Natural methods to get rid of scalp flakes (Dandruff)

Have you ever wondered what all that white stuff coming off your head is, well it's not a major weather system, it's just dandruff!

  

Dandruff is the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp, it is a common chronic scalp condition marked by flaking of the skin on your scalp.

Although dandruff isn't contagious and is rarely serious, it can be embarrassing and sometimes difficult to treat.

The good news is that dandruff usually can be controlled. Mild cases of dandruff may need nothing more than daily shampooing with a gentle cleanser. More stubborn cases of dandruff often respond to medicated shampoos.

Some people, however, experience an unusually large amount of flaking either chronically or as a result of certain triggers which can also be accompanied by redness and irritation.

Below is a list of natural methods to get rid of scalp flakes, if your dandruff is serious and is not alleviated by these treatments or over-the-counter dandruff shampoo, see a dermatologist.

Method 1 of 23: Recommended Scalp Care

1. 
   1
   Wash your hair regularly, but not obsessively. Dandruff is caused when your scalp sheds dead skin cells. It is not caused by hair itself.

   • The Mayo Clinic recommends washing your hair every day with a dandruff shampoo until the flakes subside, and then continuing to wash your hair with the anti-dandruff shampoo 2-3 times per week.
   • Excessive shampooing, especially with harsher chemicals, such as lauryl sulfate, can irritate the scalp and dry it out, causing more dandruff.
    
2. 
   2
   Give your dandruff shampoo time to work. If you choose to wash your hair with dandruff shampoo, leave the shampoo in for at least 5 minutes before you wash it off. This will give the shampoo time to work.
    
3. 
   3
   To help prevent dandruff, brush your hair after you shower and shampoo.Brushing your hair will help distribute the oil that is naturally occurring in your scalp and hair over the entire surface of your head.^[2]

   • Starting at your scalp, brush outward to help distribute oil from the scalp along your entire head.
    
4. 
   4
   Avoid stress and stressful situations. Stress can cause dandruff^[1], so try to exercise your stress away or deal with your stress in other healthy, effective ways.

   • Eat healthily. What you put into your body has an impact on what your body responds with. An excess of unhealthy foods (fast food, sugary foods, etc.) will often result in skin, scalp and hair problems.
   • Foods rich in zinc and vitamin B6 are particularly important for maintaining healthy hair and scalp.
    

 

 

Method 2 of 23: Yogurt

1. 
   1
   Just wash and rinse your hair, then rub plain yogurt into the scalp, and leave for 10-15 minutes.
    
2. 
   2
   Rinse, then wash again, using as little shampoo as necessary. An infusion of thyme, nettle or sage with 2 tablespoons of vinegar can be used as a final rinse. To make an infusion, fresh or dried herbs can be used in loose or tea-bag form.
    
3. 
   3
   Warm a teapot and put in 1 dessertspoon of herb for each cup required.
    
4. 
   4
   Pour in a cup of boiling water for each cup of tea. Allow to steep for 10-15 minutes, then wash out the yogurt into a dish. Add the remainders for a healthier scalp.
    

 

 

Method 3 of 23: Aspirin

1. 
   1
   Break up two tablets between a thin cloth or napkin. Use a hammer or lightly pound on the aspirin with a cast-iron pan.
    
2. 
   2
   Instead of ingesting the aspirin, add the crushed aspirin-powder to your regular shampoo.
    
3. 
   3
   When shampooing, leave the shampoo in your hair for two minutes before rinsing.
    

 

 

Method 4 of 23: Apple Cider Vinegar

1. 
   1
   Take one part apple cider vinegar and mix it with one part water. Wash your hair normally, then pour vinegar-water mixture carefully onto hair and scrub into your scalp. Take care not to let any get into your eyes. If you have psoriasis or any unhealed scratch or scab, it will burn (if it burns, just rinse the affected area with water).
    
2. 2
   Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with water. The vinegar smell will disappear once your hair is dry.
    
