Dandruff & Dry Hair Home Remedies

Apr 8, 2010 | By Holly L. Roberts

People often associate dry hair with dandruff, but the two are only sometimes related, according to the Mayo Clinic. When dry skin on your scalp causes dandruff, the dandruff is usually smaller and not as oily as more common forms of dandruff, which are caused by fungus, infection or allergic reaction. If dandruff is an ongoing problem, your doctor can recommend a special shampoo to treat it, but if your dandruff is caused by lack of moisture, you can often treat it successfully at home.

Baking Soda Massage

Vigorously massaging a palm-sized handful of dry baking soda into your scalp is a dandruff home remedy recommended by the Los Angeles County's Clean LA program. Baking soda works like a super-gentle exfoliant to scrub away dry, flaking skin, leaving new skin cells in its place. Because baking soda soothes minor skin irritations, using baking soda to treat dandruff can also help with the itching and discomfort dandruff causes. Be sure to rinse the baking soda completely out of your hair.

Hot Oil Treatment

Restore moisture to your hair and your scalp with a hot oil treatment. Warm a cup or two of olive oil for a few seconds in the microwave, and rub the warm oil into your hair and scalp. Seal it with a shower cap and let the mixture soak in for about 20 minutes. While the olive oil soothes and hydrates the delicate skin on your scalp, it also coats your hair, sealing moisture and protecting it from further environmental dehydration.

Tea Tree Oil Treatment

Tea tree oil has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that may help relieve itchiness and discomfort caused by dry skin and dandruff, according to the Mayo Clinic. As an added plus, tea tree oil can help open clogged hair follicles in your scalp, making it easier for the oil produced by your sebaceous glands to hydrate and repair dry hair. Some people have allergic reactions to tea tree oil, so try a test patch to check for allergies before you apply it to your whole head.