Home remedies for Dandruff
There are many common home remedies for dandruff that can treat the condition at home, without having to break the bank. But first things first. At NaHaZo, we prioritise understanding the problem and what is causing it, before treating it.
We will be discussing the flaky issue of dandruff:-
1. What is dandruff and why do you get it?
Dandruff happens when the skin on your scalp begins to flake. In short, dandruff is dead skin caused by a fungus that irritates the scalp.
It may occur for several reasons and is one of the top questions naturals ponder, along with natural remedies for thinning hair.
Dandruff may occur due to skin conditions such as eczema, sensitivity to specific hair products (contact dermatitis), fungus on one’s scalp, dry skin, and irritated oily skin.
2. What to do about dandruff?
First and foremost, as is WTGH’s mantra, you should review your personal history to narrow down what is causing your dandruff.
Once you know the cause of your dandruff, it should be easy to get treatment.
Some questions to ask yourself, which may be making your dandruff worse, are:-
1. Is my scalp usually dry?
2. Is my scalp too oily?
3. What products am I using, and is there a new product I have introduced into my regime?
4. Do I suffer from any illnesses such as eczema or skin psoriasis?
Should you answer yes to one or more of the questions, then you can address them by following the recommendations below.
Dry scalp
Should you have a dry scalp, then MOISTURE, MOISTURE, MOISTURE should be your mantra. Whether you follow the LOC or LCO regime, you must introduce consistent and regular moisture into your regime.
Introducing a consistent LOC or LCO moisture regime, as well as regular bi-monthly deep moisture treatments will cause an improvement in your scalp health.
You can also introduce heavier oils such as JBCO and Castor oil into your regime to seal in moisture. This is especially true during the cold winter months when one’s skin tends to get drier.
Oily Irritated Scalp
Should you suffer from oily skin, then you can consider switching to lighter hair oils.
These include oils such as Argan, Jojoba, and Rosemary oil. Also, make sure you avoid your heavier, fatty oils such as coconut and castor oil until your dandruff has cleared.
Alternatively, consider eliminating heavy oils from your regular regime altogether or using it sparingly.
New products
Dandruff issues can also be cleared by removing one or two products from your regular hair regime.
To find the problem, go through your hair products and eliminate the product(s) that may be irritating your scalp. In essence, be vigilant to how your scalp behaves when you use a specific product, and what happens when you stop using it for a considerable period.
Illness
If you suffer from eczema or any other skin condition, do not hesitate to seek professional help.
A dermatologist will recommend products for your sensitive skin and advise you on the products you may need to avoid to prevent excessive dandruff from flaring up again.
3. How to treat dandruff at home?
There are a few home remedies that can help with managing dandruff.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinger, which should be a staple for any natural, is great for combating build-up that aggravates dandruff. It also helps with restoring the PH of your scalp.
To use at home, mix ACV with equal parts water, spritz onto your scalp and massage it in. Then leave it on for five or so minutes, before rinsing it off. Make sure that you introduce this into your regime and use this consistently to see results.
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil works well in treating and alleviating itchy, irritable scalp and dandruff.
A few drops of oil into your preferred carrier oil should do the trick. For best results, make sure you massage it into your scalp for a few minutes after application.
You can also add peppermint oil to your shampoo, conditioner or light oils and is a great way to introduce this practice into your hair regime.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a good natural remedy to manage dandruff. This is due to its anti-fungal properties that help keep the fungus irritating your scalp at bay.
Baking soda also helps soothe an irritated, itchy scalp and has great exfoliating properties that help remove build-up.
To use this homemade remedy, mix ACV and baking soda into a paste. Then apply the paste into your hair, letting it sit for a few minutes, before rinsing it off with cold water.
4. How to prevent dandruff reccuring?
In order to avoid dandruff recurring, there are certain lifestyle hacks that you can introduce. Not only will this ensure that you have a healthy scalp, but will allow you to have healthy hair growth.
Diet
One of the lesser-discussed ways to prevent the reoccurrence of dandruff is to look into your diet and what you are putting into your body.
A diet rich in fats, B vitamins and Zinc is one of the lifestyle changes you can make to ensure a healthy scalp. Additionally, knowledge of how supplements can help your hair goals #22, is one of the ways that you can empower yourself to introduce much-needed nutrients into your diet.
In short, a healthy diet equals a healthy scalp, which equals healthy hair.
Limit product build-up
Should you find that you are susceptible to dandruff, then make sure that you limit the products that you use on your scalp.
Less will need to be key in your daily and weekly regime. Nahazo also recomends that you use scalp friendly oils such as DIY coffee oil.
Also, pay attention to your hair’s behaviour and stick to light products that avoid accumulating build-up. Alternatively, you can tweak your daily / weekly regime and space the time between introducing products onto your scalp.
Dandruff Shampoos
NaHaZo is a firm believer in the mantra that a little help goes a long way.Therefore, should you find yourself battling with dandruff, investing in a good, specialised shampoo should help you manage the problem faster.
There are a host of store-bought medicinal shampoos that contain ingredients that can treat dandruff. Also, a recommendation from a professional will help with any trial-and-error purchases.
Let the sunshine in
Sometimes something as easy as ensuring you get some sun can help with scalp issues caused by dandruff. Sunlight has been known to suppress fungal growth; however, this should be done in moderation.
Also, getting sun is not to be confused with introducing heat onto your hair with bagging. This natural hair technique, despite its pros, can create a moist environment, which only worsens your dandruff.
The last word
There is no need for dandruff to put a damper on your natural hair goals and there are home-grown and store remedies to treat it.
That being said, scalp health equals healthy hair. The key to achieving natural hair growth starts and continues with a healthy scalp. Make sure you care for it!
Have you tried any of these remedies to treat dandruff? Let us know in the comments what your experience has been.
