Dandruff

9 Simple Home Remedies For Dandruff That Worked Wonders For Me

Imagine this scenario. You are sitting at your desk at your office, your neighbour is a very good friend of yours and you cannot imagine a day without talking your heart out with him or her. One fine day, you turn to talk and you see him or her discreetly lifting a hand onto his or her head and scratch the hell out of his or her hair. And the next minute, you see pesky white flakes fall out of his or her hair and you go “Oh my god. Dandruff. Thank god I don’t have it”.

But did you know. Dandruff is probably the world’s most common hair problem. It is caused by many causes a few of which are so diverse that you would not believe that it could cause something like dandruff.

A few common as well as uncommon causes of dandruff are:

1. Improper and irregular brushing of hair:

When you brush your hair, you are giving it a way to shed dead skin on top of your head. When you do not brush your hair enough or do not air your scalp, there is no way for the dead skin to leave the scalp area. Accumulation of such dead skin can cause dandruff.

2. Allergic to yeast:

People who have a yeast allergy or are very sensitive to yeast tend to have a higher risk of developing dandruff. By yeast, I do not mean the yeast that is used for baking breads. This yeast is a type of fungi or spore that flies through the air all around us.

3. Dry skin:

Those of us who have drier skin than the rest have chances of getting dandruff. In fact people with dry skin report aggravated dandruff during summers when the skin gets drier still.

4. Certain illnesses cause dandruff too:

It has been said that certain types of illnesses such as weak immunity, people recuperating from heart strokes, people affected by Parkinson’s disease and seborrheic dermatitis cause an increased risk of dandruff.

5. Infrequent shampoo wash:

When we do not regularly shampoo and clean our hair, there is an excess build up of oil and dead skin on our scalps. When this excess is not cleaned away properly, it gives rise to itchy scalp and dandruff.

6. Malassezia:

Malassezia is said to be a fungus that is naturally present on every person’s body including the scalp. It usually is harmless but grows specifically in areas where oil glands are more.  When oil glands over work, these fungi tend to multiply causing blockages of the sebaceous glands. When the sebaceous glands on the scalp are clogged, it causes inflammation, itching and dandruff.

7. Improper diet:

It is also believed that a diet containing less than the required amount of zinc, vitamins and fats causes an increase in dandruff

8. Stress:

And last but not the least, which my dermatologist personally told me to beware of is stress. Stress has been directly linked to dandruff.

Having seen some unheard of causes of dandruff, panic is naturally the next stage and all the “what if” questions arise.

Dandruff is difficult to get rid of but not impossible. With proper and regular care, dandruff can be eliminated once and for all. Some of the best remedies of dandruff are found right at home.

A few of the most popular homemade hair masks for dandruff are:

1. Yogurt and pepper:

You’ll be running into the kitchen for this one. This is one of the simplest hair mask for dandruff ever! The ingredients are so simple that you never would have guessed. Yogurt when applied onto the scalp acts like a soothing agent. Yogurt prevents the aggravation of scaling on the scalp. Pepper is an anti fungal agent. It is always better to use fresh ingredients. Grind finely about 2 tea spoons of black pepper. Add this powder to one cup of curd. Mix them thoroughly and apply all over the scalp. Apply on the scalp not the hair. Leave it on your scalp for about an hour and rinse off. Follow the rinsing with a mild shampoo.

2. Olive oil:

Probably man’s greatest discovery is Olive oil. Out of the multitude of uses of olive oil, its use in curing dandruff is the most widely popularised. Olive oil is an excellent moisturiser. Olive oil also has natural clarifying properties. As dandruff is caused mostly by a dry scalp, using olive oil is an obvious home remedy for dandruff you can think off. Massage warm olive oil onto the scalp in gentle circular motions at night before going to sleep. Keep the olive oil overnight and cleanse with a mild shampoo in the morning. Take care that the olive oil should be warm not hot. This is an excellent homemade hair mask for dandruff.