3. 3
   Repeat daily for about a week.
    

 

 

Method 5 of 23: Banana and Vinegar

1. 
   1
   Peel a whole banana. Mix with two cups vinegar.

   • Stir until completely combined. You may want to use a fork or whisk to make a paste.
    
2. 2
   Apply the mixture into hair. Take extra care to massage the mixture into your scalp. Continue for 5-10 minutes or until the mixture covers your hair completely.
    
3. 3
   Leave in for twenty minutes to one hour. Then, rinse the mixture out completely.
    
4. 4
   Repeat every day for one week. Then, you can do this once a week as a preventative treatment.
    

 

 

Method 6 of 23: Baking Soda

1. 
   1
   Replace your shampoo with a handful of baking soda. Baking soda is used in a wide variety of ways, and is reputed to work as a natural dandruff remover.
    
2. 
   2
   Instead of shampooing, rub a heaping tablespoon of baking soda into your wet hair and scalp. Wash thoroughly after one minute.
    
3. 
   3
   Wait for the baking soda to work its magic. After two weeks of your baking soda shampoo, your scalp should begin producing natural oils, leaving the skin on your head moisturized and dandruff-free.
    

 

 

Method 7 of 23: Baking Soda and Vinegar

1. 
   1
   Rinse your hair with cold water - the colder the water is, the better.
    
2. 
   2
   Mix malt vinegar with white wine vinegar at a ratio of 1:1. Then mix this mixture with water at a ratio of 1:1. Make about 70-100ml.
    
3. 
   3
   Once your hair is damp, but not soaked, add this mixture to the top of your head. Work it into your scalp vigorously and work it through your hair. Leave for approximately 5-10 minutes. It will sting a bit after a while but this is just it ridding the dead skin cells that cause dandruff.
    
4. 
   4
   Then rinse with cold water thoroughly. Really clean the scalp vigorously.
    
5. 
   5
   Get half a tablespoon of baking powder. Mix it with 30-40 ml of water into a slight froth.
    
6. 
   6
   Make sure your hair is damp, not soaked, and add this mixture to the top of your head. Work it into your scalp vigorously and work it through your hair. Leave for approximately 3-5 minutes. It will sting a bit. More so than the vinegar and faster, however, this is it just getting rid of the dead skin cells that cause dandruff.
    
7. 
   7
   Rinse with cold water thoroughly. Clean the scalp vigorously.
    
8. 
   8
   Dry your hair with a towel very gently. Let it dry naturally. Once dry, point your head to the floor and work your hands through your hair slowly. Rubbing your hair to get any last of the remaining flakes. Well done, you should now be dandruff free!
    

 

 

Method 8 of 23: Baking Soda and Lemon

1. 
   1
   Mix freshly squeezed lemon juice with baking soda.
    
2. 
   2
   Apply to scalp. Leave for a few minutes.
    
3. 
   3
   When the scalp begins to feel itchy, wash out.
    
4. 
   4
   Rinse hair. Use apple cider vinegar as a conditioner.
    

 

 

Method 9 of 23: Baby Oil

1. 
   1
   Apply baby oil onto scalp. A little bit will go a long way. Massage the scalp but not too roughly.
    
2. 2
   Cover your hair with a towel and leave the baby oil in overnight.
    
3. 3
   Wash with a good anti-dandruff shampoo in the morning. The oil should condition your scalp while you're sleeping.
    

 

 

Method 10 of 23: Egg oil (Eyova)

1. 
   1
   Massage egg oil well into the scalp for 5-10 minutes and leave it on overnight. Egg oil contains:

   • Long chain polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids like Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) which revitalize the follicle cells.
   • Cholesterol which brings luster and shine to hair as well as eliminates dandruff.
    
2. 
   2
   Shampoo off in the morning with a mild, preferably herbal shampoo. Use shampoo only once as repetition (for a foamy feel) removes the natural lipids of hair and scalp making it dry and brittle.
    
