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30 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Dandruff Easily
Ever got caught up in a situation where you wake up in the morning to find those annoying white flakes all over? Well, guess what? You've got dandruff. And, it can be really bad. It is basically the dry, itchy flakes that fall off from the scalp. Dandruff can cause itching as well as infection in your scalp.
Dandruff becomes visible only when the situation is bad. It is, therefore, essential that you get rid of it as quickly as possible. And how do you do that? Well, you can always turn to home remedies as they are completely cost-effective and safe to use. But first, one needs to understand what causes dandruff.
What Causes Dandruff
Listed below are some of the main factors that cause dandruff:
- Insufficient or irregular combing of hair
- Improper diet
- Oily scalp
- Stress and some medical conditions like eczema, Parkinson's disease or seborrhoeic dermatitis. [1]
- Dry, dirty, and sensitive scalp
Home Remedies To Treat Dandruff
1. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains a high level of acidic content which helps in maintaining the pH levels of your scalp along with fighting off dandruff. [2]
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp water
How to do
- Combine both apple cider vinegar and water in a bowl in equal quantities.
- Apply the paste on your scalp and leave it on for about half an hour.
- Wash it off with normal water and proceed to use a shampoo, followed by your regular conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
2. Lemon
Loaded with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and high content of citric acid, lemon helps in eliminating dandruff completely. [3]
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp yoghurt
How to do
- Combine both the ingredients in a bowl.
- Apply the mixture all over your hair - from roots to tips. Also, apply the mixture to your scalp.
- Allow it to stay for about an hour and then wash it off with your regular sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner.
- Use this once or twice a week for the desired result.
3. Olive oil
Olive oil moisturizes the dry areas of the scalp and prevents them from flaking, thus preventing dandruff. [4]
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp olive oil
How to do
- Massage your scalp with olive oil and leave it on overnight.
- Wash it off in the morning with your favourite shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this every time you wash your hair.
4. Yoghurt
Yoghurt possesses antifungal properties that help to strengthen your hair follicles and keep them healthy, thus helping in treating dandruff and other hair problems.
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp raw yoghurt
How to do
- Take a generous amount of raw yoghurt and massage it onto your scalp.
- Allow it to stay for about half an hour. Meanwhile, cover your head with a shower cap.
- After 30 minutes, wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
5. Honey
Honey helps to maintain the pH balance of your scalp. It possesses antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that help in eliminating dandruff completely. [5]
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp honey
How to do
- Apply some raw honey on your scalp. Massage for about 10 minutes.
- Allow it to stay for another 10-15 minutes and cover your head with a shower cap.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this twice a month for desired results.
6. Banana
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 tsp honey
How to do
- Mash a ripe banana and blend it with little honey until you get a consistent paste.
- Apply it on to your scalp.
- Allow it to stay for 10-15 minutes and cover your head with a shower cap.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this twice a month for desired results.
7. Avocado
Avocados are rich in antioxidants that help to maintain scalp health, thus treating dandruff. Moreover, they also deeply condition your hair follicles and keep your mane soft and shiny.
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp avocado pulp
How to do
- Mash some avocado and extract its pulp.
- Whisk it to make it into a smooth paste.
- Apply it on to your scalp and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo & conditioner.
- Repeat this once a week for desired results.
8. Green tea
Green tea contains catechins that possess antifungal properties. The polyphenols present in them are antioxidants that help to restore the health of your scalp. [6]
Ingredients
- 2 green tea bags
- 1 cup of warm water
How to do
- Dip two green tea bags in a cup of warm water.
- Let the bags soak for a few minutes. Remove and discard them.
- Wash your scalp and hair with this green tea-infused water.
- Wash it off with normal water later and allow it to air dry.
- Repeat this once a week for desired results.
9. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties that make it one of the best remedies for dandruff. [7]
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp tea tree oil
How to do
- Apply some tea tree oil to your scalp. Massage for about 10 minutes.
- Allow it to stay for another 10-15 minutes and cover your head with a shower cap.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this twice a month for desired results.
10. Aloe vera
Aloe vera has natural antibacterial and fungicidal properties. Aloe vera acts as an exfoliant and removes the dead skin cells, thus treating dandruff. [8]
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp aloe vera gel
How to do
- Scoop out some aloe vera gel from an aloe leaf.
- Massage it onto your scalp and leave it on for about an hour. Cover your head with a shower cap.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this process once a week for desired results.
11. Neem oil
Neem contains an antimicrobial compound called nimonol that helps in treating dandruff. [9]
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp neem oil
How to do
- Massage your scalp with some neem oil and leave it on overnight.
- Wash it off in the morning with your favourite shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this every time you wash your hair.
12. Coconut oil
Coconut helps to preserve your hair's natural proteins and is also known to eliminate dandruff.[10]
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
How to do
- Take a generous amount of coconut oil and massage your scalp with it.
- Leave it overnight.
- Wash it off in the morning with a shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this every time you wash your hair.
13. Baking soda
Baking soda fights the fungi that are responsible for dandruff. [11]
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp water
How to do
- Combine both the ingredients in a bowl.
