Natural Dandruff Remedies to Try at Home

We often find ourselves looking at natural dandruff remedies when nothing seems to work to get rid of it. This is a common scenario because dandruff and itchy scalp are ailments a lot of us are riddled with. While it is something that really shakes one’s confidence, it is also a medical condition that can weaken the scalp over time. Effective treatment is a must in this scenario along with something that can help you get rid of it permanently. 

Before jumping onto the question, how to get dandruff out of your hair, let’s first look at what really is the cause behind this condition. This will help you make amendments for better. 

Common Causes of Dandruff 

Reasons leading towards itchy scalp or dandruff can be medical or just based on your daily habits. The way you brush your hair, the shampoo you use or how many times you wash your hair, all that matters eventually in determining the root cause. This would also help in understanding the best way to get rid of dandruff for you. 

1. Less shampoo, more oil

Everyone has a different kind of scalp, some have more oil while some less. The amount of shampoo you use or the number of times you shampoo in a week might not be enough to get rid of the excess oil in your scalp. Eventually, oil accumulates and causes dandruff to develop. Best way to get rid of dandruff caused by oil is to understand by experimentation what your scalp needs. 

2. More dry skin, less moisture

Dry skin is very clearly visible when it is on other parts of the body but a dry scalp might go unnoticed by many. It is also one of the most common causes of dandruff and can get worse during the drier months of the year. Your scalp needs to retain enough moisture to stay away from dandruff. 

3. Less relief, more stress

Stress is known to be the hidden cause for so many health problems as it can be the underlying cause for your dandruff too. Sebum production can increase out of hormone imbalance caused by stress. This will lead to a flaky scalp with increased oil production. 

4. More yeast, more skin cells

Excess of the yeast called Malassezia that already lives on our scalp can lead to more skin cell growth, leading to dandruff. This yeast will basically aggravate the scalp, making it itchy and flaky. 

Home Remedies for Dandruff and Itchy Scalp

When nothing else really works, people wonder about natural ways to get rid of dandruff which are also effective enough. There are actually quite a few home remedies that can be essential in treating dandruff at home itself. Some of the listed ones below have come out of ingredients easily found around you. 

1. Coconut Oil + Lemon

Benefits: Coconut oil will provide your hair with nourishment while the lemon will work towards getting dandruff away from your hair. This is the easiest homemade dandruff remedy in the book and works well too. 

Frequency of use: Twice a week

Preparation:

• Equal parts of coconut oil and lemon juice will be needed to start preparation. 
• Once you have both, mix well to prepare a concoction. 
• Massage the mixture onto your scalp very gently. 
• Let the oil stay in your hair for about 20 minutes to wash off later on. 

2. Banana + Apple Cider Vinegar

Benefits: The two ingredients are a great home remedy for dandruff because bananas will improve the blood circulation around your scalp, making it healthier. On the other hand, apple cider vinegar will keep the germs and fungus at bay.

Frequency of use: Once a week

Preparation:

• To start off, you will need one banana and two cups of apple cider vinegar. 
• The two ingredients need to be mixed well in a bowl. 
• Once a paste is formed out of the banana and the apple cider, apply it to your hair.
• Make sure that your hair is entirely covered in the paste. 
• Leave it on for 20 minutes to wash it off with water and shampoo later. 

3. Mehendi/Henna + Curd

Benefits: Henna is good for the hair as it will soften them and remove any excess trapped dirt on your scalp. This will be helpful as a remedy of dandruff caused by greasy hair. Curd on the other hand has antibacterial properties which will keep the fungus in control. 

Frequency of use: Once a week

Preparation:

• The ingredients you will need here are some curd, henna powder and a little bit of lemon juice. 
• All of them combined together have to form a paste which you can apply to your hair. 
• Instead of applying the mixture right away, keep it aside for at least 8 hours. 
• After that you can apply the mix onto your hair and rinse off in two hours. 

4. Fenugreek seeds + Lemon

Benefits: Fenugreek seeds have a substance called lecithin in them which can provide your hair with right hydration and lost strength due to dandruff. Dry scalp will also become much healthier through this home remedy. 

Frequency of use: Twice a week

Preparation:

• Start with a glass of water and add some fenugreek seeds to it. 
• Let this mix stay overnight so you can mash them into a paste in the morning. 
• Apply the paste formed on your scalp for about 30 minutes. 
• Wash your hair with shampoo once this is done. 

5. Lemon Juice + Orange Peel

Benefits: Key ingredient of this best home remedy for dandruff is orange peel which will clean your scalp while conditioning it. Lemon juice will reduce the itchiness that comes with a flaky scalp. 

