If you like to keep things natural when it comes to your hair care regimen, don’t let dandruff get in your way. Before you resort to manufactured products packed with harsh chemicals, give some simple home remedies a go.
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Dandruff is basically a buildup of skin cells that have matured and dried too fast, which can cause itching and leave unsightly flakes on the hairline.
The best products for treating dandruff are those that get rid of the skin buildup or that act as a fungicide.
1. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has many surprising benefits, and one of them is as a treatment for dandruff and a dry, itchy scalp. Simply wash your hair with your regular shampoo, and rinse well. Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 3 parts water, pour it over your hair, and leave it to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water.
2. Baking soda
Baking soda is a natural, mild exfoliator and also acts as a fungicide, making it a powerful treatment for dandruff. Everyday Roots recommends mixing 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 1 cup of warm water and pouring it into an old (clean) shampoo bottle. Shake the mixture well, then apply it generously to your hair. Use in place of shampoo, preferably once a day, until you notice a difference in your dandruff. Don’t worry if your hair feels dry initially — its natural oils will soon do their job. To give the mixture a pleasant fragrance, add a few drops of rosemary oil.
More: 10 Apple cider vinegar beauty benefits you're missing out on
3. Fenugreek
The plant fenugreek, commonly used as a spice in Indian cooking, is known for having medicinal properties. The seeds of the plant are high in protein and amino acids, which are believed to boost hair health and help eliminate dandruff.
Mix 3 tablespoons of finely powdered fenugreek seeds with as much plain yogourt as you need to make a thick paste. Mix well, and leave it to soak overnight. Apply the paste once per week, leaving it on the scalp for up to 10 minutes. Rinse well, and wash as normal.
4. Tea tree oil
While it might seem strange to use oil to treat dandruff when excess oil can be the root cause of the problem, certain oils can help keep it at bay, and one of the most popular is tea tree oil. The oil extracted from the leaves of the tea tree plant have fungicidal properties and also help soothe itchy, irritated skin.
Pour 1 tablespoon of tea tree oil into 1 cup of warm water, and mix together in a clean spray bottle. Shampoo your hair as normal, then spray the tea tree mixture all over your scalp. Massage it gently into the scalp, then leave it to sit for a few minutes. Remove excess moisture by patting, but don’t wash it out.
5. Salt
A natural home remedy for dandruff everybody has in the kitchen is salt, and it couldn't be simpler. According to Reader's Digest, shaking some salt onto your dry scalp before you shampoo is great for removing dandruff flakes. Work the salt through your hair with your fingers, massaging it into your scalp, then shampoo as normal.
