Dandruff is small flakes of dry skin in a persons’ hair, which come from their scalp. Most people experience it in their lifetime and it is not usually a very serious problem to worry about. However, no one wants to walk around with dandruff in their hair, so we’ve prepared a lot of advice on how to get rid of dandruff for you to take, and never experience the same problem again.
Causes for dandruff
Mayoclinc lists the following things as causes for dandruff:
- Dry skin. Simple dry skin is the most common cause for dandruff. Flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those from other causes, and you’ll likely have symptoms and signs of dry skin on other parts of the body, such as your legs and arms.
- Irritated, oily skin (seborrheic dermatitis). This condition, one of the most frequent causes for dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis may affect your scalp and other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits.
- Not shampooing often enough. If you don’t regularly wash your hair, oils and skin cells from your scalp can build up, causing dandruff.
- Other skin conditions. People with skin conditions such as eczema — a chronic, inflammatory skin condition — or psoriasis — a skin condition marked by a rapid buildup of rough, dry, dead skin cells that form thick scales — may appear to have dandruff.
- A yeast-like fungus (malassezia). Malassezia lives on the scalps of most adults, but for some, it irritates it. This condition can irritate your scalp and cause more skin cells to grow. The extra skin cells die and fall off, making them appear white and flaky in your hair or on your clothes. Why malassezia irritates some scalps isn’t a known fact.
- Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis). Sometimes there are sensitivities to certain ingredients in hair care products or hair dyes, especially paraphenylenediamine, which can cause a red, itchy, scaly scalp. Shampooing too often or using too many styling products also may irritate your scalp, causing dandruff.
Other possible causes:
- Traveling: Traveling to polluted places can affect your skin and make you more likely to get dandruff.
- Inadequate sleep: Not getting enough sleep can cause your body to do all sorts of weird things. Best to get enough shut-eye. They don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing!
- Sharing combs and hair accessories: Sharing combs is a really easy way to also share dandruff. Clean accessories often or have your own personal set of hair care items to defend yourself against dandruff.
- Inadequate diet: Not getting the right nutrients is a great way to get dandruff along with many other terrible health issues. Remember to eat a well-balanced diet every day to keep yourself (and your scalp) healthy!
- Sun exposure: Damage from the sun can cause your scalp skin to burn and peel away causing dandruff. When you’re going to be outside, wear a hat or sunscreen on the part of your hair to keep the rays from burning your scalp.Who knew there were so many different causes!
Getting rid of dandruff in various easy ways
1. Natural oils
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There are many different kinds of natural oils that help to soothe and hydrate your hair and scalp. A few good ones are: Olive oil, Castor oil, Avocado oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Coconut oil.
If you are going to be buying oils for external beauty use make sure you are buying natural, organic, cold-pressed, unrefined oils. Buying these types of oils assures that you are still getting all the nutrients that would otherwise be taken out during the refining process.
Here are a couple great scalp masks using a few natural oils to get you started:
(You can use these masks a couple times a week to keep the scalp moisturized. They will calm dandruff after one use and over time get rid of it all together.)
Castor & coconut oil clay mask:
This is a great mask to use no matter what may be causing your dandruff. It is super moisturizing as well as it has antimicrobial properties to keep yeast growth at bay, so you can get through your day without those little flakes!
You will need:
- 2 tbsp of green clay in powder
- ¼ cup of mineral water
- 1 tbsp of castor oil
- 1 tbsp of coconut oil
- Juice from half a lemon
- (Optional) A few drops of essential oils
- Mixing bowl (not metal as it will affect the potency of the clay)
- Mixing utensil (again, not metal)
Instructions:
- Mix the clay and mineral water together until there are no clumps
- Mix in the castor oil, coconut oil, lemon juice (and essential oils if you choose) until the consistency is rich and all of the oils are evenly spaced out. (If the consistency is hard to work with you may need to add more mineral water, but try to mix the portions as they are listed first)
- Work the mixture onto your scalp and leave on for about an hour until it has mostly dried and then wash out. Continue with your regular shampoo and conditioner or the no-poo method of washing. For best results, use a no-poo method of washing your hair as shampoo can dry out your hair and cause more dandruff.
Deep scalp cleanse with essential oils and coconut oil
Source via campwander.com
You will need:
- 2 drops Melaleuca Oil (great for treating dry, flaky skin. You’ll be left with a clean, tingling scalp if used on a regular basis. Tip: Put 2 drops of Melaleuca in your favorite shampoo to avoid future buildup and help with any dandruff issues.)
