Tips on how to treat dandruff at Home
1. Why does dandruff occur?
2. Dandruff treatments at home
Your beauty arsenal might be stacked with everything you need when an emergency comes knocking. But are you prepared for the flakes that suddenly start falling off your scalp and sit comfortably on your shoulders? Also, what about the constant itching that threatens your self-control? If your answer is ‘no’, then even the slightest itch in your scalp will make you hit the panic button.
If you don’t have dandruff, it’s great! But if at all it does come, we want you to be prepared. If you always had these pesky flakes pestering you, some incredible dandruff treatments can solve your dandruff problem, and give you gorgeous, healthy hair. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Before we dive deep into how to treat dandruff, let’s look at what causes it in the first place.
Why does dandruff occur?
“Why does dandruff occur?” is perhaps the most-asked question. But we are sure, you won’t be thrilled to know what causes it. It has nothing to do with your hair or how many times you wash it. It is caused by a microbe (yeast) called Malassezia globosa. And you aren’t the only one with this yeast nestled in your scalp. Though it sounds gross to have a microbe living on your scalp, it is harmless. Usually, it feeds on sebum (natural oils), breaking it down into by-products, like oleic acid. It is this by-product that irritates the scalp and triggers dandruff. So, if you see flakes appearing on your scalp, you know what’s causing it. However, not everyone reacts to by-products.
Dandruff treatments at home
The Internet will offer a slew of options when you look for “how to treat dandruff with home remedies?” You’ll come across suggestions to use coconut oil or aloe vera for getting rid of dandruff. Coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer and nourishes your hair deeply, giving it an enviable shine. Whereas aloe vera possesses nourishing properties and hydrates dry hair, leaving it healthy and hydrated. But do these home remedies cleanse your scalp and get rid of dandruff? Unfortunately, no. You need a dandruff treatment that addresses the root cause — the dreaded yeast.
Fret not! Some effective dandruff treatments can help you control dandruff and treat your hair with some much-needed TLC.
• Choose the right shampoo
We cannot help but emphasise how important it is to find the right shampoo for treating dandruff. The right shampoo cleanses your scalp GENTLY and gets rid of dandruff without subjecting your precious tresses to harsh cleansing agents. If that’s what you want, how about a shampoo that offers seven amazing benefits! Enter Head & Shoulders Clean & Balanced Shampoo. This shampoo fights dry scalp, calms itchy scalp, relieves irritation, controls flaky scalp, reduces redness, and leaves your hair looking and smelling great.
If you want an incredible in-shower scent experience, you can also try Head & Shoulders Apple Fresh Shampoo for dandruff-free* hair. This anti-dandruff shampoo cleanses your hair and scalp and leaves behind a lingering scent of lush, green apple. Moreover, this shampoo is so gentle that it can be used every day, even on coloured or chemically treated hair.
• Follow it up with a conditioner
Anti-dandruff conditioners exist, and they are incredible. Once you are done shampooing, follow it up with an anti-dandruff conditioner like Head & Shoulders Clean & Balanced Conditioner or Head & Shoulders Apple Fresh Conditioner. These conditioners gently nourish your hair after the anti-dandruff shampoo works its wonders. And you are left with hair that’s clean, flake-free, and gorgeous.
In addition to choosing the right hair products, making some significant lifestyle changes can also work as dandruff treatments and prevent the recurrence of dandruff in the future. These include:
• Upping your stress management skills:
If you have an existing dandruff problem, stress will only worsen it. So, this seems like a good time to practice some breathing exercises or find ways that help you relax. Stress can also have a profound effect on your overall health and make you susceptible to several ailments.
• Stick to a healthy diet:
A healthy diet is a key to a healthy scalp. So, get rid of the junk and oily food that we all love, but also know is unhealthy. A diet rich in zinc, and a B-vitamin called biotin, and healthy fats do a wonderful job in preventing dandruff. Also, make room in your daily diet for food sources of biotin, such as eggs, tomatoes, yoghurt, and carrots; and healthy foods such as oysters, pumpkin seeds, and crab that are a rich source of zinc.
• Go easy on the styling products:
Yes, styling products are a great help. But the residue they leave behind can cause build-up in the scalp, which eventually leads to dandruff. Plus, colouring your hair exposes your scalp to chemicals that can trigger a reaction and cause dandruff. So, the bottom line is to refrain from using styling products as much as you can.
• A little sunshine helps:
You might want to consider going for a morning walk. Sunlight helps in controlling dandruff. But don’t forget your sunscreen since the UV rays can damage your skin.
The Internet is rife with dandruff treatments that may or may not work; but with the right anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner and some essential lifestyle changes, you’ll be flake-free, and flaunt healthier, stronger, and more beautiful hair.
(*visible flakes, with regular use)