Itchy head? Dry, flaky scalp? Your crowning glory is under attack! Fight back with proven methods which will not cost an arm and a leg, and is all natural home remedies. Some of the most effective ways to shake the flakes is right there in your kitchen or bathroom!

1. Photo credit slideshare.net

2. Surprisingly Simple Treatment For Dandruff
There are simple home remedies for dandruff (a scalp disorder also known as scurf
or pityriasis simplex capilliti) which can control dandruff and quite easily restore
your hair to its full status of being your crowning glory.
Pityriasis simplex capillitii (commonly known as dandruff) is the shedding of dead
skin cells at a rate much faster than the normal rate at which skin cells are shed.
The normal rate is roughly every 27 days. Dandruff develops in large oily clumps
when shedding takes place at a rate of between 2-7 days.
The exact cause of the scalp condition is not known; other causes of dandruff may
be any of the following:
 Hair not brushed/combed enough: regular brushing/combing assists in
removing the dead skin cells from the scalp
 Dry skin: skin generally is drier during the winter months due to cold air and
heated rooms; these extreme temperatures subsequently are commonly the
cause of itchy and flaky skin. People with dry skin will find that dandruff
flakes are not oily.
 Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disorder which typically
affects the face, scalp and upper body. The disorder presents itself in skin
that is itchy, flaky, scaly and red. People with this skin disorder are very
likely to have dandruff.
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3. How do you get rid of dandruff?
Since dandruff essentially is harmless you do not need a prescription to treat it; the
severity of your dandruff condition may however require a different approach to the
dandruff home remedies discussed in this article…
 Shampoos aren’t all equal. When dandruff persists, even with regular
brushing and shampooing, it may be time to switch to anti dandruff
shampoos. The best over-the-counter anti dandruff shampoos will contain at
least 2 of the following ingredients:
a) Coal tar brings relieve to an itchy head and slows down cell production.
Brand names with coal tar include Alphosyl 2 in 1, Neutrogena T-Gel and
Pentrax. Remove any odor from this type of shampoo by rinsing your hair
with either a conditioner or lemon juice. If you have a sensitive skin, coal tar
shampoo may irritate and inflame hair follicles – rather opt for a milder anti
dandruff shampoo.
b) Ketoconazole is an antifungal agent in anti dandruff shampoo which largely
prevents the growth of fungus. Brings relieve from the itching, flaking and
scaling typically associated with dandruff. Probably the best shampoo for
itchy scalp. Brand names include Nizoral and Nizoral AD shampoos.
c) Salicylic acid is a great ingredient when looking for dry scalp treatment. It
increases the moisture in the skin which softens and loosens scaly skin,
essentially aiding the removal of dead skin cells. Brand names are Salex,
Keralyt Scalp, Selsun Blue Naturals and Neutrogena T/Sal
d) Selenium Sulfide is an anti-infective agent which brings relief from itchy and
dry flaky scalp by removing the dandruff. Brand names which contain selenium
sulfide include Head & Shoulders, Selsun Blue Medicated, Selsun Blue 2-in-1,
Selsun Blue Normal to Oily and Selsun Blue Moisturizing.
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4. Home remedies for dandruff I came across which is more than adequate to
remove dandruff include:
 Apple Cider Vinegar is another way to stop dandruff. Massage 3
tablespoons ACV into your scalp and wait a few minutes. Rinse and wash as
normal.
 Aloe Vera’s antifungal and antibacterial properties makes it great for
dandruff control. Apply either fresh aloe vera juice or aloe vera gel to your
dry hair. Leave on for a few minutes and shampoo with a mild shampoo. To
keep dandruff under control, repeat this home remedy for dandruff twice
daily.
 Baking soda (once again!) to the rescue. A dandruff cure as simple as
wetting your hair and rubbing a handful of baking soda into your scalp
vigorously. Rinse well and dry your hair. This replaces your normal hair
washing routine, so do not use shampoo. Initially your hair may get very
dry; after a few weeks though, your hair will start to produce natural oils
leaving it soft and free of dandruff. If preferred, you can add baking soda to
your regular shampoo and wash as normal.
 Essential oils: mix 7 drops cedar wood oil, 10 drops cypress and 10 drops
juniper essential oils in 50ml carrier oil. Massage into the scalp thoroughly
and leave on for 1 hour. Now rub a mild shampoo into your hair and wash
out with warm water. To prevent dandruff in future, stir the above quantities
of oil into 600ml of warm water and use as a final rinse when you wash your
hair.
 Fenugreek Seeds. Soak 2 tablespoons fenugreek seeds in water overnight.
Grind to a paste in the morning and apply the paste to your scalp. Leave on
for at least 30 minutes and shampoo your hair thoroughly with a mild
shampoo (baby shampoo is ideal). For that extra punch, rinse your hair with
the water in which the seeds were soaked in. For severe dandruff, repeat the
remedy twice a week, otherwise just weekly for about 4 weeks to get rid of
dandruff.
Photo credit finandfarm.co.uk

5.  Lemon juice as an itchy scalp treatment is hard to beat. Lemons contain
acids which get rid of the yeast which causes dandruff. For hair that smells
lemon-fresh with no more itching, do the following daily until your dandruff
clears up: massage 2 tablespoonfuls of lemon juice into your scalp, and then
rinse with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice stirred into a cup of water.
You may also want to consider mixing 4 tablespoons witch hazel with 1
tablespoon water and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a small jar or bottle so
you can store what is left over. Wash your hair as normal. Pour a small
amount into the palm of your hand and massage into your scalp while your
hair is still damp. That’s it.
 Salt is great for getting rid of dandruff flakes before you shampoo. Shake
some salt onto your scalp and start massaging it for a while. Wash out and
shampoo as normal.
 Olive oil, almond oil and coconut oil. Essential oils are generally favored
for many other skin care related problems; no surprise then that it is also
one of the ways to cure dandruff. Heat up your preferred oil until it’s warm
and massage into your dry scalp. Wrap a towel around your head for 30
minutes. Brush/comb out your hair to remove all the flakes and shampoo as
normal. Doing this twice weekly will eventually get rid of dandruff.
 Tea Tree Oil added to your shampoo can effectively treat dandruff. Just add
1 drop TTO for every oz of your regular shampoo. Alternatively, massage a
few drops into your scalp just before you wash your hair.
 Thyme to get rid of dandruff. Add 4 tablespoons dried thyme to 2 cups of
water and boil for 15 minutes. Strain and allow it to cool down. Take some of
the solution and massage into your scalp thoroughly. Wait 5 minutes and
repeat process. Leave the solution on your hair for at least 2 hrs; 3 hours is
better.
Photo credit beauty-hair.yzi.me

6.  White vinegar is one of the best ways to control and treat dandruff. You will
however need patience with this natural dandruff treatment as you may have
to apply it regularly for quite a while in order to obtain desired results; also
every application takes time which means you need to schedule time to do it
properly. Wash your hair with a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water.
Rinse with clean water.
 Yogurt is something I’d rather eat, but here goes…Wash and rinse your hair
as normal. Rub plain yogurt into your scalp and leave on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse your hair and wash with as little shampoo as is really necessary. Rinse,
or prepare an infusion of thyme with 2 tablespoons vinegar for the final rinse.
Hey there, my name is Sonia. I research minor conditions and
illnesses, striving to bring you the best treatment solutions which
won’t cost you an arm and a leg. For the full article with more
treatment for dandruff options, as well as on some of the best
treatment options for a hangover, acne, sore throat, overactive
bladder, canker sores, constipation, morning sickness, toenail
fungus, etc. visit sicknessnhealth.
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