Buzz
If you've ever been puzzled by the appearance of white flakes on your scalp, let me clarify: Those are dandruff! However, there's no need to stress, as treating dandruff isn't an insurmountable challenge. Below is a compilation of home remedies for dandruff that haven't been scientifically verified. If you suffer from severe dandruff and home treatments or standard anti-dandruff shampoos don't work, it's advisable to consult a dermatologist.
Steps
Lemon Juice
Apply a small amount of lemon juice evenly to your hair and scalp.
Leave it on for a few minutes to allow the lemon juice to take effect, approximately 20-25 minutes. You might experience a slight itch on your scalp, but don't worry, this is completely normal.
Rinse your hair thoroughly. You can also shampoo your hair if needed.
Olive Oil
Use olive oil. Apply olive oil to your hair before shampooing. Let the oil sit in your hair for about 5-10 minutes before washing it out.
Before going to bed, apply olive oil to your hair once more. You can wrap a towel around your hair or use a cotton shower cap, or even an old pillowcase to absorb the oil. When you wake up, the dandruff will be completely gone.
Egg Yolk
Separate the yolk from 1 or 2 eggs.
Apply the egg yolk to dry hair. Use as much as possible and focus on the scalp.
Cover your head/hair with a plastic bag. Be cautious – eggs have a strong odor and can easily leak.
Leave the mixture on your scalp for about 1 hour.
Use a good shampoo to thoroughly wash your hair. You may need to shampoo twice to completely remove the egg yolk from your hair.
Recommended Scalp Care Methods
Wash your hair regularly, but avoid over-washing. Dandruff forms when the scalp sheds dead skin cells, not because of the hair itself.
- The Mayo Clinic recommends washing your hair daily with anti-dandruff shampoo until the dandruff subsides, and then continuing to use the shampoo 2-3 times a week.
- Over-washing, especially with harsh chemicals like lauryl sulfate, can irritate and dry out the scalp, leading to more dandruff.
Allow anti-dandruff shampoo time to work. If you're using anti-dandruff shampoo, leave it on your hair for at least 5 minutes before rinsing. This gives the shampoo time to penetrate the scalp.
To prevent dandruff, brush your hair after showering and washing. Brushing helps distribute the natural oils from your scalp evenly across your hair.
- Start brushing near the scalp and work your way down to the ends to ensure even oil distribution.
Avoid stress and situations that make you tense. Stress is one of the leading causes of dandruff, so try to keep yourself stress-free or manage stress through healthy and effective methods.
- Eat healthily. What you consume affects how your body responds. Overindulging in unhealthy foods (fast food, sweets, etc.) can lead to skin, scalp, and hair issues.
- Foods rich in zinc and vitamin B6 are essential for maintaining a healthy scalp and hair.
Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds are excellent for treating dandruff.
Lightly crush a tablespoon of fenugreek seeds (methi seeds). Use your hands to crush them; avoid using a food processor.
Soak the seeds in about 450 ml of hot water.
Soak the seeds overnight.
Drain the water. Then rinse the seeds thoroughly with water.
Baby Oil
Apply baby oil to your scalp. Use only a small amount. Gently massage it into your scalp.
Wrap your hair with a towel and leave it overnight.
The next morning, use a good anti-dandruff shampoo to wash your hair. Baby oil will nourish your scalp while you sleep.
Baking Soda
Use a handful of baking soda as a substitute for shampoo. Baking soda has many uses and is also considered a natural dandruff remover.
Instead of shampooing, rub a tablespoon of baking soda onto your wet hair and scalp. After a minute, rinse your hair thoroughly with water.
Wait for the effects of baking soda. After two weeks of using baking soda, your scalp will produce natural oils that moisturize it and eliminate dandruff.
Lemon Juice and Yogurt
This method is also known as Nimbu aur Dahi (in Hindi).
Take a bowl of yogurt and cut a lemon in half.
Squeeze the lemon juice into the bowl of yogurt and mix well. Keep the lemon peel aside.
Apply the mixture to your hair. Use the lemon peel to spread and massage the mixture into your hair.
After applying the mixture evenly to your hair, use the inner side of the lemon peel to massage your scalp.
Regular use of this method will help you get rid of dandruff quickly.
Remember to shampoo your hair after using yogurt, as it can leave an unpleasant odor.
Baking Soda and Lemon
Mix fresh lemon juice with baking soda.
Apply the mixture to your scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes.
When you start feeling an itch on your scalp, rinse your hair.
Rinse your hair thoroughly. Use apple cider vinegar as a conditioner substitute.
Coconut Oil
Wash your hair but avoid using any conditioner. Dry your hair after washing. Ensure your hair is not slippery or wet; it should be completely dry.
