Dandruff is prevalent in the human race and found almost everywhere. It can be unsightly and sometimes downright embarrassing, irritating, itchy or even smelly.
Most of us have seen or experienced dandruff in the form of visible flakes which can vary in color from white to yellow, which of course does not look very appealing.
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What causes dandruff?
Causes can vary from a skin condition that you have, the over-production of dead skin cells, a fungus, not shampooing enough (some people argue against this), too much shampooing, using the wrong shampoo and more.
Dandruff could also be caused by a dry scalp, but some people suggest that this is not true.
The treatment you choose and the one that will work for you will depend on the cause and whether your skin is dry or oily.
Have you tried the latest anti-dandruff shampoo? Did it work? Probably not.
Let’s have a look at the 6 best ways to get rid of dandruff fast and naturally.
1.) If You Want to Remove Dandruff Fast, Start With Coconut Oil
If your scalp is really dry and your dandruff consists of small flakes, then this is the best way to move forward.
Coconut oil is so versatile and literally one of nature’s wonder foods. It can be used to remove acne, increase hair growth, reduce stretch marks, rejuvenate the skin, remove styes, for oil pulling and more. Coconut oil can also be used orally to address various health issues in your body.
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Since your skin is dry, it makes sense to put some oil onto your skin and what better oil to use than coconut oil. Only use pure cold pressed virgin coconut oil.
While researching this, it came up again and again and was mentioned by many people who have achieved good results with it. Liberally apply it to your scalp and leave overnight. Then wash your hair. Put on a shower cap to prevent the oil from smearing your pillow.
You could also try olive oil, a little bit of tea tree oil (short periods only) and Neem oil (not too liberal; mix a little bit with coconut oil), which is also said to get rid of dandruff fast.
2.) Garlic and Lemon Juice as a Way to Get Rid of Dandruff
Garlic and lemon juice to remove dandruff? Both have been tested and used with success by some people. Garlic has antifungal properties that will help you to get rid of dandruff naturally.
Garlic can also be taken orally (must be freshly crushed garlic) and has many other health benefits apart from fighting dandruff.
Mix two parts (2 tablespoons) garlic with one part (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice to make a paste. Then apply to your hair for about 40 minutes and wash it off with a natural shampoo. Do it daily until you see results.
You can use dry garlic powder to make the paste, but it is preferable that you use freshly crushed garlic.
Leave the crushed ground garlic for about 15-20 minutes before mixing it with the lemon juice, just to give it a chance to produce more anti-fungal allicin, which is only produced once garlic is crushed. The finer the better.
Watch out for the lemon juice. If you have a sensitive skin, it can burn your skin or cause irritation or redness. Test a little bit of it on your skin. If you find that it is too strong for you, dilute it or otherwise cut it out completely and only use the crushed garlic.
Some people are also allergic to garlic and it should not be used during pregnancy. Then of course, you also have that pungent smell.
Lemon juice is also used for a variety of other treatments such as reducing zits, being helpful for stretch marks, treating headaches and removing pimple scars.
3.) Baking Soda as an Effective Remedy for Dandruff
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is another DIY method recommended for an oily scalp, since it helps remove excess oil and also helps in removing dead skin.
The quickest way to do this is to by wetting your hand, adding a little bit of baking soda and then massaging your scalp with it on a daily basis. You could also mix 1 table spoon into a cup of lukewarm water to dissolve it quicker. Then wash your hair with this mixture by massaging the scalp. Rinse with water.
Baking soda can also be used to treat pimples and is also very effective for blackheads and whiteheads.
4.) Use Apple Cider Vinegar?
Yes, because apple cider vinegar (ACV) also contains antifungal ingredients. Various people use different recipes to apply apple cider vinegar to the hair, mostly diluting it and sometimes by using a spray bottle to apply it.
Home remedies like this is recommended if you have an oily scalp, since it will dry out your skin. Not recommended for a dry skin or scalp.
Be very careful of the side effects though. It can cause stinging, burning and possibly damage your hair.
I am very hesitant in recommending this due to the side effects, but since it’s working for so many people, I could not leave it out. Apple cider vinegar will also leave a strong smell, which can be difficult to get rid of.
Please use your own discernment before using this remedy. Most people would be fine, but if you have a sensitive skin, be wary. Test a little bit on your skin first, to see the effects.
If you want to get rid of dandruff fast and when you have a severe case of dandruff, then there is no time to play around with dilution.
Take pure apple cider vinegar, apply and massage into your scalp and sleep with it overnight. Use a shower cap after applying it. In the morning, wash your hair with natural shampoo. Do this daily until you see results. The results should be fast.
If you are concerned about the side effects, you can dilute the apple cider vinegar with 3 parts of water to one part of apple cider vinegar… or dilute it even more if you wish.
5.) Have a Look at What You are Eating
Have you been eating and consuming a lot of dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and cream lately? Try stopping that for a few days and see what happens.
- Also avoid junk food and sugar.
- Take zinc supplements to control oil (sebum) production from the skin. Zinc supplements are also good for acne, very effective to reduce and remove stretch marks and also helps with blackheads.
- Get more Vitamin B6 into your diet – Get it from apples, bananas, chicken, sardines, spinach and other foods.
6.) Other Tips and Tricks
- A dry scalp or skin could be caused by showering in water that is too hot for your skin. Lower the temperature of your shower water.
- Comb your hair regularly to get rid of dead skin cells.
- Try to cut back on the amount of times you wash and shampoo your hair. If you shampoo daily, then try it every second day, but don’t cut out washing your hair altogether.
- Stress can also be the cause of skin problems, so consider it as a factor if you stress too much.
- If you still want to use shampoo, try a sulfate free shampoo.
- Try not to use any commercial shampoos. They contain too many chemicals that can be bad for you.
- Try a natural shampoo made with baking soda (add 1 table spoon to 8 oz.’s (236.6 ml) of water), instead of using commercial shampoo that contains a lot of chemicals. Then use apple cider vinegar as a conditioner.
- Oat meal, green tea, raw egg and Aloe Vera can also help with dandruff.
If you want to get rid of dandruff fast and permanently, some of the natural ways listed here could do the trick for you.
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