Elevate Your Scalp Health Now with These 5 Splendid Natural Remedies for Dandruff

Scalp health plays an important role in a natural hair journey.  When a scalp issue like dandruff shows its ugly head, dealing with it quickly presents the best course.

Natural remedies for dandruff provide an alternative to commercial products containing harsh chemicals.  Moreover, the natural route can help save you money and provides the ease of preparation at home.

Continue reading to uncover 5 basic do-it-yourself (DIY) natural remedies for dandruff to address this pesky scalp condition. 

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Natural Remedies for Dandruff – The Basics

What Causes Dandruff?

According to the Mayo Clinic, dandruff can be caused by a myriad of items including:

• An excessively oily, inflamed scalp (which may indicate seborrheic dermatitis);
• Reactions or sensitivity to hair products;
• Poor or infrequent scalp cleansing techniques;
• Extremely dry scalp; and/or
• Malassezia (yeast-like fungus).

What Are the Signs of Dandruff?

Dandruff presents itself as gray or white flakes on the scalp. Furthermore, itching and inflammation of the scalp may accompany the condition. 

Often dandruff flakes can make their way into hair strands and onto clothes or furniture.  This leaves many with the condition feeling embarrassed and frustrated.

How Does Dandruff Affect Hair Growth?

The presence of dandruff signals sub-optimal scalp conditions.  Subsequently, this unhealthy scalp environment does not provide the best opportunity for healthy hair growth.

Excess oils and dead scalp cells can cause clogged or inflamed hair follicles. Moreover, the dandruff cover on the scalp could result in damage to the cuticles of growing hairs.

Endless scratching can further irritate or injure the scalp and weaken or break fragile hair strands.  Also, the body’s response to scalp irritation may potentially deplete the energy and nutrients needed for healthy hair growth. 

Natural Remedies for Dandruff – The Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) provides a useful home remedy to various scalp issues, including dandruff.  It is a wonderful clarifier, helping to remove oil, debris, and residues during the cleansing process.  Additionally, it can help to balance the pH of the scalp and hair, hindering microbial growth.

For dandruff treatment with an ACV rinse:

• Mix 1 part ACV to 1 part water in an applicator bottle.
• Apply the ACV rinse to head, concentrating on the scalp.
• Massage the rinse into the scalp by using the fingertips.
• Let the rinse sit for at least 10 minutes.
• Cleanse and condition/deep condition as normal.

You should repeat this dandruff home remedy 2-3 times a week until dandruff clears.  Afterward, a 1-part ACV to 3-parts water rinse can be utilized weekly to maintain.

My favorite brand to use for this natural hair DIY rinse is Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar.  It is unfiltered and organic.  Moreover, it comes with the mother, containing beneficial bacteria and enzymes. 

Natural Remedies for Dandruff – The Oil Blend

Some oils boast excellent properties for scalp and hair health.  Certain ones also prove useful when combating dandruff.

One of the best all-around oils for hair health is coconut oil.  Its anti-fungal and antibacterial qualities make it a no-brainer to effectively fight dandruff.  In addition, tea tree and peppermint essential oils possess antimicrobial properties that can aid in dandruff reduction.

Rosemary essential oil helps with dandruff by working to enhance the scalp environment, restoring it to normal conditions.  Chamomile essential oil provides another outstanding way to handle dandruff by balancing a dry or oily scalp and soothing potential itching and inflammation.

To help control dandruff with the oil blend:

• Melt 3 ounces of coconut oil (make sure not to get the oil too hot) in an applicator bottle.
• Add 10 drops tea tree or peppermint essential oil.
• Put in 10 drops of rosemary or chamomile essential oil.
• Cover the tip of the applicator bottle tip with a fingertip and shake the bottle to mix.
• Using the applicator tip, direct the oil blend down to the scalp and massage, continuing until the entire head has been treated.
• Reserve the remaining oil for subsequent treatment (gently warm the bottle in a water bath before each treatment to liquefy the oil blend).

This particular dandruff home remedy should be performed 1-2 times daily until dandruff has subsided.  Once dandruff has been controlled, you can continue to utilize the oil mixture as a base for your regular scalp oil by simply adding additional oils of your choice. 

For those with coconut oil sensitivity, extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, or avocado oil may be used in place of the coconut oil as a carrier for the essential oils.

