Hair Dandruff – Reasons & Treatments

White or light grey powder like substance seen in hair, neck and often in your dress is enough to give headache to all. That’s dandruff, and this hair’s villain is not easy to catch. There are many reasons behind dandruff. If you are able to find those reasons, you can easily rid of dandruff. Hair care is of great importance to keep dandruff at bay. Here are a few important points to note.

1. Certain glands of skin produce oil which gives natural oily appearance to skin. It’s applicable to scalp also. When natural oil is produced by glands present in scalp, it easily attracts oil and scalp giving dandruff. Dandruff can be both oily and dry nature.

2. Scale like dandruff is formed as a result of infections, it affects the natural growth of hair and slowly hair loss starts.

3. If you regularly use helmet, dandruff may appear. Head gets heated easily while wearing helmet, and when seat, dirt and dust get deposited in scalp, dandruff appears. Dirt deposits can also result in fungal infection resulting in hair loss. Daily hair wash is the easy remedy. Use some mild shampoo too.

4. Hair gels can also invite dandruff. Gels with chemical substances may reduce the natural moisture of hair and make it dry. If so, hair may easily break or fall. Never apply gels directly in scalp. Only apply in hair, so that hair roots should not absorb the chemicals. Absorbed chemicals can get deposited in hair pores resulting in infection, dandruff and hair loss. After use, gels should be completely washed off from hair.

5. If you have scale like dandruff in your hair, hot oil massage is the easy remedy. Use a mild shampoo to wash hair later.

6. Never apply shampoo directly on hair. Instead mix it with water before use. Also use a conditioner after shampoo, to retain the moisture lost through shampoo wash. Never apply conditioner on scalp.  

6. During monsoon season, hair retains more moisture. It also results in dandruff, itching and other discomforts.

Natural remedies and treatments for dandruff

Anti-dandruff shampoos with chemical content are readily available in market. But they won’t completely rid of dandruff, and they can easily damage hair through regular use. Instead try some natural methods like green gram powder and hibiscus leaves. A few more natural remedies for dandruff are listed here.

1. Extract juice from half portion of lemon and mix it with 1 cup water. Apply on scalp and hair and wash it later.

2. Aloe Vera gel prepared through smashing or grinding in a mixer can be applied on scalp. Wash off after 15 minutes.

3. Make a fine paste of leaves and flowers of hibiscus, along with a few mint or basil leaves. Apply on scalp and wash after sometime.

4. Take some Phyllanthus niruri (keezharnelli in Malayalam), crush it and apply on scalp for some time before bath. You can do it on a daily basis for better results.

5. Soak 2 spoons of fenugreek seeds and make a fine paste. Otherwise mix some fenugreek powder with rice starch or curd to prepare a paste. Apply on scalp and wash it later. You can also mix fenugreek paste with one egg and apply on head. Massage and wash it off using some mild shampoo after 30 minutes.

6. Take a handful of neem leaves, make a fine paste and apply on scalp. Wash off after 15 minutes. You can also boil a few neem leaves in water and when it cools, use for hair wash and scalp. Another method is to mix neem paste with a big spoon of honey, and apply on head. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

7. Make a fine paste of onion or shallots without adding water. Squeeze its juice and apply on scalp and hair. Wash off after 15 minutes.

8. Apply yellow yolk on scalp and hair. Wash off after half an hour using shampoo.

9. Palayankodan (a small type) banana can be smashed well and apply on scalp. Later wash it off.

10. Once in a week apply coconut milk on hair. Do henna once in a month.

11. Apply warm olive oil on scalp and bath after some time.

12. Apply sour curd on scalp a few minutes before bath. Wash it well. 

13. Take juice from lemon and gooseberry in equal proportion and mix well. Apply on scalp and bath after 10 minutes. 

14. Take 2 big spoons of coconut milk and add a pinch of pepper powder. Apply on scalp and wash after 10 minutes. 

15. Make a fine paste of Koovalam leaves (Aegle marmelos), apply on scalp and wash after 30 minutes. 

16. Add 1/4 cup smashed papaya to half cup curd. Apply it on hair and wash it off after 30 minutes. It’s effective for dandruff, it cleans scalp and improves hair growth.

17. Take 4 big spoons of coconut oil or olive oil. Add 5 drops of tea tree oil, and massage your hair and scalp. After 10 minutes, wash your head using lukewarm water.

Image source: Pixabay

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