Does your head feel incessantly itchy? Has your black shirt been plagued with white speckles falling from your scalp? You might be suffering from a dry and flaky scalp.
Sometimes even the priciest anti-dandruff shampoo fails at getting rid of this problem. In fact, sometimes using the wrong shampoo can lead to an even drier, flakier scalp.
Seborrheic dermatitis, aka dandruff, is the most common condition that causes a dry and flaky scalp. Auto-immune conditions like psoriasis or eczema can also lead to an itchy and flaky scalp. Other contributing factors can be hard water, excessive use of styling products and equipment, fungal or bacterial infections, poor hygiene or allergies. (1)
But you need not to lose hope yet. Making small changes in your hair care regimen and taking the aid of some natural nourishing agents can help you deal with this condition in no time.
Contents
We bring you the best eight home remedies for a dry, flaky scalp that work.
Moisturizing your scalp is the first step in treating the dryness and stopping the skin from flaking. Rich in fatty acids, olive oil is a quick fix for all your hair issues. EVOO easily penetrates your scalp and nourishes it. Also, the antioxidants in the oil counter the free radical activity that may be affecting your scalp. (2)
You can add honey and glycerin to the olive oil for extra hydration. Despite being a thick fluid, honey does not clog your hair follicles. Its antibacterial nature also helps disinfect the scalp. Both glycerin and honey work as humectants to draw in moisture and seal it into your scalp.
Things you’ll need:
Apply this blend 1 or 2 times a week for 2 to 3 weeks to treat your dry, flaky scalp. Once your scalp condition improves, reduce it to once a week, then once a month as a deep conditioning treatment.
If the reason for your dry and flaky scalp is a fungal infection like seborrheic dermatitis or a bacterial infection, nothing can work better than tea tree essential oil. The volatile oil has potent antimicrobial properties that can manage infections on the scalp. (3)
Put 1 cup of water and 4 or 5 drops of tea tree essential oil in a spray bottle.
Use this remedy for at least 7 to 10 days to treat a dry, flaky scalp.
Jojoba oil is another enriching oil that does wonders for your scalp and hair. Its fatty acids help moisturize your scalp and hair follicles. It is also rich in vitamins E, B, and C as well as minerals like zinc and copper that help maintain a healthy scalp. As a bonus, it will boost your hair growth.
Apply jojoba oil 2 or 3 times every week for 2 to 3 weeks to control the dryness of your scalp.
The ‘miracle plant,’ aloe vera can also be used to relieve a dry and itchy scalp. The clear gel derived from the leaves helps cool the scalp and controls the itchiness. Its antimicrobial properties also take care of any bacterial or fungal growth. (4)
Plus, aloe vera helps unclog hair follicles to boost hair growth and its nutrients strengthen hair.
You can either extract fresh gel from aloe vera leaves or buy the gel. Fresh gel certainly works better.
You can also check out ways to use aloe vera to condition your hair.
Each time you wash your hair, use this home remedy for a dry, flaky scalp in 2 to 3 weeks.
We often underestimate the power of natural herbs, but when used in the right proportions and combinations, they can give commercial products a run for their money. A mix of chamomile, rosemary, and nettle leaves concocted into an herbal rinse can bring immense relief from your dry, flaky scalp.
Dried chamomile flowers are famous for their anti-inflammatory properties. The nettle leaves combat hair loss, a common side effect of a dry scalp. The rosemary improves blood circulation in the scalp and also boosts hair growth.
This rinse also uses apple cider vinegar that further disinfects the scalp, and its enzymes normalize the pH of the scalp to curb the itchiness.
Things you’ll need:
Prepare and use this hair rinse each time you wash your hair. Your dry and flaky scalp should be gone in about 1 month.
Slathering your hair with mayonnaise may sound absurd, but this condiment can be used to deeply condition your dry scalp and hair. Primarily made of egg yolks, oil and vinegar, mayonnaise is an effective lice treatment too.
The oil in it moisturizes the scalp to deal with the flakiness, the egg provides proteins (the building blocks of your hair), and the vinegar helps cleanse clogged follicles. Vinegar also helps neutralize the pH of the scalp, which can also be the reason your scalp is dry.
Use a clean hair-dye brush to coat your hair and scalp completely with mayonnaise.
Use this remedy once a week to treat your dry, flaky scalp in 4 to 6 weeks.
A simple apple cider vinegar rinse can leave your hair soft and shiny. Apple cider vinegar is loaded with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory enzymes that can get rid of conditions like dandruff, dry or itchy scalp, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis.
Use this rinse first each time you wash your hair as a home remedy for dry, flaky scalp until you get relief.
Coconut oil has a number of benefits to add in your hair care regime. Extra-virgin coconut oil is the best because it is extremely light and easily penetrates your scalp.
Just like olive oil, coconut oil contains nourishing fatty acids that deeply moisturize the scalp and hair follicles to reduce the itching almost instantly. It is also antibacterial and antifungal and will keep scalp infections at bay.
Massage your scalp with coconut oil 2 or 3 times a week to prevent or treat a dry, flaky scalp.
Resources:
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