Check out my recommended ingredients for this awesome natural hair DIY oil blend below:

• Nutiva Organic, Cold-Pressed, Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil
• Smart Care 100% Tea Tree Oil
• Cococare 100% Natural Peppermint Oil
• Maple Holistics 100% Pure Rosemary Essential Oil
• Artizen Roman Chamomile 100% Pure & Natural Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil

Natural Remedies for Dandruff – The African Black Soap Shampoo

African black soap continues to receive high praise for its scalp healing properties.  It can assist in resolving dry, itchy scalp.  Additionally, the soap feeds the scalp nutrients to support healthy hair growth, while helping with exfoliation.  Overall, African black soap encourages your scalp back to a more optimal state, which discourages dandruff.

To make African black soap shampoo for combating dandruff:

• Break 1-1 ½ ounces of African black soap into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl.
• Put about 1 tbsp of jojoba, extra virgin olive, or avocado oil to the soap.
• Add the oil of 3 Vitamin E capsules to the soap mixture.
• Place 5 drops of peppermint, tea tree, rosemary, or chamomile essential oil to the mix.
• Pour 1 cup of hot distilled or filtered water over the soap and gently stir.
• Allow the mixture to sit until the soap is fully dissolved, continuing to stir intermittently.
• Transfer the shampoo to an applicator bottle for use.
• Direct the shampoo to your damp scalp using the applicator bottle tip.
• Focus on massaging the scalp to loosen dead scalp cells, working the soap into a lather.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, allowing the soap to run down the hair strands to cleanse.
• Condition/deep condition as normal.

This method for getting rid of dandruff should be repeated twice a week until the dandruff is gone.  Afterward, you can continue to use the shampoo according to your normal wash schedule.

Here are some product suggestions to get you started with natural hair DIY African black soap shampoo:

• Wonderfully Natural Organic African Black Soap
• Now Solutions Jojoba Oil (Certified Organic)
• Finest Nutrition E Vitamin 1000 IU

Natural Remedies for Dandruff – The Bentonite Clay & Lavender Tea Mask

A bentonite clay mask can work wonders to help reduce dandruff.  The clay acts as a natural detoxifier and clarifier.  It can also reduce inflammation and aid in the scalp healing process.

Moreover, lavender is well known for its benefits to the scalp and hair.  It contains antioxidant properties to help fight free radicals.  Lavender can help soothe scalp inflammation.  It also has antimicrobial properties and can facilitate the growth of stronger, fuller hair.

To concoct a bentonite clay & lavender tea mask for addressing dandruff:

• Place 6 teaspoons of lavender flowers into a tea infuser. Heat 1 ½ cups of distilled or filtered water to a boil.
• Remove the water from heat and add the filled tea infuser to the hot water.
• Let steep and allow the tea to cool.
• Place ½ cup of bentonite clay into a mixing bowl.
• Remove the tea infuser and pour the lavender tea in small amounts over the clay, mixing well before adding more tea to the mix.
• Once enough tea has been incorporated to give the mask a creamy consistency, add 6 drops of your chosen essential oil to the mix and stir.
• Apply the mask to damp scalp and hair, making sure to massage some the mask into the scalp.
• Cover with a plastic processing cap.
• Let the mask sit on hair for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. Wash and condition normally.

You should continue to use this mask 2-3 times weekly to clear up dandruff.  For maintenance, you can utilize the treatment 1-2 times per month. 

One cautionary note on bentonite clay . . . you must never use metal utensils or containers with the clay.  Metal and bentonite clay can react with one another.

My ingredient picks for the natural hair DIY bentonite clay & lavender tea mask are as follows:

• Aztec Secret Indian Healing Bentonite Clay
• Feel Good Organics Organic Lavender Flowers

Natural Remedies for Dandruff – The Onion & Lemon Juices Rinse

Although I saved it for last, a mixture of onion and lemon juices provides a valuable treatment for dandruff.  Onions have antimicrobial qualities.  The juice also conveys key nutrients to the hair root, supporting robust growth. Lemons are acidic and help with lowering the scalp’s pH, which can help to stifle microbial growth.

To whip up the onion & lemon juices dandruff home remedy:

• Combine 3 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice with an equal amount of freshly extracted onion juice in an applicator bottle.
• Using the bottle’s tip, direct the mixture onto the scalp and massage thoroughly.
• Continue until the entire head has been treated.
• Allow the mixture to sit for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm to cool water. Wash and condition as normal.

You can apply the onion & lemon juices treatment 2-3 times per week until your dandruff clears.  Once the dandruff is under control, you may elect to utilize the remedy at least twice per month to maintain.

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Concluding Thoughts

Dandruff should not put a damper on your natural hair journey.  You can naturally treat the problem with a variety of home remedies.

Dive into the DIY treatments found in the post, using them either alone or in conjunction with each other to start down the path to healthier, dandruff-free natural hair.

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