How To Get Rid of Dandruff – The Ultimate Guide

How To Get Rid of Dandruff – those white, dry flakes on your shoulders never look right or leave a positive impression. You may have faced many embarrassing situations in your office or any night party due to the flakes of snow on your shoulders. However, you do not have to worry about it anymore. Today we are going to tell you about how to get rid of dandruff.

Related: Best Ayurvedic Treatments for Hair Loss

There are several, easy to implement ways to get rid of dandruff. There are various causes of dandruff ranging from yeast-like fungus infection, dry or oily skin, poor diet, lack of regular hair care routine, or even excessive stress.

Depending upon dandruff causes, you can check out various dandruff remedies from the below list and see what works for you as an effective dandruff treatment.

1. Ditch Chemicals, Use Organic

Chemical shampoos contain many harmful chemicals and ingredients. In fact, your favorite lather effect of shampoo is due to a chemical often used in surfactants and dish cleaners. The primary culprit and the real reason is sodium laurel sulfate which is the most common ingredient in chemical shampoos.

In addition to it, parabens, and silicones are also commonly present in most shampoos. These ingredients strip off natural oils from your scalp along with dirt and dandruff causing them to become dry. Even if you are using conditioners to nourish your hairs after shampooing them, there is a chance that chemicals do not get rinsed from your hair scalp properly.

If you are looking for how to get rid of dandruff & want to protect your scalp, start using organic shampoos which are devoid of any chemicals. Organic shampoos not only promote healthy hairs but also prevent dandruff and hair fall because of natural ingredients present in them.

Yes, you may not get that soapy, lather feeling from using organic shampoos, but they do a much better job in cleaning your hairs and scalp without removing natural hair oils secreted by the scalp. If you do not know which organic shampoos are best, check out this list of 9 best organic shampoos which are guaranteed to give your naturally shiny and healthy locks.

2. Cold Water Rinse

We know how much you love hot water showers and bath. However, you must already know or have noticed that your hair scalp becomes too soft and dry after a hot bath. It leaves your hair scalp sensitive and prone to damage and dandruff.

Luke warm water may be good for cleansing your scalp and removing dirt. However, you must always try to rinse your hairs with cold water. It will close down the pores and hair cuticles and allow retention of moisture and natural scalp oil. Cold water showers have immense benefits for your hair health.

3. Join No-Poo Movement

Have you ever considered that your grandparents or great-grandparents never used any shampoos? Did you know that shampoos only came into existence after the 1970s? Yes, that is true, and this is what no-poo movement is all about.

The no-poo movement involves gradually reducing the use of shampoos in your hairs and ultimately stopping it. You may feel disgusted or appalled by the very mention of this idea, but you will be shocked by the results people get by eliminating shampoos from their lives.

These chemically loaded shampoos remove the dirt and dandruff temporarily but also strip away the natural oils from the scalp. So, your scalp gets dry and starts producing more oils. Imagine regularly shampooing your hairs and every time forcing your scalp to produce extra oil. Moreover, this additional oil is often the cause of dandruff as it offers a breeding ground for harmful fungus.

However, once you stop shampooing, initially your hairs are going to get extra dirty and oily. However, keep washing them usually with water or if you want, by using baking soda and vinegar. Very soon your scalp will notice that it no longer needs extra oil and it will stop producing it in excess. You will soon see your hair get shiny and healthy like never before.

4. Stop Stress to Protect Your Tresses

In some people, chronic stress also leads to causing those dreaded flakes in their scalp. The reason is dandruff is a skin problem, and stress is never good for your overall skin as well as health. To find out if your dandruff is a result of stress, observe your scalp during days when you are relatively relaxed and peaceful.

Compare it with days when you are busy in the office, struggling to meet deadlines with your boss not happy with you. If you find an increase in dandruff during the latter period, your dandruff might be a result of your constant stress. So, relax a bit more, go on walks, get exercise, listen to music and live your life peacefully to reduce stress if you want to know how to get rid of dandruff.

5. Drink Water

In many cases, dandruff is also caused due to dry skin. The dry skin itself may not cause dandruff, but it may lead to itchiness and irritation of the scalp. If you respond to itch, chances are you may develop red skin and attract white oily flakes on your scalp. Thereby it is important to maintain optimum moisture and consuming a sufficient quantity of water to keep yourself hydrated. However you must know how much water should you drink every day.

6. Change Your Diet

A healthy and balanced diet also play an important role to keep dandruff away. This is because a proper diet will be rich in nutrients such as proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Protein is especially useful to maintain healthy hairs and prevent their fall due to dandruff. Vitamins and minerals like zinc, iron are help in increasing the blood flow to scalp and nourish it

Healthy fats like Omega-3 also boost your scalp health as they keep it hydrated naturally from inside. Moreover, foods rich in Omega 3 like wild, fresh salmon or chia seeds also contain essential vitamins and minerals. Deficiency of these nutrients may also lead to dandruff. Similarly, fish oil can also prove an excellent remedy for dry skin and promote healthy hair and scalp to prevent dandruff.

