Scalp dryness can cause unpleasant side effects, like itching and dandruff, but it can also affect the health of your hair. If you’re dealing with a dry scalp, there are plenty of simple ways to correct the problem, as long as you take a little initiative.
Find out how to care for a dry scalp the right way, by adding moisture and avoiding any products that further contribute to your dry skin.
Moisturizing Shampoo
First of all, make sure that your shampoo isn’t stripping moisture from your scalp. Start using a shampoo and conditioner with a moisturizing effect. Besides your regular shampoo, you should invest in a clarifying shampoo for weekly use. It will remove any product buildup and leave your scalp clean. All your hair products should be sulfate free to combat dryness.
Natural Oils
When you’re wondering how to care for a dry scalp, natural oils are the best solution. Try a warm oil treatment regularly. In order to prevent the oils from getting your hair too greasy, get your hair wet before applying the coconut, jojoba, olive or castor oil to your entire scalp by using a tinted brush with natural bristles. Let the oil moisturize your scalp for 10-15 minutes, before shampooing your hair.
Brown Sugar Scrub
One of the best ways to deal with a dry scalp is to also exfoliate in order to make sure that your moisturizing shampoo and oil treatments are as effective as possible. Make a scrub by mixing brown sugar with jojoba or olive oil. Once you’ve got a thick paste, apply it to your scalp and gently massage it in order to get rid of dead skin cells that could turn into flakes and dandruff.
See also: Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipes
Apple Cider Vinegar
While apple cider vinegar is a great natural treatment for severe skin issues like eczema and psoriasis, it can also work wonders for a dry scalp, with or without dandruff. The best answer to the question of how to care for a dry scalp with vinegar is to simply dilute it (1 part apple cider vinegar to 10 parts water) and apply it on your scalp. You can use a spray bottle or pour it if you have short hair, but make sure you put on a shower cap and let it work for 30 minutes before shampooing.
Tea Tree Oil
Another great natural dry scalp remedy consists of tea tree oil. Unlike the other natural oils you can use for a full scalp treatment, you shouldn’t use a lot of it, since it can also be mildly irritating. Use around 10 drops per 10 oz of shampoo and conditioner. If you don’t want to get the oil yourself and mix it into your favorite products, you won’t have any trouble finding good hair products with tea tree extract.
Lemon Juice
A great answer to the question of how to care for a dry scalp naturally is lemon juice. It works best when it’s freshly squeezed and applied evenly on your scalp. Keep it on for 5 minutes before rinsing it. Don’t expose your hair and scalp to sunlight directly after using lemon juice, wait at least one or two hours. You can also dilute it with water or mix it with yogurt if you don’t like using it directly.
Baking Soda
Another great way to exfoliate your scalp and prevent dandruff is using baking soda. Make a thick paste by mixing it with water and apply it evenly on your scalp, leaving it on for up to 15 minutes. Unlike other natural dry scalp treatments, you can rise baking soda away using only water, skipping the shampooing stage.
Read also: 6 Home Remedies for Very Dry Hair
Banana and Avocado
A great natural treatment for your scalp, the banana and avocado mix will moisturize your skin and fight dandruff. You’ll need one ripe avocado and two medium sized bananas. Mash them all and let the mixture sit for 30 minutes to care for a dry scalp.
Aloe Vera
Hair products with aloe vera can have a beneficial impact on your hair and scalp, but if you can use fresh gel, that’s even better. First of all, apply a little aloe vera gel on your skin and let it sit for 5-10 minutes in order to spot any reaction. If you’re fine, apply it to your scalp with your fingers and shampoo after 15 minutes.
Regular Scalp Massage
Even if improved circulation doesn’t have a direct and instant effect on scalp dryness, start massaging the top of your head in the shower for a few minutes. It definitely doesn’t hurt and it should complement the other answers to the question of how to care for a dry scalp.