Frequency of use: Once a week

Preparation:

• Save the peel of an orange and one lemon’s juice to prepare a paste. 
• You can make the paste by grinding the two ingredients together. 
• Apply the formed paste onto your scalp and let it stay for 30 minutes. 
• Later on you can wash off your hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo preferably. 

6. Vinegar + Water

Benefits: If you are looking for an easy dandruff treatment at home then there’s nothing better than vinegar and some water. The vinegar will kill any bad fungus and relieve you of all the itchiness you might be experiencing. 

Frequency of use: Twice a week

Preparation:

• All you will need for this remedy is two cups of vinegar and a cup of water. 
• Start by boiling the vinegar and let it cool once it is done. 
• Now add 1/8th cup of water to the vinegar and rinse your hair with this mix.
• Rinse well with vinegar first and then shampoo for relief. 

7. Green tea + Hot water

Benefits: Green tea itself is an antioxidant which can make your scalp healthy again with its antifungal properties. It is one of the quickest natural dandruff remedies which you can carry out at home. 

Frequency of use: Twice or thrice a week

Preparation:

• Popularly known as the green tea rinse, this method will require two green tea bags and some hot water. 
• Let the bags rest in water, like you would prepare tea usually. 
• After the concoction is ready, let it cool down for a while. 
• Rinse your hair next with the green tea and let it stay for the next 30 minutes. 
• Lastly you can wash your hair with just water. 

8. Basil leaves + Amla Powder

Benefits: Basil leaves carry antifungal and antibacterial properties which can be effective for getting rid of dandruff. Amla, which is rich in vitamin C, will further prevent dryness and keep dandruff from coming back. 

Frequency of use: Twice a week

Preparation:

• Start by getting a few basil leaves, 2 teaspoons of amla and equal parts water. 
• All of the ingredients have to be turned into a paste. 
• Apply the formed paste to your scalp and leave it there for the next 30 minutes. 
• Wash your hair after that with just water. 
• Shampoo later on, if required to clean the hair. 

9. Garlic + Honey

Benefits: Garlic is known for its antifungal properties and it can specifically help with microbes that are the root cause of dandruff. Honey mixed with it can provide your scalp with proper nourishment, making it one of the best natural remedies for dandruff. 

Frequency of use: Twice a week

Preparation:

• 4-5 cloves of garlic along with one tablespoon of honey will be needed here. 
• Mashing both together to form a paste will be the next step. 
• This paste has to be applied on the scalp for about 15 minutes. 
• You can wash your hair after this with shampoo. 

10. Tea tree Oil + Coconut Oil

Benefits: The benefits of tea tree oil can be great if you are wondering about how to treat dandruff with it. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties it has can relieve you from the itchiness. Coconut oil can be a great carrier for it while providing the hair with nourishment. 

Frequency of use: Twice or thrice a week

Preparation:

• What you will need is 3-4 drops of tea tree oil and two tablespoons of coconut oil.
• Mix both oils well and gently massage them onto your scalp. 
• Let them stay for about 20-30 minutes and then wash with shampoo. 

How to Cure Dandruff Permanently?

While home remedies for dandruff can be helpful as you go through the journey, it is important to bring about a change in daily habits to ensure you can get rid of the ailment permanently. Some of them have been listed below which you can apply along with natural remedies for dandruff to achieve best results. 

• Start by understanding what your hair needs, the kind of shampoo and its ingredients to begin with. Go for something that is mild and doesn’t pave way for a dry scalp. 

• Hygiene plays a prime role here which means you’ll have to wash your hair at least twice a week. Keeping your scalp away from accumulated grease or dirt is important for the dry scalp home remedies to also work. 

• Managing stress is also of great importance when it comes to getting rid of dandruff. Getting enough sleep and resting well also otherwise are essential to keep stress levels in control. 

• Inducing a hair care routine along with dandruff home remedies can be very helpful. Use natural products which don’t harm your hair in any way. 

• As much as we wonder about how to get rid of dandruff home remedies, what can also be helpful is a healthy diet. You have to treat the problem from the inside as well through a balanced diet that has fatty acids and probiotics. 

FAQs

Q. Why do I have so much dandruff?

A. The reason for dandruff could be an oily irritated scalp or not shampooing enough. 

Q. Which oil is good for dandruff?

A. Coconut oil, tea tree oil, and olive oil are all good for treating dandruff. 

Q. Is banana good for dandruff?

A. Bananas can improve blood circulation around your scalp and improve hair health, including getting rid of dandruff. 

Q. Can dandruff be removed permanently?

A. It is possible to remove dandruff with the best home remedies and daily habits that ensure it doesn’t occur.