7. Home Remedies For Dandruff

You must have always wondered how your mother or grandmother had such beautiful, healthy hairs even in their later stages. The answer lies in natural, home remedies for dandruff. Nothing can beat natural when it comes to hair health.

You must have seen your grandparents using a range of natural hair packs and remedies to treat their hair problems.

Even if there were no problem, they would use only natural items to clean their hairs and remove dirt from them. Moreover, dandruff is one issue for which you can try a range of natural items which you will easily find in your kitchen.

Check out some of these amazing natural and home remedies for dandruff remedies which you can try to remove dandruff permanently from your hairs and ensure they remain healthy and shiny throughout your life:

A. Apple Cider Vinegar for Dandruff

Apple cider vinegar can balance the pH levels of your hair scalp and also remove dirt and dandruff. It also removes the dead skin and skin flakes which ultimately lead to dandruff.

Moreover, if you consume it directly by adding it to your salads or as a spice, it provides potassium to your body. It can also lead to better blood circulation which can nourish your hair scalp and follicles.

Mix vinegar with water in equal proportions in a cup or a mug. During bath in the morning, apply this mixture on your hair scalp and leave it for 10-15 minutes. After that rinse with cold water but do not wash it with shampoo.

You may find the smell of vinegar too high, but you can always clean it properly to remove any traces. After all, those white, flaky dandruff are a more serious issue to your hair health than a temporary smell.

B. Lemon Juice

The intense citrus nature of lemon makes it an excellent antifungal agent for treating dandruff. Like vinegar, it also helps to maintain the pH of your hair scalp.

You can use lemon juice independently by applying it on your hair scalp 10-15 minutes before bathing. You can rinse it later with cold water. You may have to do this regularly for a month or two, from one to three times per week to see useful results.

You can also use lemon juice in conjunction with other natural items such as yogurt, baking soda, coconut oil, or orange peels. A combination of baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice works wonders in treating dandruff and removing it permanently.

For this purpose, prepare a mixture of a full lemon juice with 4-5 teaspoons of vinegar. Add this mixture to baking soda to prepare a paste. Apply this paste on your hair scalp by gently massaging it. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and then wash with cold water. You will be amazed at results.

C. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera, the magical plant has many benefits for skin and hair. It works miraculously to remove dandruff naturally and efficiently. Aloe Vera boasts of anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.

Also Read: Aloe Vera For Hairs.

These properties along with its exfoliating effect, not only remove dandruff and relieve the itchy feeling but also slows down skin cell regeneration on the scalp to prevent dandruff. It can also heal a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis which is a cause of dandruff in some people.

You can apply raw Aloe Vera gel obtained directly from the Aloe Vera plant on your hair scalp. Leave it for 12-15 minutes and wash your hairs with water or with a mild shampoo. If you do not have an Aloe Vera plant, you can buy Aloe Vera gel at any local drugstore or organic store.

D. Coconut Oil

When it comes to using hair oils for removing dandruff, nothing can beat coconut oil. Firstly, it is an excellent natural fungicide known to eliminate fungus in hair which leads to dandruff. Secondly, coconut oil also provides enriching moisturisation to hair scalps preventing it from getting dry and flaky. It is particularly helpful if you have dry or brittle hairs as it would provide the much-needed nutrition and moisture to your scalp.

You can apply coconut oil to your scalp at night and wash your hairs with pure water in the morning. It also acts as an excellent natural conditioner so you can apply it on your scalp half an hour before shampooing. After shampooing, you will notice your hairs retain moisture and getting soft without any use of conditioner.

Coconut oil can also be mixed with other things like lemon juice or yogurt for more efficient treatment of dandruff and may be the end of your search for how to get rid of dandruff.

E. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is one of the best oils, almost next to coconut oil when it comes to removing dandruff naturally. It mimics the properties of natural hair oil, sebum which is secreted by hair scalp. That is why dermatologist and people all over the world recommend jojoba oil for effective treatment of dandruff.

To use jojoba oil for dandruff, apply two-three drops on your scalp and massage it gently. Leave it on your scalp for 10-15 minutes. For more effectiveness, cover your head with a warm towel. Wash your hair with water or with a mild shampoo for the best effects.

F. Tea Tree Oil For Dandruff

Tea Tree oil has amazing anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. These features make it a brilliant remedy for treating scalp problems and removing dandruff. Moreover, this oil has solvent properties which make it ideal for oily skin to absorb extra oil which invites fungus and dandruff.

Also Read: Find Green Tea Benefits For Hairs.

You can use tea tree oil with a cup of warm water and apply the mixture on your head. You can also mix few drops of tea tree oil with your daily amount of shampoo and apply it on your scalp. Leave the mixture for a few minutes after which you can wash the scalp and start getting rid of dandruff.

G. Common Salt

Yes.! We know you are feeling a bit surprised at this item. After all, who would have thought that common salt can be a remedy to cure dandruff? However, it is true. Common salt is an excellent exfoliating agent which can revive your hair skin and loosen those sticky flakes.