- Apply the mixture all over your hair, from roots to tips. Also, apply the mixture to your scalp.
- Allow it to stay for about an hour and then wash it off with your regular sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner.
- Use this once a week for the desired result.
14. Aspirin
Aspirin contains salicylic acid that exfoliates the scalp and helps treat dandruff. [12]
Ingredients
- 1 aspirin tablet
- ½ cup of water
How to do
- Add a tablet of aspirin in half a cup of water.
- Wash your scalp and hair with this solution and leave it at that.
- You can simply rinse off your hair with normal water if required.
- Repeat this once in 15 days if required.
15. Shea butter
Shea butter helps in the soothing irritated scalp and also treats itchiness and dandruff due to its anti-inflammatory properties. [13]
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp shea butter
How to do
- Take a generous amount of shea butter and massage your scalp with it.
- Allow it to stay for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cover your head with a shower cap.
- After 30 minutes, wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
16. Egg yolk
Egg yolk contains biotin that helps in eliminating dandruff permanently. [14]
Ingredient
- 1 egg yolk
How to do
- Crack open an egg and separate the yolk from the rest of the egg.
- Apply the yolk to your scalp and massage for a few minutes.
- Cover your head with a shower cap and allow it to stay for about 20 more minutes.
- Wash it off with your shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
17. Onion
Loaded with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, onion helps in fighting dandruff-causing fungi. Moreover, it also improves blood circulation to the scalp and helps in flushing out toxins from your scalp. [15]
Ingredient
- 4 tbsp onion juice
How to do
- Take a generous amount of onion juice and massage your scalp with it.
- Allow it to stay for about an hour.
- Wash it off with a shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once in every 15 days.
18. Fuller's earth (Multani mitti)
Multani mitti helps in sucking out dirt and dust from your scalp, thus improving blood circulation and fighting off dandruff-causing fungi.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp multani mitti
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
How to do
- Mix both multani mitti and lemon juice to make a paste and massage your scalp with it.
- Allow it to stay for about half an hour.
- Wash it off with a shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once a month for desired results.
19. Cedarwood oil
Cedarwood oil possesses antiseborrheic properties that treat dandruff and other scalp conditions.
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp cedarwood oil
- 2 tbsp rosemary essential oil
How to do
- Combine both cedarwood oil and rosemary essential oil in a bowl in equal quantities.
- Apply the oil concoction on your scalp and leave it on for about half an hour.
- Wash it off with normal water and proceed to use a shampoo, followed by your regular conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
20. Baby oil
Baby oil helps in the elimination of dandruff by killing dandruff-causing fungi.
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp baby oil
How to do
- Take a generous amount of baby oil and massage it onto your scalp.
- Allow it to stay overnight. Meanwhile, cover your head with a shower cap.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner in the morning.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
21. Vinegar
Vinegar possesses properties that help in killing dandruff-causing fungi.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 cup of water
How to do
- Combine both vinegar and water in a bowl in equal quantities.
- Apply the mixture on your scalp and leave it overnight.
- Wash it off with normal water and proceed to use a shampoo, followed by your regular conditioner in the morning.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
22. Salt
Salt is abrasive in nature which makes it one of the best home remedies to treat dandruff.
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp salt
How to do
- Take a generous amount of salt and rub it onto your scalp.
- Allow it to stay for about 15 minutes.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
23. Apple
Apples contain a compound called procyanidin B-2 that promotes hair growth. It also helps in treating dandruff. [16]
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp apple juice
- 2 tbsp water
How to do
- Mix both apple juice and water in a bowl in equal quantities.
- Apply the mixture on your scalp and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, wash it off using a shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
24. Jojoba oil
Jojoba oil contains vitamin E that nourishes the dry, flaky skin on your scalp and keeps it hydrated, thus fighting off dandruff. [17]
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp jojoba oil
How to do
- Take a generous amount of jojoba oil and massage it onto your scalp.
- Allow it to stay for about 15-20 minutes.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once a week for desired results.
25. Lavender essential oil
Antifungal in nature, lavender essential oil helps in treating dandruff permanently when massaged onto your scalp regularly. [18]
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp lavender essential oil
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
How to do
- Combine both lavender essential oil and coconut oil in a bowl in equal quantities.
- Apply the oil concoction on your scalp and leave it on for about half an hour.
- Wash it off with normal water and proceed to use a shampoo, followed by your regular conditioner.
- Repeat this once a week for desired results.
26. Fish oil
Fish oil is loaded with anti-inflammatory properties along with omega-3 fatty acids that help in treating dry and flaky scalp.
Ingredients
- 2 fish oil capsules
- 2 tbsp water
How to do
- Crack open the capsules and add its ingredients to a bowl.
- Add some water to it and mix well.
- Apply it to your scalp and massage for a few minutes.
- Cover your head with a shower cap and allow it to stay for about 20 minutes.
- Wash it off with your shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
27. Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil is an excellent home remedy for treating dry and flaky scalp along with dandruff.
