Dandruff Solutions

We all shed millions of scalp cells daily, but if you have white flakes conspicuously dusting your shoulders, you may have the microscopic dandruff fungus living on your scalp. A herbal shampoo, rinse, and scalp treatment can help control the fungus while improving your scalp health.

Human skin sheds dead cells in its process of growing. Skin of scalp also sheds cells as other parts of the body. Dandruff is a condition of scalp when skin of scalp produces dead cells at excessive rate. There are many factors, which lead to this condition. Hormonal imbalance, poor hygiene, mental stress, lack of proper rest and lack of nutritional diet are the main causes of dandruff. 

Dandruff is itchy and annoying condition. There are two types of dandruff. In first type that is Pityriasis-capitis, dry flakes of skin fall from the head. Second type is Seborrhea Dermatitis in which dandruff is oily, thick and crusted. This type of dandruff is more serious and needs medication. If it is mild then you can treat and prevent occurrence of dandruff at home by regular application of anti-dandruff home remedies.

Some basic care for curing dandruff

• While massaging oil into the scalp, use fingertips to gentle massage for half an hour in circular motion. - You can use warm coconut oil or castor oil for massage twice a week. 
• Always massage before bedtime, for deep conditioning. - This improves the circulation in scalp and provides proper nourishment. It strengthens the hair roots and curbs dandruff. 
• Lemon juice is ideal for lustrous and dandruff free hair. Take 1-2 teaspoon of lemon juice mixed in water and rinse your hair with it after shampooing. After doing so, properly wash away any lemon particles, if left within the hair. Repeat this thrice in a week and you will notice a visible difference. Dandruff is caused due to high alkaline levels in the skin, and the acidic nature of lemon helps to neutralize the level.
• Take 1/2 tsp of black pepper and 1 1/3 cups of coconut oil. Mix them together and warm them until they start to boil. Now, preserve this mixture in a bottle. Use it by massaging it on to your scalp with your fingertips every night before going to sleep. This is also a very effective dandruff home remedy.
• A simple yet effective dandruff home remedy is Aloe Vera. Take Aloe Vera leaves and use the gel that can be found inside them. Apply that aloe vera gel on your head and then wash it with a herbal shampoo (shikkakai). It is preferable to leave the gel in your hair overnight.

Anti-Dandruff Home Remedies:

There are many lotions, creams, oils and shampoos available in the market with anti-dandruff qualities. These commercial products have chemicals as their ingredients. You can easily prepare fresh recipes for anti-dandruff treatment with naturally available products at home. To cure dandruff, PH level of the scalp should be restored to natural alkaline PH level.  When there is dandruff in your hair, scalp has acidic PH level.

Hot Oil Therapy: 

To do this, take hot oil and massage it well into the scalp at night. In morning apply a mixture of lemon juice and cosmetic vinegar, in a ratio of 1:2, into the scalp and leave it for one hour. After that wash it with a mild shampoo. Another wonderful and easy cure is to massage hot oil and wrap a hot damp towel like a turban over the head. This will give hot steam bath to scalp. Steam is a good medium to tackle dandruff.

Tealeaves: 

Take five tsp of used dried tealeaves and boil them in lime water. Strain it and use it as a last rinse while shampooing your hair. This is a good anti-dandruff formulation and also provides luster and nourishment to hair.

Vinegar: 

Vinegar is an effective and safe remedy to cure dandruff. Mix 2 tsp of pure vinegar to six spoon of water. Dab cotton wool in this mixture and apply this into the scalp properly at night. Cover it with a towel to protect the pillow. Wash it in the morning and rinse with vinegar water. Repeat this once a week for three months to completely cure dandruff.

Egg Pack: 

You can prepare egg pack to fight dandruff. Take two eggs and beat them well. Add two tablespoon of water to that and apply this into the scalp. Massage it well and leave for 15 minutes. Wash it with water. This is an effective recipe to cure dandruff and hair falling problem.

Wonder of Fenugreek Seeds: 

Take handful of fenugreek seed or methi seeds and soak them in curd overnight. Apply this curd in the morning, leave it for half an hour and wash it with shampoo. There is another recipe having fenugreek seeds. Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight and grind them in the morning to a paste. Apply this paste into scalp for half an hour and wash it with shampoo.

Some other Anti-dandruff Preparations:

Anti-dandruff: Rosemary Preparation

Take one handful of Rosemary leaves. Boil one 4 cups of water and soak leaves into it. Leave it overnight. Strain it in the morning and add vinegar to it. Apply this into the scalp and wash it after sometime.

Herbal antidandruff shampoo

Eucalyptus. lavender, and tea tree essential oils have antimicrobial properties and help clean and heal the scalp.

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 
• 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil 
• 15 drops lavender essential oil 
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil 
• 60m1(2fl oz) mild natural shampoo 
• 60ml (2fl oz) water

Combine the apple cider vinegar with the eucalyptus. lavender, and tea tree essential oils. Shake well. Add the natural shampoo and the water, and shake again.

Simple tea tree oil shampoo

To make yourself a simple shampoo to combat dandruff, squeeze a single application of mild natural shampoo into your hand and add four drops of tea tree essential oil.Tea tree is a potent antiseptic and antifungal. Mix well and massage into your scalp with your fingertips. Allow the shampoo to remain on your hair for five minutes, then rinse well.

Anti-dandruff hair rinse

A combination of antimicrobial herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and sage, and essential oils, such as eucalyptus and lavender, fight the microorganisms that cause dandruff. Vinegar restores a healthy pH balance to the scalp.

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 250ml (8fl oz) boiling water 
• 60ml (2fl oz) apple cider vinegar 
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil 
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

Pour the boiling water over the dried herbs and cover Cool the mixture to room temperature and strain. Combine with the apple cider vinegar. Add the essential oils and shake well. Massage approximately 60m1(2fl oz) into your scalp after shampooing and rinsing your hair. Refrigerate the remaining hair rinse and use within one month.

Antiseptic scalp treatment

Antiseptic essential oils, such as eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender, can help eliminate the fungus that causes dandruff Witch hazel is mildly astringent and healing.

• 1/2 cup (125ml ) distilled witch hazel 
• 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil 
• 20 drops rosemary essential oil 
• 20 drops lavender essential oil

Combine the witch hazel with the eucalyptus. rosemary, and lavender essential oils. Massage approximately one tablespoon of the mixture into your scalp every night before going to bed. Continue with the treatment until the dandruff clears up.

Deep-conditioning treatment for dandruff

Once a week deep-condition your hair and scalp to alleviate scalp dryness and dandruff. Eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender essential oils help combat dandruff Jojoba oil helps to keep the hair follicles in the scalp healthy

• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil 
• 3 drops rosemary essential oil 
• 3 drops lavender essential oil

Combine the jojoba oil with the eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender essential oils in a small container.

(If you have long hair, you may need to double the amounts in the recipe.) Dampen your hair with warm water and massage the oil mixture into your scalp and hair with your fingertips. Put on a shower cap and allow the oils to remain in your hair for 30 minutes. Shampoo your hair to remove the oil treatment, rinse well, and apply a conditioner if necessary.