12 Simple Home Remedies For Dandruff That Worked Wonders For Me

Dandruff is not a petty problem that can be ignored. At the same time, it is not so big a problem that it can’t be solved. Before going any further with this post, consider this:

You are all set for your friend’s birthday party. New pants, perfume, a trendy hairstyle, a pair of Jimmy Choos, a Prada handbag, and makeup that makes you look stunning – everything is perfectly fine.
Until you stand before the mirror one last time and run a comb through your hair. That’s it! Little flakes of dandruff fall on your shoulder, and sap both your energy and mood.

Does this strike a note? We bet it does! Dandruff is one of the most commonest (we are using double superlative here) problems in the world, and one of the simplest (double superlative again!) issues that can be treated with amazing ease.

You don’t have to go to a hair specialist or resort to expensive treatments. All that is required is a bit of patience. And you can bid adieu to dandruff.

The Home Remedies

1. Yogurt And Pepper
2. Olive Oil
3. Vinegar
4. Baking Soda
5. Lemon Juice (With Coconut Oil)
6. Aloe Vera
7. Neem
8. Apples
9. Ginger
10. Tea Tree Oil
11. Henna
12. Basil Leaves

1. Yogurt And Pepper

What You Need

• 2 spoons of black pepper
• 1 cup of yogurt

What You Need To Do

1. Take two spoons of black pepper and grind it finely.
2. Add the powder to one cup of yogurt (curd).
3. Mix it completely and apply to the scalp.
4. Leave it on for an hour and then rinse. Use a mild shampoo after that.

When You Need To Do This

You can try this in the morning before bath.

Why This Works

The yeast within our bodies triggers inflammation. This results in the build-up of yeast on the skin. Boosting friendly bacteria inside our digestive systems can reduce the yeast within our bodies. Yogurt is one of the best sources of friendly bacteria, and it prevents scaling of the scalp (1). Pepper has antifungal properties (2).

Caution

Ensure that you use fresh yogurt and pepper. Otherwise, you might not get the desired results.

2. Olive Oil

What You Need

• A small amount of olive oil

What You Need To Do

1. Warm the olive oil and massage your scalp with it before going to bed. This is because warm olive oil has a better consistency and can be more effective in treating dandruff.
2. Cleanse your hair with a mild shampoo the next morning.

When You Need To Do This

Every night before going to bed.

Why This Works

There are two ways in which olive oil can cure dandruff. One, olive oil moisturizes the dry areas of the scalp and prevents them from flaking. Two, olive oil can soak into the thick and scaly areas of the scalp and cause continuous dandruff issues. Due to this, the scaly areas fall away as one large piece instead of separate flakes. This helps put an end to dandruff as the affected spot can finally heal.

Caution

Make sure you cover your head with a cotton wrap (to prevent your oily hair from attracting dust). Also, ensure the olive oil is just warm and not too hot.

3. Vinegar

What You Need

• 2 cups of vinegar
• 1 cup of water

What You Need To Do

1. Boil the two cups of vinegar and let it cool. Mix one-eighth of it with a cup of water.
2. You can then use this mixture to massage your scalp.
3. Shampoo your hair.
4. You can also add one tablespoon of vinegar to the last mug of water while washing your hair.

When You Need To Do This

In the morning, before shampooing your hair.

Why This Works

Vinegar is capable of killing scalp fungus and bacteria. It also helps in treating dry skin and reducing dandruff not caused by fungus. The acid content in vinegar reduces the itchiness of the scalp and drastically brings down flaking.

Caution

Ensure the vinegar doesn’t get into your eyes as it is acidic and might irritate your eyes.

4. Baking Soda

What You Need

• 1 teaspoon of baking soda

What You Need To Do

1. Add one teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo and wash your hair as usual.
2. The flakes stuck to your scalp should get removed mostly with just a single wash.

When You Need To Do This

In the morning, while taking a bath.

Why This Works

Baking soda is known to reduce overactive fungi that can cause dandruff.
The baking soda scrub is a mild exfoliant that helps remove dead skin. Excess oil on the scalp (another reason for dandruff) can also be reduced with the help of baking soda.

Caution

Remember not to leave baking soda on your hair for a long time. Doing so might dry out your hair.

5. Lemon Juice (With Coconut Oil)

What You Need

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 5 teaspoons coconut oil

What You Need To Do

1. Mix one part lemon juice with five parts coconut oil.
2. Apply the mixture gently to your scalp and leave it on for about half an hour.
3. Wash using a mild shampoo.

When You Need To Do This

In the morning, while taking a bath.

Why This Works

One cause of dandruff is the imbalance in the pH levels of the scalp. The acidity of lemon juice helps in balancing the pH levels of the scalp, thereby keeping dandruff at bay. Coconut oil contains conditioning agents and antibacterial properties, and these can make your hair stronger.

