Natural Dandruff Treatment

To have a few of the white-flaked cells we call dandruff is normal, for it is simply the sloughing off of matured skin cells and food waste through the pores of the scalp. It is only when this becomes excessive that it has to be considered a problem. Well brushed, clean, healthy hair with the proper balance of acid doesn't have problem dandruff.

There are two forms of dandruff, one oily and one dry, and the oily form is found most often among adolescents and adults with an excessively oily skin and scalp. According to the New York dermatologist Dr. Irwin Lubowe, the 'basic causes of dandruff are faulty diet, emotional tension, hormonal disturbances, infection due to disease, injury to the scalp and unwise or excessive use of hair cosmetics'. According to Dr. Lubowe, the reason why so many adolescents have dandruff is that this is the time when they secrete an excess of androgen hormones which cause sebum, the skin oil.

To control dandruff many dermatologists and nutritionists therefore recommend the same restrictions on food that are listed for acne. Eat less animal fat, and more poly-unsaturated vegetable oils and no nuts, chocolate, butter or fried foods, shellfish, iodized salt. A diet high in greens and first-class proteins and foods high in vitamins A, E and B complex are necessary.

Brushing
Vigorous, daily brushing is important in ridding the hair of dandruff and increasing circulation of the scalp.

Shampoos
Use herbal or castille shampoos and avoid all synthetic preparations for dandruff, some of which use too powerful drugs. Many are simply irritants which temporarily remove the dandruff, but most cause the scalp to produce more oil to protect itself. Some hairdressers tell me that the side effects of some of the dandruff remedies on the market are falling hair, excessive oiliness and allergic reaction. Some chemical hair sprays also cause flakiness and dandruff.

Vinegar
One of the quickest dandruff removers (and all who used it said itching of the scalp disappeared at the same time, too) is cider vinegar. It can be used diluted in water, and most particularly in lavender water, or other aromatic dilutions as a nightly massage. Incidentally, if you should decide to use plain cider vinegar and water, be assured that the smell soon disappears.

Oil
Another easy home remedy is a treatment with hot castor oil (which strengthens the hair) or hot olive oil, or hot linseed oil (the kind you get from a health food store). Massage the hot oil into your hair for a twice-a-week treatment until you are rid of the dandruff. This is an excellent treatment for dry hair too.

After massaging your hair with the oil, put on a plastic heat cap, or shower cap plus towel, over the hair for about half an hour. I prefer the electric heat cap as it shows immediate results. Since such a treatment is expensive in a beauty parlour, you can make up for your investment in this electric cap within 2 or 3 sessions. Shampoo with non-detergent shampoo having either an olive oil, coconut, castille or avocado base.

Nettle
Of all the traditional herbal remedies nettle juice was the most acclaimed for hair treatment and is considered particularly effective for dandruff. Make your own strong infusion by adding a pint of boiling water to 4 tablespoons of nettle leaves and allowing to steep several hours. Add a 1/4 cup of cider vinegar and a 1/4 cup of eau de cologne to the strained nettle juice to make it last longer. Massage into scalp nightly. If your hair is very oily you can increase the amount of eau de cologne to 1/2 a cup.

Rosemary
Rosemary tonic, as we have mentioned before, revives hair, gives it body and helps prevent it from uncurling. It also gives lustre to the hair and rids it of dandruff. No wonder most of the ancient herbal books rave about rosemary. Combined with a pinch of borax, rosemary is considered by some herbalists to be one of the finest hair washes known. Rosemary and sage infusion can be used together as they both have a stimulating effect on the hair. Massage through hair or use in shampoo or final rinse water.

Other Dandruff Treatments
There are many other dandruff treatments. For new cases, massage each night with witch hazel or lemon juice or rose water or willow-bark tea. A combination of a tablespoon of eau de cologne and a pinch of borax is also useful.