In terms of Beauty Related Things That Annoy Me To No End, dandruff is very close to the top of the list. After years of dealing with flakes, I decided it was time to come up with some natural dandruff treatments for whenever my scalp was acting up.
Back in the day, my hair would start to flake whenever it was, well, dirty. My hair may have seemed like an oil-fest, but my scalp was undoubtedly dry. The over-usage of styling agents would cause the tiniest of flakes on my all-black clothing. This was the sign from my hair that it was time to wash, but these flakes are not dandruff. Actual dandruff is a problem for many people and some of those OTC shampoos and conditioners may contain toxins that you're not so into. Obviously, a talk about solving dandruff with natural hair treatments is long overdue.
Dandruff, an evil cousin of dry scalp, is caused by an excess of skin cells that have build up on the scalp and flakes off in thick, white flecks. Our skin, the largest "organ" in the body, is constantly renewing itself which means dead skin cells can get in the way of new skin cells looking to make an appearance. According to Medical News Today, mild dandruff situations are pretty easy to control, but there are more serious cases that can haunt you forever. According to sources at Livestrong, diet, stress, and hair care regimens are likely causes of dandruff, but extreme temperatures can aggravate your symptoms as well.
With so many dandruff causing factors, it may be hard to pin-point exactly what you can change to ditch those flakes for good. According to the Mayo Clinic, one likely source of dandruff is a fungus that lives on the scalp called malassezia, which intensifies the overproduction of skin cells. The good news is that the earth has given us an abundance of anti-fungal goodies that have additional hair benefits like moisturizing and hydrating dry scalps, removing dead skin cells, and stimulating hair growth. Can your anti-dandruff shampoo do that?
Now that we've gotten causes and symptoms out of the way, let's get to some awesome DIY dandruff treatments that can keep the flakes off your clothes AND scalp while keeping your all natural routine, completely natural. These recipes below will give your scalp a much needed spring cleaning!
1. Lavender Tea Tree Oil & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Treatment
Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil , $23, AmazonAura Cacia Lavender Tea Tree, $16, Amazon
It's likely that you've come across tea tree oil in hair care products before. Tea tree oil is a powerful antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial natural oil that has worked wonders for dandruff. Lavender tea tree smells way better and lavender is actually listed as one of the best essential oils to treat flaky, dry scalps. According to sources at Livestrong, olive oil can hydrate deep into the scalp to soothe all that flakiness. Use two ounces of extra virgin olive oil and about 15 drops of lavender tea tree essential oil. Store your treatment in a tinted sealable container for future use, I recommend using this treatment before bedtime, massaging into your scalp, and rinsing out in the morning.
2. Lemon, Yogurt, & Honey Hair Mask
According to Green Medical Info, studies in the European Journal of Medical Journal have confirmed that honey can heal dandruff, which makes this mask from Stylecraze is great for dandruff. Honey is pH balancing and healing, plus also has antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that a dandruff prone scalp will literally drink up. To make your new mask, use three tablespoons of crude honey, one tablespoon of organic yogurt, and two teaspoons of lemon juice. If you are worried about getting your new mask out of your hair, cut the mask with a carrier oil like argan or jojoba to make it easier to rinse away.
3. Garlic Treatment
Yes, this will be one of the more disgusting-smelling treatments in your DIY hair care, but garlic has very potent anti-bacterial and antifungal properties that can help your dandruff. Garlic also contains salicylic acid, which is a common ingredient in anti-dandruff shampoos to control seborrheic dermatitis, yet another cause of dandruff. With that in mind, who could blame you for using a little garlic? Sources at Healing With Food claim that eating raw garlic cloves can also cure dandruff, but a garlic oil treatment may help you out as well — and the smelly hair is only temporary. Heat peeled garlic gloves and argan oil over a stove-top with a low flame. I recommend diluting your garlic oil even further before applying directly on your scalp with another tablespoon of argan oil to avoid any irritation.
Image: Eric Murray, Shutter Ferret/Flickr; Giphy; Kristin Collins Jackson
