Too often dandruff treatments get rid of itchy, flaky dandruff short term, only for it to return more severely.
That’s because they do NOT tackle the causes of dandruff AND damage our scalp so it can’t heal itself.
But we can clear dandruff fast with DIY natural treatments that work with our scalp not against it.
And I have here a complete guide to clearing dandruff for good, covering everything you need to know :
- Real Causes Of Dandruff
- Clear Dandruff In One Wash
- Overnight DIY Treatments
- Get Rid Of Dandruff Permanently.
It will not just tackle dandruff but make your hair hugely healthier too!
I do hope it helps – let me know how it works out for you …
What Causes Dandruff?
Dandruff is a big red flag that our body is off kilter and needs help.
Our flaking, itching and scabbing scalp is a sure sign of a bunch of different health problems throughout our body including :
- High, out of control sugar levels
- Imbalanced hormones (often caused by sugar)
- General inflammation
- Poor gut health
- Dehydration
- Nutritional deficiency – especially in B vitamins & zinc
- Persistent stress
- Poor immune system from vitamin D or iron deficiency.
These underlying causes of dandruff then create a breeding ground for the fungus malassezia which is what primarily triggers those flakes.
Fungal Infection
Yep. Horrid as it sounds, dandruff is caused by a fungal infection!!
But don’t freak out too much.
All sorts of fungi live in and on our bodies and many – if they don’t go crazy – are helpful friends. But some fungi like malassezia behind dandruff and dermatophytes behind athlete’s foot can be big problems.
The Malassezia Fungus
Over growth of malassezia kicks off a vicious cycle of scalp stress.
Flaking, itching and scabbing triggers more skin inflammation and thus more malassezia over growth. Constant flaking can cause bacterial infections such as staphylococcus triggering yet more inflammation!
Dandruff shampoos make it worse!
Dandruff Shampoo Problems
Many dandruff shampoos dry out our scalp so skin can’t repair itself and break the stress cycle naturally.
But luckily super simple DIY dandruff treatments can start to get rid of dandruff for good in just one wash.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff For Good In One Wash
The simple overnight dandruff treatments I have for you here break our scalp stress cycle by combining ingredients that are :
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-inflammatory
- Rehydrating.
They kill the dandruff fungus whilst reducing underlying inflammation and hydrating our skin so it can start to repair damaged cells.
Simple Overnight DIY Dandruff Treatments
All you need to make these DIY scalp treatments are 2 components you almost certainly have in your bathroom or kitchen :
- Rich soothing base lotion
- Natural anti-fungal
Soothing Base Lotions
Choose any of these for your anti-inflammatory, hydrating base :
For real oomph you could combine some of these base ingredients.
Natural Anti-Fungals
Pick from these natural anti-fungal ingredients to control the dandruff :
- Tea tree oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Green tea
- Raw honey
- Ginger
- Baking soda / bicarbonate of soda
- Bay leaves
- Fenugreek seed
- Neem oil
- Mugwort – (aka artemesia vulgaris, it’s less common I know but an interesting herb to know about).
These ingredients are useful for all sorts of natural remedies. Click on the links to read more about them.
Applying Dandruff Treatments
Combine your chosen ingredients in a bowl to make a DIY hair mask.
Patch test a small amount behind ear or on inner elbow for 45 minutes before rinsing off.
You are now ready to apply mask :
- Massage gently into scalp.
- Wrap your hair up in cling film or under a shower cap.
- Leave on for at least an hour or overnight if you have thick hair.
- Wash hair as normal.
- Rinse very well.
Use as much base lotion as you need to cover your scalp and use the tips below on how much of each anti-fungal ingredient to add.
After the treatment we are ready to tackle dandruff for good with better scalp nutrition and healthy habits.
You can jump ahead to read about scalp nutrition or read on to learn more about the different dandruff mask ingredients.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is anti inflammatory, hydrating, anti fungal and a natural antibiotic so very helpful for scalps.
It can also be used as a natural remedy for sore throats, cold sores, athlete’s foot, pinworms, frizzy hair, dry scalps, head lice and sunburn so very worth stocking in your kitchen.
Yoghurt
Yoghurt like coconut oil is an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and naturally antibiotic power house.
It can help reduce staphylococcus bacterial infections in severe dandruff which are difficult to shift.
Aloe Vera
Anti-inflammatory aloe vera can soothe our scalp and help damaged skin cells to repair themselves.
It’s a good base lotion pick for your dandruff mask if you have oily hair.
Aloe vera is also a natural remedy for fungal infections like athlete’s foot, viral cold sores & verrucas plus mosquito bites & sunburn. Its cell healing properties can also help heartburn and cystitis.
Do patch test if not used before.
Eggs
Egg based dandruff scalp masks are great if you have thinning hair and want to stimulate hair growth.
Once we have chosen the base for our mask we need to pick an ingredient that can help to kill off the overgrowth of the Malassezia fungus and add a small amount to the base.
Tea Tree Oil
Research shows tea tree oil can control the malasezzia fungus.
I’m not a big fan of essential oils but do think tea tree oil is handy as it can help with other fungal, viral and parasitic infections including verrucas, cold sores & head lice.
