Dandruff on the hair is a very common condition, Most times people mistake it for dry scalp or a more serious condition known as psoriasis.
Before you embark on these treatments, It is advisable that you know for sure that you have dandruff. There are several causes of dandruff. One major cause is dry skin. Another cause is irregular washing of the hair or improper washing/shampooing of the hair. Dandruff may also be as a reaction to certain hair products. It may also be caused by other skin conditions.
Although the result of most natural remedies are not immediately seen, over time, they prove to be very effective. Some effective home remedies include:
- Neem Leaves: This is also referred to as Indian herb. It has anti fungal properties and it can help relieve the itching dandruff caused. It should be used moderately because it has a very strong smell. To use: Soak about two handfuls of neem leaves in 4 cups of hot water. Strain the liquid out by morning and use as hair rinse. The leaves can also be made into a paste and applied to the scalp. Allow it sit on your hair for about an hour. You can apply the paste first and the rinse with the liquid.
- Natural oils like Olive, coconut and Rosemary oil can help restore the hair’s natural oils as dandruff is mostly due to dryness of scalp. Coconut oil is particularly helpful in moisturizing the hair, gradually getting rid of scalp dryness and rosemary oil has a pleasant smell. These oils can be daily applied to the hair.
- Aloe vera: The thick liquid found inside the aloe vera plant is very effective in reducing the itching that comes along with dandruff. Scoop out the thick fluid in aloe vera leaf and massage your scalp thoroughly with it. Aloe vera is known to trigger allergic reactions in some people, so it should be used for a short period. Apart from extracting the fluid from the plant, there are loads of aloe vera-base hair care products that can be very helpful.
- Vinegar: Dandruff is caused sometimes by fungal overgrowth on the scalp. Vinegar acts as a natural fungicide and can help get rid of the fungi and unwanted skin (mostly dead skin cells) that later flake into dandruff. Thoroughly rinse hair with vinegar, paying special attention to the scalp and the roots. Be careful though not to have a vinegar rinse on a workday because the smell can be very strong but then it goes away after a while and it goes off faster with adequate exposure to open air.
- Baking Soda: Baking Soda does almost the same work as the vinegar. It is alkaline in nature and It helps get rid of unwanted dead skin cells, and removes loose dandruff flakes stuck in hair. To use: Mix a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Shake vigorously and apply generously to hair. This maybe used to substitute shampooing once in a while. or mixed together with the shampoo before shampooing. Another method is to wet your hair first and the rub the baking soda on it down to your scalp. This should be repeated often for faster results.
- Watch your diet: I know you were expecting it. Lol! These days, diet seems to be present in almost every article. This is because apart from the fact that the importance of eating right can not be overemphasized, dandruff is a skin issue and what we eat tell a lot of our skin. SO avoid, overly fatty and unhealthy foods. God more for veggies and lean proteins.
