Key Points at a Glance:
- With the right measures, the symptoms can be alleviated
- There are two types of dandruff: dry and oily
- Anti-dandruff shampoos don't always work
- Simple home remedies can work wonders
Many of us struggle with this: When you stop wearing dark-colored clothes purely as a precaution, for fear that dandruff might show on them—that’s when it’s time to tackle the problem head-on.
Human skin cells renew themselves approximately every 27–30 days. The outermost layers of cells constantly shed. You can only see these layers of cells once they clump together. There are two different types of flakes: dry and oily. The well-known white flakes found on the scalp are what are known as dry flakes. If the flakes have a slightly yellowish color, are oily, and are also somewhat larger, they are oily flakes.
Anti-Dandruff Shampoos & More
If you're thinking right now that the problem can be easily solved with anti-dandruff shampoos, we can tell you right away: you're actually wrong! Most anti-dandruff shampoos dry out the scalp, which only makes the problem worse instead of improving it.
Here are some tips that may help with dry dandruff:
- Leave the olive oil hair mask on overnight and rinse it out with lukewarm water the next day
- Use a mild (organic) shampoo or baby shampoo to be gentle on your scalp
- If possible, let your hair air dry. If that's not possible, blow-dry your hair on the lowest heat setting.
- Washing your hair every day can irritate and dry out your scalp. Therefore, avoid washing your hair every day. If possible, wash it every 3–7 days.
- If you suffer from oily dandruff, these tips may be helpful:
- What doesn't help with dry dandruff does help with oily dandruff: anti-dandruff shampoos. These shampoos rinse away excess oil.
- A hair mask or conditioner made from herbal oils (e.g., sage, thyme) that helps regulate sebum production
- Massage a few drops of coconut oil into your scalp; it's best to let it sit for more than 30 minutes and then rinse it out.
- Even if you have oily dandruff, you should avoid washing your hair too often and, above all, blow-drying it with a hot hair dryer
A healthy diet is also essential for treating dandruff. Be sure to eat plenty of foods that contain vitamin A, vitamin E, and biotin.