Ingredient
- 2 tbsp rosemary essential oil
How to do
- Take a generous amount of rosemary essential oil and massage it onto your scalp.
- Allow it to stay for about half an hour.
- Wash it off with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once a week for desired results.
28. Oregano oil
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oregano oil
- 1 tbsp shampoo
How to do
- Mix both the ingredients together.
- Apply it to your scalp and massage for 3-5 minutes.
- Wash it off and apply a conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
29. Henna
Henna is extensively used in treating many hair conditions, including dandruff.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp henna powder
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp tea powder - finely grounded
How to do
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl to make a smooth paste.
- Apply the paste on your scalp and leave it on for about half an hour.
- Wash it off with normal water and proceed to use a shampoo, followed by your regular conditioner.
- Repeat this once in 15 days for desired results.
30. Ginger
Ginger possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Besides, it also contains active components that help to prevent dandruff.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
How to do
- Mix both ginger paste and sesame oil in a bowl in equal quantities.
- Apply the paste on your scalp and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
- Wash it off with a shampoo and conditioner.
- Repeat this once a month for desired results.
- [1] Ranganathan, S., & Mukhopadhyay, T. (2010). Dandruff: the most commercially exploited skin disease. Indian journal of dermatology, 55(2), 130-134.
- [2] Johnston, C. S., & Gaas, C. A. (2006). Vinegar: medicinal uses and antiglycemic effect.MedGenMed : Medscape general medicine,8(2), 61.
- [3] Oikeh, E. I., Omoregie, E. S., Oviasogie, F. E., & Oriakhi, K. (2015). Phytochemical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of different citrus juice concentrates.Food science & nutrition,4(1), 103-109.
- [4] Siegfried, E., & Glenn, E. (2012). Use of olive oil for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in children.Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine,166(10), 967-967.
- [5] Al-Waili, N. S. (2001). Therapeutic and prophylactic effects of crude honey on chronic seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.European journal of medical research,6(7), 306-308.
- [6] Chacko, S. M., Thambi, P. T., Kuttan, R., & Nishigaki, I. (2010). Beneficial effects of green tea: a literature review.Chinese medicine,5, 13. doi:10.1186/1749-8546-5-13
- [7] Satchell, A. C., Saurajen, A., Bell, C., & Barnetson, R. S. (2002). Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,47(6), 852-855.
- [8] Tarameshloo, M., Norouzian, M., Zarein-Dolab, S., Dadpay, M., & Gazor, R. (2012). A comparative study of the effects of topical application of Aloe vera, thyroid hormone and silver sulfadiazine on skin wounds in Wistar rats.Laboratory animal research,28(1), 17-21.
- [9] Mistry, K. S., Sanghvi, Z., Parmar, G., & Shah, S. (2014). The antimicrobial activity of Azadirachta indica, Mimusops elengi, Tinospora cardifolia, Ocimum sanctum and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate on common endodontic pathogens: An in vitro study.European journal of dentistry,8(2), 172-177.
- [10] Gavazzoni Dias M. F. (2015). Hair cosmetics: an overview.International journal of trichology,7(1), 2-15.
- [11] Letscher-Bru, V., Obszynski, C. M., Samsoen, M., Sabou, M., Waller, J., & Candolfi, E. (2013). Antifungal activity of sodium bicarbonate against fungal agents causing superficial infections.Mycopathologia,175(1-2), 153-158.
- [12] Squire, R., & Goode, K. (2002). A randomised, single-blind, single-centre clinical trial to evaluate comparative clinical efficacy of shampoos containing ciclopirox olamine (1.5%) and salicylic acid (3%), or ketoconazole (2%, Nizoral ® ) for the treatment of dandruff/seborrhoeic dermatitis. Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 13(2), 51-60.
- [13] Malachi, O. (2014). Effects of Topical and Dietary Use of Shea Butter on Animals. American Journal of Life Sciences, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 303-307.
- [14] Zaid, A. N., Jaradat, N. A., Eid, A. M., Al Zabadi, H., Alkaiyat, A., & Darwish, S. A. (2017). Ethnopharmacological survey of home remedies used for treatment of hair and scalp and their methods of preparation in the West Bank-Palestine.BMC complementary and alternative medicine,17(1), 355.
- [15] Sharquie, K. E., & Al‐Obaidi, H. K. (2002). Onion juice (Allium cepa L.), a new topical treatment for alopecia areata.The Journal of dermatology,29(6), 343-346.
- [16] Kamimura, A., & Takahashi, T. (2002). Procyanidin B‐2, extracted from apples, promotes hair growth: a laboratory study.British Journal of Dermatology,146(1), 41-51.
- [17] Pazyar, N., Yaghoobi, R., Ghassemi, M. R., Kazerouni, A., Rafeie, E., & Jamshydian, N. (2013). Jojoba in dermatology: a succinct review.Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia: organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia,148(6), 687-691.
- [18] D'auria, F. D., Tecca, M., Strippoli, V., Salvatore, G., Battinelli, L., & Mazzanti, G. (2005). Antifungal activity of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil against Candida albicans yeast and mycelial form.Medical mycology,43(5), 391-396.
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