Is Dry and itchy scalp troubling you? We know how it feels when the itching sensation on your scalp gets aggravated by the day because of a dry scalp. Let us work together and get rid of this problem with natural home remedies.
Saying that a dry scalp can be irritating is putting it mildly. But you don’t have to live with this difficulty all your life. There are many easy ways to treat a dry scalp that will help you get rid of the problem for sure. Before we learn about the tips and treatments that would help us eliminate dry scalp, it is important to understand the root cause of this problem.
What Causes Dry Scalp?
Dry scalp is the result of dormant and/or underactive oil glands in the scalp, which are not capable of producing the required amount of natural oil in your skin. Some of the common causes for it are:
- Prolonged use of harsh shampoos that have a lot of chemical content in them
- Fungal infection
- Over exposure to hard water
- Lack of nutrients in the body due to improper diet
- Exposure to extreme weather conditions
- Excess use of styling products
- Neglect of hair care, including unhealthy beauty habits, lack of oiling, and conditioning treatments
So, the first step in treating your dry scalp is to zero in on the underlying cause. Once you know that, you can make a few required modifications to your hair care routine.
Follow these remedies to give your scalp relief!
How To Get Rid Of Dry Scalp With Natural Remedies
- Tea Tree Shampoo
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Oil
- Juicing
- Yogurt And Egg
- Listerine
- Mayonnaise
- Using Baking Soda
- Vitamin E
- Olive Oil And Egg
Top Home Remedies For Dry Scalp
1. Tea Tree Shampoo For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- Tea tree oil
- Shampoo
What You Have To Do
- Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shampoo and shake the bottle well.
- Use this as you normally do to rinse your hair.
How Often You Should Do This
Rinse your hair with this essential oil-infused shampoo twice a week.
Why This Works
When the dryness is due to a fungal infection, tea tree oil remedy works best as this essential oil is a potent antifungal agent. It also unclogs the pores and helps to regulate the natural oil production (1).
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2. Apple Cider Vinegar For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 2-3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- With the help of a cotton ball, apply the vinegar on your scalp.
- Massage your scalp with your fingers for 2-3 minutes.
- Leave the vinegar on for about 10 minutes and then rinse it off with cool water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this not more than twice a week.
Why This Works
Being an astringent, ACV cleanses the scalp of harmful microbes and also balances the skin’s pH (2). This, in turn, rekindles the normal functioning of the oil glands and provide relief to your dry scalp.
Caution
If you have sensitive skin, dilute the ACV with an equal volume of water before applying. You can also add some honey to the mixture instead of diluting the vinegar.
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3. Oil For Dry Scalp
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You Will Need
- Coconut oil OR olive oil OR baby oil OR argan oil OR castor oil OR Moroccan oil
- Few drops of tea tree oil (optional)
What You Have To Do
- Take an oil of your choice in a bowl and warm it up slightly.
- Add the essential oil and mix well.
- Apply this on your scalp and massage for 5-7 minutes.
- Keep the oil for at least an hour before washing your hair. It is best if you keep the oil on overnight.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this oil treatment twice a week.
Why This Works
Hot oil treatments for dry scalp work wonders. Most of these oils are already available at home and will hydrate and relieve the flaky, dry scalp. Oil application not only has a moisturizing effect but also helps in retaining the moisture content of your scalp. As the scalp is not able to produce enough oil, external application of oil can nourish the scalp and relieve the dryness (3, 4, 5, 6).
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4. Juicing For Dry Scalp
(a) Lemon Juice For Dry Scalp
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You Will Need
Half a lemon
What You Have To Do
- While applying some pressure (to release the lemon juice), gently scrub the lemon piece on your scalp by taking out thin sections.
- Leave it on for about five minutes.
- Rinse and condition your hair as usual.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this up to two times a week.
Why This Works
Lemon juice works as an astringent and regulates the scalp’s pH. It also gets rid of any dandruff-related fungal infection (7).
(b) Apple Juice For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
Juice from 1-2 apples
What You Have To Do
- Extract fresh juice from the apples and rinse your hair with it.
- Leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with plain water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this 1-2 times a week.
Why This Works
Apple juice contains mild acids that exfoliate the scalp to remove all the dead, dry, and flaky skin. It also restores the scalp’s pH, hence bringing into balance the low oil production (8).
(c) Onion Juice For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1/4 cup onion juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Cotton
What You Have To Do
- Grate an onion and extract the juice.
- To this, add the honey and mix well.
- Apply this on your scalp using some cotton and let it sit for 15-30 minutes.
- Wash your hair with your regular shampoo.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply onion juice on your scalp twice a week initially. Once the dry scalp condition has improved, you can continue using onion juice for your scalp once every fortnight for healthy hair growth.
