff that are both good for your scalp and your hair.
Here Are 7 Natural Remedies To Help You Fight Dandruff
1. Aspirin
Not only is it good for headaches, but Aspirin is good for the rest of your head, too. If you go ahead and crush up some aspirin and mix it in with your shampoo, then you can keep your flaky dandruff in check. This is because Aspirin “contains salicylates, which is the active ingredient in dandruff shampoos that contain salicylic acid,” says Kristen Colòn, owner of On-Site Studio Hair Salon.
Leave the new mixture in your hair for about one or two minutes then rinse it out and you’ll have an easy time with your dandruff.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has so many at home uses, and people recommend it for all kinds of natural remedies. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Janet Prystowsky tells Bustle that, “Tea tree oil can be a good natural substitute for people who do not like traditional dandruff treatments. There’s a variety of shampoos with tea tree oil in them that you can choose from.”
For your scalp, tea tree oil will help you deal with dandruff. Shampoos they have just 5% tea tree oil help control dandruff, so it only makes sense to take that tea tree oil you already have hanging around your house and mix it in with your favorite shampoo.
3. Baking Soda
Another natural remedy that can cure everything from stains on your clothes, to dandruff on your scalp: baking soda. Rather than mixing it in with your shampoo, wash your hair like normal. Then, while your hair is still damp, take some baking soda and scrub it into your scalp. After, rinse it out completely. This will help you keep your dandruff under control.
This may dry your hair out a little at first, but once you keep at it the moisture will return. “Repeat as you would in your regular schedule of washing your hair,” adds Colòn.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
This isn’t just good for getting rid of fruit flies. Apple cider vinegar is also a great home remedy for dandruff. The acidity inside the vinegar helps change the PH balance of your scalp, and this will help make sure your scalp has a hard time growing yeast.
Mix a quarter of a cup of apple cider vinegar with a quarter cup of water in a spray bottle and spray it on your scalp. Wrap your head in a towel and wait about fifteen minutes before rinsing your hair out. Dermatologist Geeta Shah, MD says, “You want to dilute it… I recommend a half and half solution of half vinegar, half water.”
5. Mouthwash
If you have a mild case of dandruff, using the mouthwash that you already have in your bathroom can often be the solution. Wash your hair with your normal shampoo, but rinse it out with alcohol-based mouthwash. Follow it up with your conditioner to keep the moisture in your hair. The antifungal properties that are in mouthwash will make it harder for yeast to grow on your scalp and prevent dandruff.
Celebrity hairstylist Daven Mayeda says, however, “Listerine may just work for treating dandruff. The ingredients in Listerine like menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, and thymol contain antifungal properties. It’s a great medication for minor cases, but might not be strong enough for moderate to severe cases.”
6. Lemon
Go into your kitchen and pick out some of the citrus fruit that you have hanging around, namely a lemon. If you don’t have a lemon, lemon juice will work all the same. All you need is two tablespoons of lemon juice. After you massage it right into your scalp, you’ll want to rinse it out. You can also mix lemon juice with coconut oil to massage your hair before rinsing it with water mixed with lemon juice every time you wash your hair. Repeat this until you are dandruff free.
According to ex-lawyer Megha Katheria, “Both lemon and coconut oil have anti-fungal properties. The acid from the lemon can cut through the layer of dandruff, thus aiding in better absorption of the coconut oil into the scalp and hair shaft.”
7. Salt
Women have already figured out the joys of a lemon salt scrub for their legs to exfoliate before shaving. Salt works just as well for helping loosen and get rid of dandruff before you shampoo. This can be used with other remedies to make sure you’re getting all of the dandruff off your scalp. While another remedy may help in the long term, salt will make sure you’re not stuffed with dandruff after your shower.
Final thoughts
Dandruff is a pretty annoying condition to have to deal with. Thankfully, it’s also pretty common. That means there are a plethora of ways for you to deal with the issues that you’re going through when it comes to a flaky scalp. Any of these remedies will help you with your dandruff issues and give you a smooth, clean scalp.
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