Apply coconut oil to your scalp, avoiding the hair strands.
Rinse the coconut oil off your scalp thoroughly. Ensure your scalp is completely clean. You may need to shampoo twice to remove all the oil, but usually, one wash is sufficient.
Repeat this process once a week until the dandruff is completely gone.
Tea Tree Oil
Regularly use shampoos containing tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is fragrant and a natural antiseptic. Shampoos with at least 5% tea tree oil are believed to be effective in treating dandruff.
Massage the tea tree oil shampoo into your scalp and leave it on for 5 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with water, repeating this process once daily.
Mouthwash
This is an effective dandruff prevention method that you should use about once a month.
Mix 1 part mouthwash with 9 parts water. After shampooing, pour this mixture over your head.
Simply pour this mixture over your head. Then style your hair as usual. Do not rinse your hair afterward.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 1 part water. Shampoo your hair as usual, then carefully pour the vinegar-water mixture over your hair and massage your scalp. Be cautious to avoid getting the mixture in your eyes. If you have psoriasis, open wounds, or healing cuts on your scalp, the vinegar mixture may cause a burning sensation (if this occurs, rinse the affected area with water).
Leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. The vinegar smell will disappear once your hair dries.
Repeat this process daily for about a week.
Aspirin
Place 1-2 aspirin tablets in the middle of a thin cloth or napkin. Use a hammer or cast iron pan to gently crush the tablets.
Instead of taking the aspirin orally, add the crushed aspirin powder to your regular shampoo bottle.
When shampooing, leave the mixture on your hair for about 2 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Cedarwood Oil
Mix cedarwood oil (7 drops) with cypress and juniper oil (10 drops each) into 50 ml of carrier oil.
Massage the oil thoroughly into your scalp and leave it on for 1 hour. To remove the oil, work a mild, pure shampoo into your hair and rinse with warm water.
- To prevent dandruff from returning, add a similar amount of essential oil to 600 ml of warm water. Stir well and use this mixture to rinse your hair.
Banana and Vinegar
Peel a banana. Place the banana in about 450 ml of vinegar.
- Stir the mixture well. You can use a fork or whisk to create a smooth paste.
Apply the mixture to your hair. Gently massage it into your scalp. Continue massaging for 5-10 minutes or until the mixture fully coats your hair.
Leave the mixture on your hair for 15-20 minutes. Then, rinse your hair thoroughly.
Repeat this process daily for a week. Afterward, you can use this method once a week to prevent dandruff from returning.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Rinse your hair with cold water – the colder, the better.
Mix malt vinegar and white vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. Then, dilute this mixture with water in a 1:1 ratio. Aim to create about 70-100 ml of the solution.
When your hair is damp but not wet, apply the mixture to the top of your head. Massage it into your scalp and then work it through your hair. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes. You may feel a slight tingling sensation, which is a sign that the mixture is working to remove dead skin cells causing dandruff.
Rinse your hair thoroughly with cold water and scrub your scalp clean.
Use half a tablespoon of baking soda. Mix it with 30-40 ml of water to create a light foam.
Ensure your hair is damp, not wet, and apply the mixture to the top of your head. Massage it into your scalp and work it through your hair. Leave it on for 3-5 minutes. You may feel a slight burning sensation, which indicates the mixture is removing dead skin cells that cause dandruff.
Rinse your hair with cold water. Carefully rinse your scalp clean.
Gently pat your hair dry with a towel. Let it air dry naturally. Once dry, tilt your head forward and use your hands to scrub your hair. This will help remove any remaining dandruff flakes. Amazingly, your hair is now completely dandruff-free!
Yogurt
Wash and rinse your hair, then massage plain yogurt into your scalp and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse your hair, then shampoo again, using as little shampoo as possible. A rinse made from thyme, sage, and 2 tablespoons of vinegar can be used for the final rinse. You can steep fresh or dried herbs directly in water or use herb bags.
Brew a pot of warm tea and add 1 dessert spoon of herbs per cup of water.
Use one cup of boiling water for each cup of tea. Steep the herbs for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse the yogurt out of your hair. Pour the remaining herbal water over your hair to nourish a healthy scalp.
Neem Leaves and Olive Oil
Use 2-4 Himalaya neem capsules.
Remove the outer shell of the capsules. Inside the capsules is the raw powder of neem leaves.
Use 4 tablespoons of olive oil or any other oil of your choice.
Mix the oil with the powder. Apply it to your scalp. Your scalp may feel slightly itchy, but this is a normal reaction.
