A combination of excess skin oil production and the yeast Pityrosporum ovale, or Malassezia furfur, can lead to scalp itchiness and white dandruff flakes. Numerous commercial dandruff shampoos exist, but some may contain ingredients you'd rather not apply to your skin. If you suspect ingredients in commercial shampoos might irritate your scalp, natural treatments provide an alternative way to control your dandruff. These methods allow you to treat your dandruff both topically and through diet.
Step 1
Make your own natural antidandruff shampoo by blending eight drops tea tree oil and 12 drops each lavender and eucalyptus oils into 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, recommends makeup artist Amy Dillon. Combine 50 ml, or 1/4 cup, water with 50 ml liquid castile soap or organic shampoo and add this to the vinegar-oil blend. Alternatively, buy a natural shampoo containing burdock root, chamomile flowers, rosemary or thyme.
Step 2
Shampoo vigorously at least every other day. Scrub your scalp with your fingertips for five minutes to loosen and remove flakes. Rinse well to remove all traces of shampoo.
Step 3
Apply an herbal hair rinse after rinsing the shampoo from your hair. To make a rinse, add 1/4 cup dried rosemary or lavender to 2 cups boiling hot water and steep until the water is lukewarm, then strain out the herbs. Pour the infusion onto your head, massage it into your scalp and wait 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Step 4
Apply dandruff-controlling essential oils after washing and drying your hair, suggests MotherNature.com. Pour three to four drops each rosemary and lemon essential oils onto your palms and work the oils into your scalp with your hands. Brush your hair to further spread the oils.
Step 5
Follow a healthy diet to help reduce your dandruff. Eat plenty of foods rich in B vitamins, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids, suggests Penn State University. Cut back on foods high in sugar, yeast, saturated fats and trans fats, which may encourage flaking or excess skin oil production.
Things You'll Need
- Liquid castile soap
- Apple cider vinegar
- Tea tree oil essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Lemon essential oil
- 1/4 cup dried rosemary or lavender