3. 
   3
   Use egg oil 2-3 times a week for at least 12 weeks for visible results. Regular, continued use is important for proper nourishment of the follicular cell membranes. #Continue long term massage therapy of egg oil to prevent dandruff recurring.

   • Egg oil is mess free and stable. It is a more convenient alternative to egg yolk masks and does not smell like raw egg yolks or cook in the hair during a hot shower. There is no risk of salmonella which could give you an infection.
    

 

 

Method 11 of 23: Coconut Oil

1. 
   1
   Wash your hair, but do not use any conditioners. Dry your hair after showering. Make sure your hair does not feel silky, it has to feel dry.
    
2. 2
   Put coconut oil on your scalp, try to avoid getting it in the rest of your hair.
    
3. 3
   Wash coconut oil out. Make sure you get it all out. You may have to wash your hair twice to get it out, but once should be fine.
    
4. 4
   Repeat this once weekly until dandruff is gone.
    

 

 

Method 12 of 23: Coconut and Honey Scalp Scrub

1. 
   1
   Mix coconut oil, olive oil, yoghurt and honey together. You'll want your four ingredients to be in a roughly 2:2:3:2 ratio so that they form a paste of medium consistency - smooth, but not so liquid that it will run off of your head. Add more yogurt and honey to thicken as needed.
    
2. 2
   Massage the mixture into your scalp. Spend time spreading the mixture evenly from your roots to the end of your hair. Do this for about 10 minutes. This opens up the pores on your head and promotes blood circulation. Plus, it just plain feels great.
    
3. 3
   Let the rub set for 20 minutes In a high-humidity environment. Try sitting under a steamer as you allow your rub to set. Or, if you don't have have a steamer, let the rub set while you take a hot bath. If you don't have a bathtub, no worries - just allow the rub to set for a little longer (30-45 minutes).
    
4. 4
   Rinse using shampoo until your scalp feels clean. Hop in the shower and wash your hair. Usually, you'll need to shampoo and rinse twice to get all of the rub out of your hair. Don't overdo it - this can strip the scalp of the moisture provided by the rub. Use your daily conditioner for the ends of your hair only.
    
5. 5
   If using a hair dryer, use a low setting. Dry heat, such as that from a hair dryer, can contribute to a flaky, dandruff-y scalp. If you typically style your hair using a blow dryer, blow dry your hair delicately, making sure not to apply too much heat directly to your scalp. Optionally, use a hair straightener to style as you normally would.
    
6. 6
   Finish your hair with a coconut oil sheen. Take four to five drops of coconut oil in the palm of your hand and rub both hands together - this will warm the oil. Run both palms through your hair, transferring the oil onto your hair and scalp. Repeat as needed to cover all of your scalp.
    

 

 

Method 13 of 23: Cedarwood Oil

1. 
   1
   Mix essential oils of cedarwood (seven drops) cypress and juniper (each ten drops) in 50ml of carrier oil.
    
2. 2
   Rub well into the scalp and leave for one hour. To remove, rub neat, mild shampoo into the hair, then wash out with warm water.

   • To keep dandruff at bay, use the same quantities of the oils in 600ml of warm water. Stir well and use as a final rinse.
    

 

 

Method 14 of 23: Tea Tree Oil

1. 
   1
   Get shampoo with tea tree oil and use frequently. Tea tree oil smells fantastic and is a natural antiseptic. Shampoos with at least 5% tea tree oil have been shown to effectively treat dandruff.^[4]
    
2. 2
   Rub the tea tree oil shampoo into your scalp and let sit for 5 minutes.
    
3. 3
   Rinse with water, repeating once per day.
    

 

 

Method 15 of 23: Olive Oil

1. 
   1
   Use olive oil. Apply olive oil before washing your hair. Let it do its stuff for about 5-10 minutes before washing your hair.
    