Leave it on for 1 hour or overnight (optional). Then, shampoo and condition your hair. Repeat as needed.
Clay
As you may know, clay is excellent for skincare. It’s also great for your hair and scalp. The cooling effect of clay helps remove excess oil, soothe the scalp, and eliminate irritation and dandruff.
Create a paste by mixing water and clay, then add lemon juice to the mixture.
Apply the mixture to your hair and scalp.
Leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water.
Egg Oil (Eyova)
Massage egg oil into your scalp for 5-10 minutes and leave it overnight. Egg oil contains:
- Long-chain polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids like Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), which help regenerate follicle cells.
- Cholesterol, which adds shine to your hair and also helps eliminate dandruff.
Shampoo your hair in the morning with a mild herbal shampoo. Use shampoo only once, as repeated use (to create lather) can strip away natural lipids from your hair and scalp, making them dry and brittle.
Using egg oil 2-3 times a week for 12 weeks yields positive results. Consistently applying egg oil is crucial for providing proper nourishment to follicle cells.
Regularly massaging egg oil over an extended period helps prevent dandruff from recurring.
- Egg oil is cleaner and more convenient to use. It’s a practical alternative to egg yolk masks, as it doesn’t have the odor of raw egg yolks and won’t “cook” on your hair when exposed to hot water. Additionally, egg oil eliminates the risk of salmonella contamination.
Scalp Massage with Coconut and Honey
Create a mixture using coconut oil, olive oil, yogurt, and honey. Use a ratio of 2:2:3:2 to achieve a smooth, moderately thick consistency that won’t drip off your head. Add yogurt and honey to adjust the thickness if needed.
Massage the mixture into your scalp. Apply it evenly from roots to tips. Spend about 10 minutes on this process. This helps open up scalp pores and promotes blood circulation, while also providing a relaxing sensation.
In a high-humidity environment, leave the mixture on your hair for 20 minutes. You can sit in a steam room while waiting for the mixture to penetrate deeply. If you don’t have a steam room, you can soak in a hot bath. No hot tub? No problem – just leave the mixture on your hair a bit longer (30-45 minutes).
Use shampoo to rinse your hair until your scalp feels completely clean. Then, shower and shampoo. Typically, you’ll need to shampoo and rinse twice to fully remove the mixture. Avoid over-shampooing, as it can strip away the moisture the mixture provides. Only apply regular conditioner to the ends of your hair.
If you use a hair dryer, set it to a low heat setting. High heat, like that from a hair dryer, can contribute to scalp flaking and dandruff. If you often use a dryer for styling, dry your hair gently, ensuring the heat isn’t too high and avoiding direct hot air on your scalp. If desired, you can use a flat iron for styling as usual.
Finish your hair care routine with coconut oil. Place four or five drops of coconut oil in your palms and rub them together to warm the oil. Massage your hands through your hair to apply the oil to your hair and scalp. Repeat as needed to ensure full coverage.
Orange Peel
Vitamin C and citric acid in oranges help even out skin tone and restore skin texture. Additionally, orange peels are effective for hair care. The acidity in orange peels can reduce excess oil. To treat dandruff with orange peels, here’s a detailed guide you can follow at home:
Blend lemon juice and orange peels in a food processor to create a smooth paste.
Apply the mixture to your scalp.
Leave it on for 30 minutes, then rinse your hair with shampoo.
Repeat this method 2-3 times a week for desired results.
Tips
- Regularly clean your hairbrush with vinegar.
- Avoid scratching or scraping your scalp, as this can irritate and cause soreness. Instead, use tea tree oil to massage your scalp after showering to provide necessary oils.
- Add a bit of lemon juice to your shampoo to reduce dandruff's impact on your scalp.
- Consider using medicated dandruff treatments, which can be effective.
- Don’t use anti-dandruff shampoo daily, as your scalp needs time to produce natural oils.
- Use a fine-toothed comb to remove dandruff flakes. You can apply baby powder to areas with heavy dandruff and comb it out.
Warnings
- If you suddenly stop using anti-dandruff shampoo, dandruff may return worse than before.
- Natural remedies should be tested for effectiveness; results vary based on hair texture, skin reaction, and treatment suitability.
- Directly applying vinegar to your hair may leave a vinegar smell when wet until treatment is complete, but the smell disappears once dry. This is a small price for dandruff-free hair.
- Always test home remedies on a small area first to avoid irritation. Avoid treatments with ingredients you’re allergic to.
- If dandruff is severe, consult a dermatologist. Remember, everyone has some dandruff, so don’t stress too much.
- If using banana treatments, ensure you rinse it out thoroughly.
- If flakes persist, you might have psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. See a dermatologist.
