I am sure there is nobody with hair who has not faced dandruff occasionally. It may be seasonal or due to lack of haircare but we all have dealt with it. And just like some people in our lives who never leave, dandruff is that pest that keeps coming back! So today we are discussing some natural DIYs and some products you can use to reduce dandruff while doing your haircare! Dry scalp is a way of life for us naturally curly girls. Most days, it appears that no matter how much or how little we wash our hair, our scalps become flaky. Thankfully, our curls are very good at hiding these flakes (at least until they fall all over black clothes), but there are far better ways to treat dry scalp for curly hair than simply putting it up in a bun, trying not to scratch, and hoping for the best.
What causes dandruff?
- Irritated and oily scalp
- Not maintaining a clean hygiene and not shampooing enough, as it causes skin cells to accumulate and create flakes and itching
- A reaction of our immune system to a type of yeast that lives on the skin called a Malassezia globosa
- Hormonal issues may be involved because dandruff is most found after puberty in young adults
- Hormonal change or stress
- Using a common comb or hair towel causes unhygienic scalp
- Unhealthy dietary intake
Pro tip for curlies:
Prepoo: Before shampooing, saturate your curls and scalp with your favorite natural oil (think avocado, coconut, or olive oil). Allow the prepoo to sit for 20-30 minutes before shampooing. Prepooing will detangle your curls, moisturize your dry or dehydrated scalp, and restore shine to your curls.
Ways to treat dandruff at home:
- Using the right hair products: Look for hair and scalp products that help you manage your scalp and hair condition best. Luckily, treating dandruff and treating flakes, itching and dryness is easy – Just use our Anti-Dandruff Herbal Shampoo made with the best ingredients like Shikakai, Lavender, Hibiscus, and powerful Artha.
- Tea tree oil- this essential oil is such a savior; its anti-bacterial properties help reduce dandruff causing fungus from the scalp.
How to- Mix a few drops of oil with almond or jojoba oil and massage on scalp. Let it sit for 30 mins and then wash off with our anti-dandruff shampoo!
- ACV Rinse- we have an entire blog on this topic and the immense benefits of it too! Check that out to know how to reduce dandruff with ACV!
- Aloe vera - It mildly exfoliates the skin and has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It is best to directly extract some from the aloe vera plant for easy access, we also have our organic aloe vera gel that can be used in multiple ways. Check our blog on Aloe vera gel to know more about it!
- Usage of hats and other head gear: Anything that helps you cover your head is likely to save some of that oil build-up from happening. Put on a hat, a scarf or a hoodie when heading out.
- Lemon- Lemon's harsh astringent acids appear to break down the fungus, leaving your scalp clean and fresh. Squeeze the juice into a bowl and rub it on the areas that are itchy the most. Rinse and shampoo your hair as usual.
- Scalp Scrub– Olive Oil+ Sugar – this helps to exfoliate the dead skin cells from the scalp. Just scrub it onto your scalp before shampooing and rinse off well after a few minutes. You can also use a shampoo/scalp brush to exfoliate.
Chemicals that work against dandruff:
Special anti-fungal and anti-microbial ingredients in the shampoo, like zinc pyrithione, selenium disulfide, sulfur, salicylic acid, ketoconazole, hydrocortisone and tar are highly effective in clearing out dandruff and stop the growth of the yeast.
They also aid in the removal of oil and product buildup and provide a thorough cleansing of the scalp. So, look for shampoos that contain any of the above-mentioned ingredients—most medicated shampoos contain one or the other as an Active Ingredient.
We always wish for the best for your curls and it’s about time we remove that dandruff for the better! Here are the links for our supper effective and naturally made anti-dandruff shampoo and anti-dryness shampoo. It may take you a while to get rid of your dandruff but don’t loose heart. You will gradually see progress and change. Stick to a good hair routine and healthy diet, you can also do some DIY’s that work magic. Let us know in comments if you have any comments! Happy Curling!