Caution

If you have any minor cuts or wounds on your scalp, refrain from trying this remedy. Lemon juice is acidic in nature and can aggravate them. Also, make it a point to use only fresh lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice can have artificial ingredients that might not give you the desired results (or cause harm).

6. Aloe Vera

What You Need

• A small amount of aloe vera gel

What You Need To Do

1. Collect the aloe vera gel that is directly obtained from the plant and apply it to your scalp.
2. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then rinse using a mild shampoo.

When You Need To Do This

In the morning, while taking bath. Do this regularly for the best results.

Why This Works

Aloe vera has natural antibacterial and fungicidal properties. It also has proteolytic enzyme characteristics, which means it can break down proteins, including dead skin cells. This quality of aloe vera helps it to act as an exfoliant and removes the dead skin so that it doesn’t appear later as dandruff.

7. Neem

What You Need

• A few neem leaves

What You Need To Do

1. Boil neem leaves for about half an hour. Make a paste and apply it to your scalp.
2. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then wash off with water.

When You Need To Do This

You can try this in the morning, before taking bath.

Why This Works

Neem has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

8. Apples

What You Need

• 2 tablespoons of apple juice
• 2 tablespoons of water

What You Need To Do

1. Add two tablespoons of apple juice to an equal amount of water and apply the mixture to your scalp.
2. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, after which you can wash your scalp with a mild shampoo.

When You Need To Do This

In the morning, while taking bath.

Why This Works

Unripe apples contain Procyanidin B-2, a natural compound that has been found to promote hair growth (8). Since untreated dandruff ultimately leads to hair fall, apples do play a role in keeping your hair healthy.

Caution

Ensure you don’t add too much water to the apple juice. This can reduce the concentration of the juice, and you might not get the desired results.

9. Ginger

What You Need

• A small amount of ginger
• 4 ounces of sesame oil

What You Need To Do

1. Peel the ginger and grate it.
2. Transfer the sesame oil to a small cup.
3. Squeeze the ginger in a cheesecloth to get the oil.
4. Mix the ginger oil and sesame oil.
5. Massage your scalp gently with the mixture.
6. Leave it on for some time, and then wash it with a mild shampoo.

When You Need To Do This

You can try this in the morning while taking bath.

Why This Works

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can also stimulate hair growth. The active components of ginger, like volatile oils, help prevent dandruff.

10. Tea Tree Oil

What You Need

• A small amount of tea tree oil

What You Need To Do

1. Massage your scalp with the oil for a few minutes.
2. Shampoo your hair as usual.

When You Need To Do This

In the morning, while taking bath.

Why This Works

Tea tree oil originates from an Australian tree and is known for its antifungal properties. In one study, participants who used five percent tea tree oil shampoo for four weeks saw a 41 percent reduction in dandruff, whereas those who used shampoo alone showed an 11 percent reduction (10). Tea tree oil has also been found to work as an antiseptic.

11. Henna

What You Need

• A teaspoon each of henna, amla powder, tea powder, lemon juice, and hair oil (preferably coconut oil)

What You Need To Do

1. Mix all the ingredients in a cup till you get a paste.
2. Apply the paste thoroughly to the scalp and leave it on for a few minutes.
3. Wash with a mild shampoo.

When You Need To Do This

In the morning while taking bath.

Why This Works

The dried leaves of henna are extensively used in treating many hair conditions, including dandruff. Active constituents of henna like tannic and gallic acid, lawsone, and mucilage play a major role in henna’s dyeing effect.

Henna has the ability to bind to the keratin in the hair, which creates a protective layer and relieves one from scalp irritation. It also reduces the oiliness of the scalp and acts as a conditioner. This property of henna helps reduce dandruff.

12. Basil Leaves

What You Need

• A few basil leaves
• 2 teaspoons of amla powder
• 2 teaspoons of water

What You Need To Do

1. Mix all the ingredients till you get a smooth paste.
2. Apply the paste meticulously to your scalp and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
3. Rinse your hair with fresh water.

When You Need To Do This

In the morning before taking bath.

Why This Works

Basil leaves are one of the many natural ingredients that can cure dandruff. Known for their extensive antibacterial and antifungal properties, they help treat dandruff and also improve the strength of the scalp (13).

As already stated, dandruff is not an unsolvable problem. The simple and natural ingredients found in our homes are very effective in curing dandruff and stopping it from recurring.

We don’t think you would be worried about dandruff anymore, would you?

Hope you liked this post highlighting the simple yet effective home remedies for dandruff. Share your experiences in the comments section given below. We would love to hear from you.