Is there anything more annoying than a constantly dry or itchy scalp? Habitually scratching your head isn’t the sexiest look. Fortunately, you can learn everything you need to know about DIY remedies for dry and itchy scalps with a search online.
A dry, itchy scalp can signify a whole host of different things. For instance, short-term itchiness could signify a brief stretch of dandruff. In turn, a longer-term problem could mean something a little more serious.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Not just for cooking anymore! As far as home remedies go, apple cider vinegar is probably the most versatile substance that you have in your cupboard. Take ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 cup of water, mix, and then massage in to your scalp. The mixture will immediately begin disinfecting your outer scalp, removing the buildup from styling products and injecting your skin with essential nutrients like vitamin C, A, B1, B6, and more!
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree oil is collected from the leaves of the Melaleuca Alternifolia plant in Australia and used in a variety of practical, medical disciplines. A common practical use for Tea Tree oil? Treating an itchy scalp, obviously!
To use Tea Tree oil as an effective scalp treatment, you’ll need to mix it with a “carrier oil” like olive or coconut oil. Add roughly 10 to 15 drops of Tea Tree to your carrier oil of choice, massage it into your scalp, leave it for a few hours, and then wash it out with your favorite shampoo!
Aloe Vera
The effects of Aloe Vera on irritated skin is borderline magical. It’s anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-septic, and it’s cool to the touch. In the case of Aloe Vera, you don’t even need to mix it with anything! Just apply a liberal dollop to your scalp, gently massage it into the problem areas, let it sit for roughly 20 minutes, and wash it out!
Lemon Juice
Next time you’re preparing your crowd-pleasing lemonade recipe, save a few un-sugared droplets for your dome! Freshly squeezed lemon juice is a dandruff busting anti-septic that’s easy to use. Plus, it’s a cost-effective alternative to the expensive dry-scalp treatments lining the shelves of your local salon. Apply a little bit of fresh lemon juice into your scalp and wash it away with shampoo!
Baking Soda
It’s safe to say that baking soda is a bit of an overachiever. You can use it as toothpaste, it’ll leave your dishes sparkling, it can deodorize your fridge, and it can lay the smack down on dandruff. If you’re looking to relieve an itchy scalp, first coat it with a few drops of olive oil. Stir two tablespoons of baking soda into a bit of water and massage the paste directly onto your scalp.
Sesame Seed Oil
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but oil is actually pretty good for your hair and your scalp. Sesame oil is chock full of nutrients and its smooth, light profile makes it ideal for coating and lubricating the scalp. This scalp healthy remedy requires a little heat and a towel for the best results. Warm a tablespoon or two of sesame oil and massage it into your scalp before you go to bed. Cover your head with a towel or a night cap, then rinse it out in the morning.
Onion Juice
We know that this one is a bit of a hard sell. Onions are a pain to cut and they don’t smell like Herbal Essences either. But sometimes the itching and scratching are so unbearable that you have to massage your head with onion salsa when no one else is around. Why? Because it works.
Chop, squeeze, juice, or blend them and massage into your scalp.
Bay Leaves
They don’t just add aromatics to your favorite soup. Bay leaves are great for the skin. It’s a lot less stinky than onion juice, too. Just boil 10 bay leaves in about a litre of water for roughly 10 minutes. Remove the leaves from the water, let cool, and massage a bit into your scalp a few times a week!
Exfoliate Your Scalp
Hair products, blow dryers, fedoras … your scalp has put up with a lot. Show it some love with this simple, DIY exfoliating treatment. Just mix 3 tablespoons of sugar with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, mix well, and massage into your scalp. Leave it in for about 15 minutes, then wash the dead skin and harmful pore clogging deposits away for good.
Adjust Your Diet
We all know the importance of a healthy diet. What you consume, and more importantly what you don’t consume, can have a pretty surprising effect on your skin. If you’ve got an itchy scalp, increasing your consumption of vitamin A, zinc, and vitamin C could help. They’ve all been shown to promote healthy skin.
Maintain a Regular Hair Washing Cycle
This one may seem obvious, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth mentioning. Maintaining a regular hair washing cycle is critical in promoting a healthy scalp. Though there are no hard and fast rules as to how often, shampooing regularly does help clear your pores, and maintain a healthy scalp.
Allergic Reactions
If you’ve tried a few of these DIY remedies with little to no success, try switching up your shampoo, nixing your conditioner, or consulting a dermatologist. It’s very possible that your scalps uncomfortable dryness is an allergic reaction to a new hair product. If you don’t have the time or the funds for a visit to the skin doctor, buy a new shampoo and start from there!
Brush Your Hair Regularly
And if you’ve tried all the above and your scalp still flakes, you have dandruff, which basically means that your scalp is over-producing new skin cells and shedding an excess of old ones. If you don’t regularly brush your hair and scalp, try doing this daily as it aids the shedding of skin cells and can in some cases improve the situation.
For the most part, a dry/itchy scalp is relatively normal. That said, an itchy scalp can be a symptom of a larger, treatable condition. If our entire list of DIY remedies yielded absolutely no result, don’t be afraid to reach out to your family doctor or a local dermatologist. A flaky scalp can mean psoriasis, dermatitis or just a minor dandruff problem. If you’re worried about it, ease your mind with a quick doctor’s appointment.