- 2 drops rosemary oil (stimulates the scalp and promotes faster hair growth. Tip: Add 2 drops of Rosemary to your hairbrush)
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Applicator Brush (like the ones you would use for coloring hair)
- Mixing bowl
Instructions:
- Start with dry hair.
- Mix all the ingredients in a glass bowl until the texture is creamy.
- Use your application brush to apply the mixture on your scalp and roots thoroughly.
- Use any remaining mixture as a treatment for the rest of your hair.
- Wait about 15-30 minutes and then comb the oil from your scalp throughout the rest of your hair.
- Rinse.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar rinses have been pretty popular in the natural hair care community because of how soft and shiny they leave your hair. Turns out it’s great for your scalp too! Simply rinse your hair out with apple cider vinegar at the end of your shower to reap its many benefits. You can also mix the vinegar with your conditioner for added benefit and everyday use if you don’t like to rinse every day.
3. Yogurt
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You can use plain yogurt with live active cultures as a simple and easy hair mask before a shower to help ease dandruff symptoms. You can use it alone or mix with any natural or essentials oils for added benefit.
4. Baking soda
Is there anything that baking soda can’t do? It seems like every issue has a quick fix with baking soda and dandruff is no exception. Here are some tips from stylecraze.com on how to use baking soda for dandruff:
- Add two to three tablespoons of baking soda to a cup of lukewarm water. Mix until there are no lumps. Apply this paste onto your scalp and gently massage. Leave it on for no more than 2-3 seconds, and rinse off.
- You can also use baking soda in conjunction with your shampoo. Start with making a shift to a herbal shampoo that is softer on your hair and scalp. Pour some shampoo onto your palm once you step into the shower. Now add half a teaspoon of baking soda into the shampoo on your palm. Mix together and use the mixture like regular shampoo to cleanse your hair.
- If you want to use baking soda as a rinse more regularly, then you can make a mixture of water and baking soda and store it in an old shampoo bottle. Baking soda is alkaline in nature, so do not get alarmed if your hair looks bad after the first wash. A few washes down the lane, and your hair will be healthier than ever and you will see that it does not fall out as much as before.
- In order to counter the high pH of baking soda, rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar after using baking soda. Simply add a few drops of ACV to a mug of water and rinse off.
- Both apple cider vinegar and baking soda help in reducing hair loss considerably. You will be amazed by the results. They do not help regrowth but aid in counteracting hair fall and related disorders like dandruff, dryness, and oiliness. Once these conditions are brought under control, the hair fall stops and it resumes normal hair growth.
5. Dandruff shampoos and conditioners
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There are tons and tons of anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners that you can buy at your local corner store. The confusing part is figuring out the right one to buy! Here is a list of common ingredients used to treat dandruff as stated by medicalnewstoday.com.
Have a look and see which ingredient treats the type of dandruff you have so that you can make a more informed buying decision.
- Zinc pyrithione – an ingredient which slows down the production of yeast.
- Selenium sulphide – this reduces the production of natural oils your scalp glands produce.
- Coal tar – this has a natural anti-fungal agent. If your hair is dyed or treated remember that long-term coal tar usage can stain the hair.
- Ketoconazole – a very effective anti-fungal. Most people who use this are pleased with the results. Experts say shampoos with this ingredient can be used with young and elderly people.
- Salicylic acids – these help your scalp get rid of skin cells. They do not slowdown the reproduction of skin cells. Many “scalp scrubs” contain salicylic acids. Some people find that salicylic acid treatments leave their scalps dry and eventually make the flaking of the skin worse.
- Tea-tree oil – This oil comes from the Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). A growing number of shampoos now include tea-tree oil as one of its ingredients. It has been used for centuries as an anti-fungal antibiotic, and an antiseptic. However, some people are allergic to it.
- Green Tea potential – Researchers from the Medical College of Georgia, USA, found that green tea may have potential for the treatment of dandruff and psoriasis.
6. Long-term solutions
Hydration: Along with many other dry skin problems, dandruff can be a sign that you are not properly hydrating yourself.
Drinking plenty of water each day, and that will help keep your skin moisturized so that it doesn’t dry out and fly away. Try to bring a water bottle around with you during the day to remind yourself to drink up! If you get tired of drinking water, try coconut water! It hydrates well and is packed with tons of vitamins and minerals.
Seek help: If you feel like you’ve done all you can to battle dandruff, but it still won’t go away, it may be a sign that you have a more serious issue going on. It is best to have your scalp checked by a health care professional so that you can receive the proper treatment.
We hope you found a way to get rid of dandruff that works for you. Please let us know if one of our solutions worked for you in the comments! Don’t forget to like and share this article with your friends and family.