There’s nothing like dandruff to spoil your look! Besides being extremely embarrassing, dandruff can also be uncomfortable and itchy. Dandruff is caused by dry scalp, irritated oily skin, yeast, or fungus. The cells on your scalp usually regenerate every 21 days. When this happens the old cells fall off, usually unnoticed. With dandruff, the cells fall off about every 10 days and that creates the flaking. There are many dandruff shampoos on the market, but why not try some very effective natural treatments?
- Nutrition: Make sure to eat lots of fruit and green vegetables, which help with skin cell health. Eat lean protein and nuts, take fish oil supplements, and drink plenty of water.
- Yogurt: Yogurt will help balance the bacteria on your skin. Apply yogurt to your scalp and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse and then wash using very little shampoo.
- Apple cider vinegar: Vinegar changes the PH of the scalp, which prevents yeast from growing. It also kills bacteria and fungus. Mix equal parts vinegar and water and apply to your scalp. Wrap your head in a towel and let it sit for about 15 minutes, then shampoo.
- Baking soda: Baking soda is great to use because it’s an exfoliant and anti-fungal, and it also helps soothe an itchy scalp. Wet hair and rub about a handful of baking soda onto your scalp. Massage for about a minute and then rinse, but do not shampoo. You can also add some baking soda to your regular shampoo and use it that way.
- Mouthwash: After shampooing, rinse with an alcohol-based mouthwash, which will help dry an oily scalp. Then use your regular conditioner.
- Coconut or olive oil: Apply to scalp for one hour and then shampoo.
- Aspirin: Crush 2 aspirin and mix into regular shampoo- the amount you use for one shampoo, not the whole bottle. Leave for 1-2 minutes. Rinse and wash with plain shampoo.
- Tea tree oil: You can buy shampoo with tea tree oil as an ingredient, or add a few drops to your usual shampoo.
- Lemon: Apply 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to scalp for one minute. Shampoo and condition as usual. Then rinse with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice mixed into 1 cup of water.
- Aloe Vera: Either scoop it out straight from the plant or buy the bottled gel. Massage onto scalp and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse with water and then shampoo as usual.
And to help keep your scalp and hair healthy, brush your hair regularly to distribute the oils, and regularly wash your combs and brushes.