Having a case of dandruff can make it feel like you’re living a nightmare. Constantly worried whether there are flakes on your shoulders or if anybody is looking while you scratch your head. It’s not an easy condition to live with and can make your hunt for a solution on how to remove dandruff quickly.
But what is dandruff?
This is a common condition that affects almost half of the people in the world. The main factors in this are excessive oil build-up and a naturally occurring fungus.
A build-up of oil or sebum on your scalp can be quite routine. It can happen due to excessive secretion by your oil glands or poor hygiene preventing the flow down your hair strands. This accumulation of oil is an ideal serving for the fungus, known as Malassezia Globosa.
The fungus breaks down the oil or sebum into fatty acids. If you’re part of the population that is sensitive to this process, your body will react and try to get rid of the perceived irritant. It triggers a build-up of dead skin cells at the point of irritation, which falls out as white-yellow flakes.
The usual symptoms of dandruff are:
- Oily flakes of dead skin cells
- Redness or scaling
- Mild to severe itching
- Oiliness on the scalp
How to get rid of dandruff?
The good news is that there are various dandruff home remedies to choose from. Because of the sheer number of people who suffer from this ailment, various concoctions have been created to use as a dandruff treatment at home. Here are some:
Neem – This comes highly recommended by grandmothers across the Indian subcontinent, being considered a natural defense against dandruff. Neem has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, which help in the fight against dandruff-causing germs. It also has healing properties and can fight infections. Boil neem in water or carrier oil and apply it to your hair, or create your own hair mask. You can also use dandruff removal shampoos like the Head and Shoulders Neem, which protects from dandruff, germs, and bacteria.
Tea tree oil – Made from a small tree found in Australia, it gets the name for its unique tea-like fragrance. It is an effective way how to remove dandruff, mainly due to the effect it has on fungi and germs. It is also moisturizing in nature and can help regulate the amount of sebum on your scalp, unclog pores, and reduce inflammation. Always dilute tea tree oil before use. You can add a few drops to your existing shampoo, add it to a carrier oil, or create your own hair mask.
Fenugreek seeds – You wouldn’t necessarily think of methi or fenugreek seeds as a dandruff solution, but it has shown positive results when trying to fight dandruff. It has strong antioxidant, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory characteristics, with the consumption of methi even helping to regulate hormones. Try and see if this might work for you. The general application involves making a paste out of soaked fenugreek seeds. You can either apply it directly or make a hair mask with lemon juice, neem, aloe vera, etc.
Green Tea – Extremely healthy for you to drink, you can even pour this onto your head. Green tea contains catechins that are helpful in soothing the irritation on your scalp while regulating the amount of oil that is present. It also has astringent properties that can regulate oil production by tightening the pores. Use cooled green tea as a rinse or make a hair mask with ingredients like honey, lemon, apple cider vinegar, or aloe vera.
Apple cider vinegar – A staple in many salads, this kitchen ingredient might answer your question on how to reduce dandruff. It can attack the dandruff fungus, while its acidic nature can help balance your pH levels. It is also said to soothe any itching and reduce inflammation. When using apple cider vinegar, it is important to dilute it. You can even add it to your shampoo or create a hair mask.
Coconut oil – This might make sense for a dry scalp more than an oily one, but coconut oil has been shown to affect dandruff levels. It has certain anti-microbial properties, but the main benefit is in reducing inflammation and regulating oil levels. You might want to try other carrier oils like Argan oil, which has also been used for dandruff treatment. Apply these directly onto your scalp or create hair masks with lemon juice, aloe vera, or tea tree oil.
Curd – Often recommended in diets as a way to cool the system, curd can work on your head as well. It can calm and soothe down any dandruff itching, with anti-bacterial properties helping in the fight against dandruff. It also contains fatty acids that help to moisturize your scalp and hair. Apply curd directly onto the scalp or add either honey, olive oil, aloe vera, or neem to it.
Lemon – Packed with Vitamin C, lemon juice brings an acidic nature back to your scalp. It can reduce the itching on your scalp, break any oil build-up, fight the fungus, and balance out your pH levels. This makes it an effective dandruff treatment at home, easily available to everyone. Apply diluted lemon juice to your head and wash after. Or you can also create a hair mask.
These are just a few of the various methods on how to remove dandruff from your scalp. You can also try ginger, amla, aloe vera, garlic, eggs, etc. But always be careful, as these might affect different people in different ways. Conduct a patch test and see if there’s any reaction.