3. Lemon juice and oil: 

Lemon juice is assumed to be a natural bleach because of the citric acid content in the juice. Due to this reason, many people assume that using lemon juice on their hair can result in bleaching of hair thereby causing grey hair. But this very popular belief is just that! A belief. A myth. Lemon juice has extremely beneficial anti fungal properties which makes it an essential weapon in the kit dandruff home hair masks remedies. Mix coconut oil and lemon juice such that for one part lemon juice, add five parts coconut oil. Smear this mixture gently onto your scalp and leave this mixture on the scalp for about twenty minutes to half an hour. Wash off the mixture using a mild shampoo. Treat regularly to get rid of dandruff using lemon.

4. Vinegar:

Using vinegar as a cure against dandruff has been around for the better part of the last century. When using vinegar for dandruff treatment at home, never pick a chemically prepared one. Always choose vinegar made from natural ingredients such as apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar. Vinegar is rich in potassium and active potassium enzymes which help to curb all your cravings for a good itch on your head. Vinegar is effective in curing itchy dandruff the best. Massaging apple cider vinegar onto your scalp gently benefits blood circulation as well as cures dandruff. Apple cider vinegar helps in getting rid of the dead skin which forms the flakes of dandruff and clogs the hair roots. Another easy way of including vinegar in your dandruff treatment routine is to add about a table spoon of vinegar in your last mug of water when you are washing your hair.

5. Baking Soda:

Surprising isn’t it, the variety of cures present for dandruff. Would you have ever imagined finding baking soda to be listed as a potential among the various remedies for dandruff? Baking soda clarifies the scalp and helps clear off the flakes on the scalp. But this does not mean you start washing your hair with baking soda instead of shampoos. Just add about one tea spoon of baking soda to your shampoo and wash your hair with this new shampoo. One wash is enough for you to see that the stubborn flakes hiding in the strands of your hair are also removed by the baking soda.

6. Aloe Vera:

We just cannot get enough of this miracle plant. Aloe Vera gets another feather in its hat. Aloe Vera repairs raw broken skin on the scalp caused due to repeated itching of our scalp. Aloe Vera gel also has anti bacterial and anti fungal properties. It acts like a clarifying agent on our scalp and keeps dandruff out. Apply the Aloe Vera gel obtained from the plant directly on your scalp. Leave it on for about a quarter of an hour and wash it off. Aloe Vera cleans up the scalp and also soothes and heals the scalp.

7. Neem: 

Another age old recipe for countless ailments is the neem. Neem leaves are an excellent anti biotic, anti septic, anti bacterial and anti fungal agent. Neem has been successfully used to treat numerous scalp and hair related problems like lice, hair fall, scalp allergies and irritations etc. Neem has also proven its worth in treating dandruff. Make a paste of neem leaves and apply it gently onto your scalp. Leave it on for about half an hour and wash off. Regular usage can help control not only dandruff but also counteracts hair fall.

8. Apples:

Another unconventional and unheard of cure for dandruff is an Apple. Squeeze out the juice from a fresh apple, add about two table spoons of this juice to an equal amount of water and apply it on to your scalp. Leave on this juice for about ten minutes on your scalp and wash your hair normally with a mild shampoo. Apples have an enzyme called phenolase which helps fight dead skin accumulation that can clog the hair roots.  Eliminating the dead skin helps gradually cure dandruff.

9. Garlic:

Another kitchen cure used to cure dandruff is garlic. The garlic smell that is so effective in driving people away is also very effective in keeping dandruff away. Garlic has natural anti biotic properties which help in killing any bacterial present on the scalp. This helps fight dandruff. Mash garlic and make it into a smooth paste. Apply it on the scalp and leave it on for about half and hour. Wash your hair as usual with a mild shampoo. 

One thing to keep in mind when gearing up to fight dandruff is that none of these cures are miracle cures i.e you will have to have patience to see results. The best way to fight dandruff is to keep fighting until it gives up and runs away for good.