Dandruff: Causes, Tips and Remedies

Dandruff is the itching and flaking of the scalp. Many people get this around puberty, during stress, use of excessive blow drying, a high sugar intake, or when your hair isn't washed thoroughly. Dandruff occurs because the skin on your scalp has many layers. At the bottom, called the dermis, cells start growing, and work their way up to the top. Once they reach the top, they form a layer of dead skin cells on the surface of your scalp.

This is why you should always remember to always massage your scalp well when shampooing and conditioning. This is a very simple way to prevent dandruff because when you properly shampoo and condition your hair, it makes it easier for the dandruff to be removed from your scalp, and right down the drain. Brushing and washing your hair properly can always help your dandruff problem. Using a hot oil treatment can do wonders for getting rid of dandruff, and for the health of your hair also. Read more hair care tips Here. Some dandruff can be really distressing and itchy. Here are some natural remedies, and tips that might help!

If you have oily skin, I suggest using a gentle oil cleansing shampoo that will get rid of the excess oil. Oil on your skin holds the dandruff flakes together, making the flakes bigger and more noticeable. Just getting rid of the oil will do just the job of preventing or getting rid of dandruff for some people.

Avoid alcohol-based styling products, and excessive blow drying as they will both dry out your skin over time. Styling mousses and gels will also build up on your scalp over time. That's why when you use these, you should make sure to wash and condition your hair properly. Conditioning your hair with a conditioner that contains vitamin E moisturizer can relieve itching and reduce dandruff.

Tea tree oil is great for killing fungus, and can be very helpful when wanting to remove dandruff. I hate the smell of this stuff, because it reminds me more of gasoline, but regardless of the smell, this product is good for many other natural remedies besides dandruff. Be careful when using it though- Because too much "Raw" tea tree oil can hurt or irritate broken skin, or perfectly healthy skin as well. Before using, make sure you're not allergic to it. I would suggest testing it on a different part of your skin before you apply it to your scalp. Massage this product into your scalp, and leave in for about 15 minutes before rinsing. Tea tree oil will also make your hair feel softer and look shinier as well.

Aloe Vera is also a great natural remedy, especially when looking for moisturizing your skin. Aloe Vera works really well when trying to get rid of or prevent dandruff, and is commonly used to help cure sunburns as well. Rub a thick gel of aloe Vera, or leaves into the scalp, leave in for about 20-30 minutes, and shampoo when you're done. This will prevent dandruff build up, and will easily wash your dandruff away as well.

Lemon Juice Lemon juice contains acid that helps bring the scalp back into it's chemical balance, to make it more healthy, clean, and most of all-dandruff free! Apply lemon juice to the scalp, and massage well. Leave in for about 20 minutes before shampooing.

Apple Cider & Vinegar With the balance of acid/alkaline in these two ingredients, the bacteria that clogs the pores of your scalp will be killed. This is good for you, just as unclogging the pores on your face is. The clogged pores on the scalp result in scales and crusts of dandruff being formed. For this remedy, you will need two tablespoons of both apple cider and vinegar, mixed with water. Apply to the scalp, and let it dry about 30 minutes before shampooing.

Coconut Oil Coconut oil is found in most conditioners, it moisturizes and keeps your hair very healthy. This should help your dandruff problem, and give your hair a healthy, shiny look also. Massage a bit of pure coconut oil in your hair daily 20 minutes before shampooing. The dandruff will clear up within 1 to 3 days. Not only can you use this as a dandruff remedy, but you can use it as a conditioning treatment for your hair as well.

Grapefruit Seed Extracts This remedy, like most of the others I listed before this one, is moisturizing to your scalp. This remedy is probably about the easiest one to do out of this whole article. Just mix 7-10 drops with the normal amount of shampoo you usually use. Remember to massage your scalp well, and leave on for at the least two minutes. Rinse with water completely, and avoid eyes!