2. 2
   Before going to bed, apply olive oil once more. You may wish to wrap your head in a towel or cotton cap, or use an old pillowcase to absorb the oil. You should wake up to a dandruff free head.
    

 

 

Method 16 of 23: Neem and Olive Oil

1. 
   1
   Take 2-4 Himalaya neem capsules.
    
2. 2
   Remove the outer cover of capsule. Inside you will find neem powder in a coarse form.
    
3. 3
   Take 4 tablespoons of olive oil or any oil of your choice.
    
4. 4
   Mix the oil and powder. And apply on your scalp. You will feel the itching but that's normal.
    
5. 5
   Keep it for 1 hour to overnight (depends on your choice). Wash with shampoo and conditioner. Repeat as required.
    

 

 

Method 17 of 23: Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds are great for dandruff removal.^{[citation needed]}

1. 
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   Grind one tablespoon of methi seeds roughly. Do this by hand; do not use a mixer.
    
2. 
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   Soak the seeds in two cups of water.
    
3. 
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   Leave this mixture overnight.
    
4. 
   4
   Strain. Use the water as a rinse.
    

 

 

Method 18 of 23: Mouthwash

This is a healthy thing to do to prevent dandruff about once a month.

1. 
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   Mix 1 part mouthwash with 9 parts water. Pour onto hair after the usual hair wash.
    
2. 
   2
   Simply dump the mixture over your head. Then style as normal. Do not rinse out.
    

 

 

Method 19 of 23: Lemon Juice

1. 1
   Apply some lemon juice to your hair and scalp. Distribute it evenly.
    
2. 2
   Give some time to the lemon juice to react, approximately 20-25 minutes. The scalp would itch, but don't worry, this is normal.
    
3. 3
   Wash your hair thoroughly. If required, use shampoo too.
    

 

 

Method 20 of 23: Lemon Juice and Curd

This is also called Nimbu aur Dahi.

1. 1
   Get a bowl of curd and cut a lemon in half.
    
2. 2
   Squeeze the lemon into the curd and mix together. Keep the piece of peel from the lemon.
    
3. 3
   Apply the curd on your hair. Use the peel to apply and rub through with.
    
4. 4
   After the curd is on your hair, massage the scalp with the inside of the lemon skin.
    
5. 5
   Repeat often. Soon you will have no more dandruff.
    
6. 6
   Make sure to shampoo after applying curd, since it usually leaves a very repugnant odour
    

 

 

Method 21 of 23: Egg Yolks

1. 1
   Mix the yolks of 1 to 2 eggs.
    
2. 2
   Apply to a dry head. As much as possible, place it onto just the scalp area.
    
3. 3
   Put a plastic bag over the scalp/hair. Be warned - the egg has a bad smell and it leaks.
    
4. 4
   Leave it on your scalp for 1 hour.
    
5. 5
   Wash thoroughly with a good shampoo. You might have to wash your head twice to take it out.
    

Method 22 of 23: Orange Peel Pack

• Vitamin C and citric acid in oranges help in treating tone and skin texture. Also, orange peel has effective benefits for hair care. The acidic property presents in orange peel can help reduce excess oil. To use orange peel properly for treating dandruff, here are detailed instructions you can follow easily at home:

1. 1
   Mix lemon juice and orange peel in a food processor to make a paste.
    
2. 2
   Apply it to your scalp.
    
3. 3
   Allow to sit for 30 minutes and then rinse it off with a shampoo.
    
4. 4
   Follow this method about 2-3 times a week for expected results.
    

 

 

Method 23 of 23: Fuller Earth

• As you know, fuller earth is very good for your skin care. Also, it works great for your hair and scalp. The cooling effect in fuller earth removes excess oil, soothes the scalp and fights irritation and dandruff.

1. 1
   Make a paste of water and fuller earth and then add lemon juice into it.
    
2. 2
   Apply it on your hair and scalp.
    
3. 3
   Allow it to sit there for about 20 minutes then rinse it off with water.
    

 

We hope these steps help!

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