Homemade Hair Masks To Treat Dandruff

Dandruff can be a really annoying problem to have. If you do have dandruff, you might feel self-conscious or like you always need to wear a hat. Dandruff, which is actually a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, causes increased scaling, dryness and shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. Although dandruff is usually a strictly cosmetic problem, sometimes it does cause itching and pain which makes it a medical problem as well. While there are a number of commercially-formulated shampoos and hair products available on the market to treat dandruff, many of these formulations contain sulfates and other harsh chemicals which may actually end up damaging your hair in the long run. Therefore, as a first remedy to try, or for milder cases of dandruff, homemade hair masks may be just the thing to help you. Here we will discuss recipes for several such homemade hair masks. 

Neem Hair Masks

Neem is a popular, natural beauty and skincare product due to its antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. For these reasons, neem can be used to treat scalp problems like dandruff, scaling and dryness. To make a basic neem mask, all you have to do is boil a few neem leaves in water for 10 to 15 minutes and then wait for the solution to cool. When it is cool enough to comfortably touch, apply it to your scalp and the roots of your hair. 

Yogurt Hair Masks

Yogurt is rich in proteins which is great for conditioning the hair. In addition to this, the lactic acid in yogurt makes it a great natural exfoliant. If you have mild dandruff and are apt to give a yogurt hair mask a try, you can try one of our popular hair mask recipes. The first yogurt hair mask recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of honey mixed with 2 tablespoons of fresh, plain yogurt to form a paste which can then be applied to the scalp. The second recipe calls for adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 2 tablespoons of fresh, plain yogurt. For the second recipe, if the mask is too runny, you can mix cornstarch or bentonite clay to thicken it. 

Tea Tree Oil Hair Masks

Tea tree oil has several natural components which are excellent antibacterial and antifungal agents. It also boosts wound healing and fights inflammation. For all of these reasons, it is highly appropriate to use as an anti-dandruff hair mask. There are actually 3 recipes for tea tree oil hair masks. The first recipe calls for mixing 2 tablespoons of oatmeal with water to form a paste and then adding a few drops of tea tree oil to that paste. The second recipe calls for putting a few drops of tea tree oil into a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil to form a solution which can then be rubbed into the hair. The final recipe calls for mixing half a cup of green tea, 4-5 drops of tea tree oil and one teaspoon of white vinegar to create a rinse for your hair. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Masks

Apple cider vinegar is another powerful, natural substance with strong antibacterial and antifungal qualities. It was very popular for a number of years as a natural remedy for numerous health concerns and, not surprisingly, can also be used to fight dandruff. To create an apple cider vinegar rinse, just add 4-5 drops of apple cider vinegar to one cup of water. For extra effect, you can also try adding a few drops of tea tree oil in a carrier oil like almond oil. The second recipe calls for mixing two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of honey with just a few drops of lemon juice to form a paste. Once you have formed the paste, you can simply apply it to your hair. 

Aloe Vera Gel Hair Masks

Aloe vera is a great anti-inflammatory agent which is why it can be used to treat a number of skin conditions including dandruff. The easiest way to use aloe vera gel as a hair mask is simply to remove fresh aloe vera leaves, cut them open, extract the gel and rub it on your scalp. However, if you would like to use aloe vera gel in a combination hair mask, you can combine two tablespoons of aloe vera gel with two tablespoons of honey and the juice from one, crushed medium-sized garlic. This hair mask will have additional benefits from the active compounds of the honey and garlic. 

Conclusion

While dandruff can certainly be an annoying and unsightly problem, there are many potential solutions. If you want to, at least initially, avoid shampoos and commercial hair preparations with harsh chemicals like sulfates, it is worthwhile to try using a homemade hair mask. Many of these natural substances contain strong compounds that are effective without side effects. Then, if you don’t get the results you are looking for, you can always move on to stronger, synthetic products.