Those dry flakes you find on your shoulders are a nightmare to many of us. You quickly brush them off and think of fixing your problem for later. But soon, we tend to forget it again, until the next time arrived when we are once again forced to brush off that white powdery substance and avoid going into embarrassment.
This nightmare is none other than deadly dandruff, a problem almost all of us face. So what exactly is dandruff? What causes it? How can it be avoided? Well, these are the three main questions that we seek to address in this article.
What is Dandruff?
Some may think that dandruff us just a powdery substance that you can simply brush off or wipe away, and thus many people deem it to be harmless. But that is not the case. To understand more, let us examine what exactly dandruff is. Dandruff is a sign of the health of the skin that is present on the scalp. As a result, it is more about your scalp and less about your hair.
What Causes Dandruff?
Dandruff is widely believed to be caused by a fungus known as Malassezia, which lives on the scalp. Dandruff is not just brought about by this fungus. It may also be triggered by factors such as stress, sickness, harsh or cold weather, etc. It tends to be quite itchy and thus will cause you significant irritability, which may sometimes affect your personal life as well.
A dandruff problem causes the skin cells on your scalp to renew and shed very frequently, which causes the flaky like substance that keeps falling out and turns the skin on the scalp very dry and scaly.
The true cause of what causes dandruff is still unknown, and as a result, poor hygiene cannot be associated with the same. Even still, it is a serious problem for many, primarily a huge source of embarrassment in front of your family, friends or colleagues. Dry skin is also another factor that may lead to dandruff occurring in some people.
Hair Nourishment is a Must – Tips to Turn Dry Hair to Healthy Hair
How to Treat Dandruff?
One might suggest that using a dandruff shampoo would be the most practical and convenient method of treating dandruff. But as we all know, shampoos contain various chemical ingredients, and while they can be effective at eliminating your dandruff problem, surely they are bound to cause other problems like hair fall, dry hair etc. This is where the significance of homemade dandruff remedies comes in.
In this article, we have listed together various natural recipes that you can prepare at the comforts of your home itself. You can choose the ingredients based on your preference or in accordance with any allergies if present. All of these are natural and effective home remedies that have been in use for many years in many homes. They are safe and fool-proof and guaranteed to provide you with the best results.
1. Vinegar
A common ingredient that is a miracle for all your hair owes; it comes as no surprise that vinegar is really good at removing dandruff from your hair. It works by killing the dandruff-causing microorganism that is present on your scalp and thus provides relief to the itchy skin. The best and most simple way of using vinegar is by applying it onto your hair with equal amounts of water and leaving it on for about an hour. Rinse it off and you can see the magic.
Tips To Remove Hair Build-Ups Naturally
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Next in the list is another commonly found ingredient that belongs to the vinegar category, the much popular apple cider vinegar. While many people surely have an opinion about it producing a very bad odor, it will all be worth it because apple cider vinegar can remove the majority of your dandruff just in a single wash itself. Being acidic, it helps to maintain the ph balance of the skin and thus reducing the growth of the fungus. You can use it by adding it to your shampoo or just rinsing your hair with water and apple cider vinegar combined.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Another beauty ingredient that has taken the beauty industry by storm with its amazing benefits that help to prevent breakouts and acne and solve your hair problems. The power of this super ingredient lies in the fact that it is quite capable of fighting any bacterial or fungal infections. So, when you apply it onto your scalp, it comes in contact with the dandruff-causing fungus on your hair and thereby eliminates it. Just like apple cider vinegar, it can also be used with your shampoo by adding in some drops of the oil into it.
4. Aloe Vera Gel
The benefits of aloe Vera gel are simply miraculous, and no wonder that it can also be used to treat dandruff. One of the most common methods of using aloe Vera gels to treat dandruff is as follows. Take two tablespoons of coconut oil and mix it with two tablespoons of aloe Vera gel. After making it a smooth mixture, add into it, the gel-like substance that is found inside vitamin-E capsules, which are commonly available in the market. Mix the ingredients well and apply it onto your scalp, especially in areas of severe itching. Wash it off after some time and half of your dandruff will vanish. The aloe gel nourishes the skin on your scalp and provides a mild cooling effect, thus giving major relief from itching problems.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda is another superfood that is commonly found in our kitchens and is used for treating many problems such as acne, breakouts, teeth whitening, blackheads and of course, dandruff. The particles in baking soda are not exactly very smooth and instead are more textured thus being really good at being used as a scrub or exfoliate. Exfoliating the skin on your scalp, at least once in every month, will help to remove dandruff build up on your hair and thus reducing its visibility as well as the itchiness. It can be easily used by adding it to your shampoo.
6. Aspirin
A lesser-known ingredient used for dandruff treatments, many people have claimed that aspirin is quite effective. This is because the ingredient in aspirin is similar to the ones that are found in medicated dandruff shampoos also. You can easily use it by crushing a couple of aspirin tablets into powder and then simply adding it to the shampoo you use.
7. Coconut Oil
This miracle oil has solutions for many problems, be it a skin condition, hair fall, etc. Hence it comes as no surprise that coconut oil is used to cure dandruff too. This is also the simplest method of getting rid of dandruff since all you need to do is massage coconut oil into your hair really well and let it sit for some time. After that, you can take your shower or apply shampoo juts like your normal routine.
Best Tips to Avoid Greasy Hair Easily
8. Salt
Salt has many textured substances present in it, which makes for a really good scrub. Now how do you make use of salt in dandruff treatments? This is how. Simply apply some salt to your hair with the help of a saltshaker and start gently massaging your way through the scalp, the roots and till the tip. The dry and flaky substances will also come off and then your hair and scalp are ready for your shower or shampoo session. It is a quick remedy that can be tried out when you don’t have the time or patience to apply coconut oil and wait for a few hours.
9. Mouthwash
While this may seem unconventional, a lot of people are actually vouching for this quick remedy to get rid of your dandruff. Simply wash your hair with shampoo and rinse it off with some mouthwash, and complete it off with your conditioner routine.
10. Olive Oil
This is another ingredient that is known to have miraculous properties that take away your skin and hair problems and also improve your general health. Apply olive oil well into your scalp and cover it will a shower cap. Leave it on overnight and wash it off the next day with shampoo. You’ll notice how quickly your dandruff goes away.
With the most effective ingredients listed above, we would like to suggest a few tips for avoiding dandruff before finishing off this article.
Tips to Get Rid of Dandruff:
Make sure to avoid stress because dandruff is also triggered by stress in some people Eat more foods that are rich in Probiotics such as yogurt, buttermilk, pickles, etc. Washing or brushing your hair regularly will help to get rid of the dandruff build-up The fact that oiling your hair will remove dandruff is a myth and in fact, leaving your hair oiled for longer duration will only allow creating a humid environment where dandruff will thrive more Increasing the intake of omega-3s in your foods has been proven to reduce dandruff