Why This Works
The high sulfur content of the onion will help you get rid of dryness caused by dandruff. The flaky scalp will soon be a thing of the past with this remedy. Onion is also known to promote healthy hair growth (9, 10).
(d) Aloe Vera Juice For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- An aloe leaf
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Extract fresh aloe vera gel from inside the leaf.
- Add some water to this and mix well to get a juice-like consistency.
- Apply this juice on your scalp and hair. Massage your scalp for a few minutes.
- Leave the aloe vera on for 20 minutes and then rinse your hair as usual.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this twice a week.
Why This Works
Aloe vera is soothing for the dry and itchy scalp. It nourishes the skin on your scalp with amino acids, vitamins, sugars, and fatty acids. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties as well (11). A healthy scalp and shiny, lustrous hair can be easily achieved by including aloe vera in your weekly hair care routine.
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5. Yogurt And Egg For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 egg
- 2-3 tablespoons unflavored yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
What You Have To Do
- Beat the egg along with the yogurt to get a smooth paste.
- Add the honey and mix well.
- Apply this mask on your scalp and hair.
- Let it sit for half an hour and then wash it off with your regular shampoo.
How Often You Should Do This
Do it once a week to reap the best benefits.
Why This Works
Yogurt cleanses and exfoliates the scalp to remove all the dead and dry skin. It also unclogs the pores and aids to restore the normal functioning of the oil glands (12, 13). Egg, on the other hand, nourishes the scalp and conditions your hair with its fat and protein content (14).
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6. Listerine For Dry Scalp
Editorial credit: Enriscapes / Shutterstock.com
You Will Need
- 1/2 cup Listerine
- 1/2 cup water
What You Have To Do
- Wash your hair clean and towel dry it.
- Now, apply a diluted solution of Listerine (with water) to your scalp.
- Massage your scalp with your fingertips and then keep the Listerine on for about 5 minutes.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly with clean water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once every week.
Why This Works
Listerine is a strong antiseptic and antimicrobial agent. All the harmful microbes causing dry and flaky skin will be killed. This will also help in reducing the itching sensation on your scalp (15).
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7. Mayonnaise For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Shower cap
What You Have To Do
- Apply mayonnaise on your scalp and cover your head with a shower cap for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with warm water to remove the mayonnaise.
- Follow this up with your regular shampoo rinse.
How Often You Should Do This
Applying mayonnaise once a week for a few weeks will relieve the dry scalp problem.
Why This Works
Mayonnaise is filled with oils and fats that condition the scalp and the hair (16). All the dryness can be effectively treated with this ‘rich’ remedy.
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8. Using Baking Soda For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 3-4 tablespoons baking soda
- Rose water
What You Have To Do
- Make a paste of baking soda and rose water.
- Apply on the scalp and gently massage for 2-3 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this twice a week.
Why This Works
Apart from an antiseptic and an antibacterial agent, baking soda is a basic compound which restores the pH balance of your scalp. It is a good exfoliant as well (17, 18, 19). This will not only cause healthy natural oil production but will also improve hair growth.
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9. Vitamin E For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
5-10 vitamin E capsules
What You Have To Do
- Carefully prick the capsules and empty the oil present inside into a bowl.
- Apply this on your scalp and massage well for 5-10 minutes.
- Leave the oil for an hour and then wash your hair as usual.
How Often You Should Do This
Massage your scalp with vitamin E oil at least once a week.
Why This Works
Vitamin E oil will keep your scalp hydrated and also protect it from free radical damage (20). It is also known to improve blood circulation and hair growth when used regularly (21).
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10. Olive Oil And Egg For Dry Scalp
Image: Shutterstock
You Will Need
- 1 egg yolk
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
What You Have To Do
- Beat the egg yolk well and add the other ingredients to it. Mix well.
- Apply this on the scalp and let the hair mask sit for about 30 minutes.
- Rinse your hair using shampoo and lukewarm water.
- This should be followed up with a cool water rinse.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply this hair mask once every week.
Why This Works
Egg yolk is an excellent remedy for dry skin problems as it contains vitamin A and lecithin sterols. It makes the skin smooth (22, 23). Olive oil is full of fatty acids that can nourish the dry skin. It also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help tackle any damage caused by free radicals, microbes, and pollutants (24).
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Along with these remedies, drinking plenty of water is critical for your skin and your hair to be hydrated from within. So, always try to combine your hair care treatments with adequate water intake every single day. Make sure to include nuts, eggs, seafood, chicken, tofu, dairy products, soybeans, canola oil, papaya, oranges, and green leafy vegetables in your diet. This will take care of your dose of zinc, iron, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids required for a healthy scalp. If dryness in your scalp is the result of a deficiency of nutrients, this tip is surely going to help you.