Before you go to wash your hair, you can apply a pinch or two of common salt evenly on your scalp by massaging it gently. You can wash your hair with simple cold water or you can use a mild cleansing shampoo. Continue this treatment for 3-4 weeks and you will be amazed at results.

H. Olive Oil

Worried about your white flakes before going to a night party? Olive oil in your kitchen can be your savior. You can apply few drops of extra virgin or unrefined olive oil on visible flakes and scales on your scalp. After an hour, gently comb your hairs and see those flakes getting removed.

Also Read: Olive Oil Hair Treatment.

It may be a temporary solution in case of oily hairs but works wonders when you want an immediate solution. However, do not apply it in excess as it can lead to very oily hairs which may require shampoo to remove.

I. Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds are one of the most widely used natural remedies for dandruff. They are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals which promote healthy hairs. You can soak two to three tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in a cup of water. Leave it overnight and crush those seeds to make it into a paste. Apply this paste to your hair scalp and leave it for 10-12 minutes before showering. You can also wash your hairs with the remaining water from the cup.

J. Aspirin

You must be surprised to see Aspirin in this list. After all, it is the most commonly used painkiller and not a dandruff medicine. However, it is indeed true that Aspirin can act as a potent chemical to treat dandruff.

This is because Aspirin contains salicylic acid– a common ingredient of anti-dandruff properties. It can not only remove dandruff but also reduce inflammation of scalp skin due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

K. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another standard item in your kitchen inventory. Its exfoliating properties help to remove dead skin and white dandruff flakes from your skin scalp. It is extremely beneficial for an oily scalp which attracts dirt quickly. Baking soda helps in removing that dirt and clean scalp with its cleaning action.

To use it, take two to three tablespoons of baking soda powder and add drops of water to make a thick paste. Apply it to your scalp and leave it for 10-12 minutes and wash your hairs afterward.

However, do not leave this paste for too long as it may cause your hair to become dry. You can also clean your hair with vinegar afterward to balance the pH of the scalp.

L. Eggs

Eggs contain essential proteins and amino acids which nourish your hairs from within. However, they can also be used as a natural hair pack. For this purpose, thoroughly beat two eggs with yolks intact in a container. Now apply that mixture and paste onto your hair scalp by massaging it gently.

Uniformly spread throughout your scalp to avoid missing any area of skin. Cover your hairs with a plastic bag or wrapper to avoid dripping the mixture and let it work. After about an hour, remove the package and wash your hairs. You will not only able to remove dandruff from your hairs but also make your hairs shiny and smooth.

M. Onion

Remember the strong smell of onion juice which can even make you cry? Well, that is the kind of effect onion has on the fungus and dandruff residing on your hair scalp. Onion has effective antibacterial and antifungal properties which help in fighting dandruff.

To use onion, make a paste from two to three onions as needed by you. Apply this paste on your scalp and leave it overnight after covering your hair with a plastic wrap. Wash your hairs normally in the morning. Do this regularly until dandruff is gone completely.

This remedy also works wonder to prevent wonders to promote new hair growth. You can do this procedure in the same manner twice a week to grow hairs.

N. Mouthwash

Another shocking entry in the list which has helped many people to get rid of infectious dandruff caused by the yeast-like fungal infections. Mouthwash contains a substance called Listerine which can kill the infection and prevent it from returning for a long time.

Initially, dandruff was not thought to be a result of fungus infection so people did not believe this trick. However, now we know that dandruff is caused by a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia. This fungus feeds on your natural oil on hair scalp secreted by follicles.

It is present in small quantities on every scalp but when it gets in excess, you feel irritation on the scalp as it starts shedding more skin cells to get rid of the excess fungus. This leads to those dandruff flakes.

This is the reason why most of the items on this list have mostly anti fungal and anti bacterial properties.

O. Yogurt

It is the simplest kitchen remedy you can find to remove dandruff. You must have heard how yogurt needs bacteria for its preparation. However, it is a friendly bacteria (that’s why we eat it!) and can reduce the yeast infection from the hair scalp.

Moreover, it contains probiotics in an abundant quantity which can fight dandruff. You can directly apply yogurt to your hair scalp and wash hairs after leaving it for 15-30 minutes. It can also be used along with lemon juice and coconut oil for more effective treatment.

P. Neem Leaves

Neem leaves are well-known Indian herbs with medicinal properties. It not only fights dandruff by preventing the excessive growth of Malassezia but also relieves itching and irritation on your scalp. You can make a paste of neem leaves and apply it directly to your scalp. You can wash it after leaving it for an hour.

Another way to use neem leaves to remove dandruff is by putting them in warm water and leaving it for a whole night. In the morning, you can filter the leaves and wash your hair with the remaining water to effectively clean your hair and remove dandruff.

These are some of the most efficient remedies on how to get rid of dandruff. Have your tried any of the above treatments for dandruff yourselves? Tell us about it in the comments below.