Dilute tea tree oil in mask base as per your product instructions. Always patch test first.
Neem Oil
Research also shows neem oil can control the malasezzia fungus.
It can also be used to treat acne, scars, warts & verrucas. It is strong & must be patch tested first.
Green Tea
Green tea is another anti-fungal and anti-bacterial wonder in our kitchens that controls both malasezzia fungus and staphylococcus bacteria.
For your mask, infuse a cup of green tea for 5 minutes then add to mask in tea spoons so not too liquidy.
Alternatively use it as a rinse after shampooing out your mask.
Green tea can also help kill off bacteria behind cystitis & gastritis and fungus behind athlete’s foot and also help clear blackheads.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and helps stabilise scalps to stop fungus returning. Squeeze a small amount into your mask.
Raw Honey
Raw honey is anti bacterial and anti-fungal but also anti-inflammatory and promotes cell healing so can be very helpful in dandruff masks if your scalp is inflamed and scabby.
The honey must be real honey.
Ginger
Ginger can kill off bacteria and help control fungal overgrowth so is a good mask ingredient to get rid of dandruff permanently.
Drinking ginger tea may also help stabilise fungal levels in our body.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural anti-fungal that stabilises the scalp so malassezia fungus can’t grow back.
It is also amazingly useful in our homes for everything from acid reflux to brighter whites, shifting stains and bee stings!!
Simply add a teaspoon to your overnight dandruff treatment mask.
Bay Leaves
Bay leaves are another traditional treatment for dandruff and itching.
Grind a few bay leaves and add them your overnight dandruff mask.
Fenugreek Seed
Fenugreek seed is a traditional Indian anti-fungal and anti-bacterial remedy for dandruff that also helps thinning hair and boosts hair growth.
To add to your mask :
- Put 1 spoon of seeds in a pan
- Add a cup or so of water
- Simmer for 20 minutes
- Leave to cool
- Add to mask a teaspoon at a time to get the right consistency.
Mugwort
Mugwort – aka Artemesia or St John’s herb – is less well known but was traditionally used to ease itching and boost hair growth. If you stock it, add mugwort tea to your mask or use it as a rinse. It can also help with psoriasis and eczema.
Apple Cider Vinegar
The final anti fungal you could add to your DIY overnight dandruff mask is good old apple cider vinegar.
It is touted as a miracle cure for just about everything – it isn’t – but can uncannily switch off inflammation in our body e.g. heartburn, lower back pain and if you are lucky it may rebalance your scalp in one sitting.
Add a small amount to your dandruff mask or combine 1/2 a cup with 1/2 a cup of cool water for a rinse.
How Can I Permanently Get Rid Of Dandruff Naturally
Healthy scalp nutrition is key to getting rid of dandruff permanently.
Without good nutrition, our dandruff treatment will only do so much.
The mask will control excess fungi, sooth scalp inflammation and start healing skin cells but the fungi will come back if we don’t eat better.
Healthy Scalp Nutrition
The single biggest thing we can do to nourish our scalp and keep dandruff away for good is to slash sugar.
Sugar & Dandruff
We are significantly more likely to suffer with fungal conditions like dandruff, candida & athlete’s foot with raised glucose levels.
Cutting out added sugar, skipping sodas of all sorts and lowering carbs helps keep dandruff away for good.
We also need to tackle nutritional deficiencies many of us ignore.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Many of us go short on basic nutrition that our scalp needs to :
- Prevent fungal overgrowth
- Heal damaged skin
- Regenerate healthy new cells.
Make sure your diet includes :
- Iron : many teenage girls, vegetarians, vegans & women in perimenopause are iron deficient.
- Zinc : found in pulses, seeds & nuts but meat is best easy source.
- Vitamin B : need full range of B vitamins from whole grains, green vegetables, pulses, seeds & meat.
- B12 : critical for skin health, B12 is only available from meat, fish, eggs & dairy and not from plants.
- Vitamin E : found in nuts, seeds & green veg also protects skin health.
Nightshade plants like tomatoes & peppers can trigger flaky scalp inflammation but underlying causes often excess sugar or oddly gastritis.
Natural Anti-Fungals
Regularly eating a little naturally probiotic food helps keep fungus and bacteria in our body in balance.
So try daily to include in your anti-dandruff diet gut healthy food like :
- Totally natural yoghurt
- Kefir
- Blue cheese
- Sauerkraut
- Pickled vegetables
- Creme fraiche
- Bone broth
Drinking naturally anti-fungal teas can also help keep the malassezia dandruff fungus at bay :
- Ginger
- Green tea
- Cloves
- Basil
- Oregano
Healthy Scalp Habits
Simple healthy scalp habits also help stop dandruff returning :
- Wash hair less often
- Use gentlest shampoo you can
- Wash scalp not just hair
- Clean brushes & combs weekly
- Add a little tea tree oil to your shampoo every week or so
- Wear hats when scalp needs weather protection – cold or strong sun – but not when it doesn’t.
I hope these simple DIY dandruff remedies help treat your dandruff successfully and get rid of it for good.
For more simple but effective DIY treatments with basic kitchen ingredients, check out my other natural remedies covering :
And follow me on Pinterest …
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