Home remedies for Dandruff or white flakes

Dandruff is a condition affecting the scalp, wherein the old cells of the scalp are replaced by new cells at a faster rate than normal, leading to a flaky appearance of the skin, followed by itching.

Be it dry skin, yeast infection, faulty diet, or any other skin-related ailment — the cause of dandruff can be any; and the tricky part is that it can be incredibly difficult to treat. To do away with the white flakes, head to your kitchen for some effective home remedies.

Home remedies for Dandruff or white flakes

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil helps eliminate dandruff due to its antifungal properties. It also moisturizes dry scalp and provides relief from itching. Take some coconut oil and mix half the amount of lemon juice in it. Rub it on your scalp and massage for a few minutes. Wash your hair after at least 20 minutes. Follow this remedy two to three times a week.

(read more: Homemade hair oil for white hair )

Garlic

Barring the pungent smell, this is one of the best ways to beat dandruff. Its potent anti-fungal properties can fight dandruff like nothing else. To cut the odour, you can mix crushed garlic with honey. Apply this paste liberally on to the scalp before shampooing.

(read more: Health Benefits of Garlic Cloves )

Yogurt

Washing your hair too frequently, or using harsh chemical shampoos and conditioners on your sensitive scalp can rob it of its natural moisture, causing flakiness of the scalp and finally leading to dandruff. Yogurt can act as a good moisturizer, and can restore your scalp’s lost moisture. Right after shampooing, apply fresh yogurt directly onto your entire scalp and leave on for 10-15 minutes and rinse.

Baking Soda

Being a mild exfoliant, baking soda helps remove dead skin cells and absorbs excess oil. It can also help balance pH levels on the scalp and reduce the growth of fungi that cause dandruff. Wet your hair and rub a handful of baking soda onto your scalp. After a couple of minutes, rinse your hair well with warm water. Repeat once or twice a week for a few weeks.

(read more: How to use Baking Soda for Acne Treatment )

Tea tree oil

One study showed that shampoos with just 5 percent tea tree oil significantly improves the severity of dandruff. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your favorite shampoo as you wash normally.

Lemon

Dandruff relief may be no farther away than your refrigerator. Just massage 2 tablespoons lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 cup water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat this daily until your dandruff disappears. Lemon's acidity helps balance the pH of your scalp, which helps keeps dandruff at bay.

Aloe Vera

Stop yourself from scratching by massaging aloe vera into your scalp before shampooing. The cooling effects of aloe vera will soothe the itch.