How To Get Rid Of Dandruff Fast (And Naturally)

I don’t know about you, but I have had dandruff and it can be pain to get rid of, not to mention, to spot on your own at times. Usually, someone points it out and then you are a bit embarrassed, probably more so than if you had food in your teeth. But have no fear, I am going to tell you how to spot it on your own, reasons why you have it and how to safely get rid of it. You will never have to worry about those white flakes in your hair again!

How to Spot Dandruff:

I know you are probably thinking “Umm, if I see white flakes on top of my head or shoulders, I have dandruff.” Well, not necessarily. Dandruff could be mistaken for other things. If your scalp is itching, I advise you to check out your scalp in a 15X or 20X magnified mirror. An itchy scalp will not always mean you have dandruff and if you have been in the sun you could have sunburn on your scalp which is treated differently. Itchiness could also be a sign of nits, aka lice. If you can’t tell the difference in the mirror, you can always have someone else check your scalp. Additionally, the biggest misconception is that dry scalp is the same as dandruff, it is not! Other more serious issues are scalp psoriasis and scalp eczema.

4 Signs Of Dandruff On Your Scalp:

Slightly white, thick, heavy textured flakes that are more yellowish in color as opposed to very white powdery flakes which is a sign of dry Scalp.
Flakes that cling to your scalp rather than being loose which could be Dry Scalp or being glued to the hair shaft or firmly attached to the strands of hair which are a definite sign of lice/nits.
Dryness of the scalp without any sign of redness, reddish raised patches, greasy patches, scaliness or crusting of the skin which indicate a skin condition.
A presence of flakes on your shoulders and other areas such as your eyebrows, around your ears, and along sides of your nose.

If you are still unsure if you have dandruff or something more serious, please see a doctor.

Why Do You Have Dandruff?

Now that you have figured out you have dandruff, I am sure you want to determine the reason so that you can prevent this from happening again. The surprising fact that you must know is that dandruff is not caused by dry skin. And believe it or not, you don’t need to wash your hair every day because you can strip the scalp and hair of natural oils and cause irritation. The bad news that you must know is that you cannot cure dandruff. If you are prone to dandruff, then expect that you may see those annoying flakes again. However, you can take proactive measures to heal your scalp from dandruff by about 90 percent to avoid possible flare-ups in the future. If you understand what causes dandruff and learn to change those things you can get rid of dandruff more quickly and effectively.

The Causes Of Dandruff Include:

Infrequent Hair Brushing
Yeast-sensitivity due to being in extreme temperatures or lack of UV light from the sun
Skin Disorders
Skin Conditions such as Seborrheic Dermatitis
Neurological Illnesses
Weak Immune System
Allergic to Hair or Skin Care Products
Nutritional deficiency such as zinc or Vitamin B Deficiency
Stress
HIV

If you brush your hair regularly, not stressed out, not in extreme temperatures nor lack UV light from the sun, a dietician can tell you what nutrients you are lacking. For any other concerns, consult a natural healthcare practicioner.

Fighting the Dandruff Flakes

As I said previously, you can heal and prevent less occurrences of dandruff; thus, limiting the occurrences of the scalp flaking up. Here’s an overview of what products and/or actions you can take that will help internally as well as externally. You’ll want to use a combination of topical treatments and nutrition to get rid of dandruff quicker.

Topical Treatments For Dandruff Include…

Put Organic Coconut Oil on damp hair 3 to 4 times a week. Tip: Melt it in a small bowl to easily apply with fingers or a hair dye color brush throughout scalp and hair. Rinse out with SLS-Free Organic Shampoo for best results. Some great brands are Dr Organic, Odylique and Rahua Classic
Spray your scalp with Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar and water to eliminate the fungus that is causing it. Rinse with SLS-Free Organic Shampoo, then condition with a Natural Deep Conditioner to prevent the ACV from drying out your hair. Some great deep conditioners are Eden Body Works, TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask and Obia Natural Babassu Deep Conditioner
Scrub Baking Soda onto wet hair while massaging it into scalp to exfoliate the flakes and dead skin out of your hair. For best results, rinse your hair with ACV or lemon juice and condition your hair with a natural conditioner.
Wash your hair with a combo of baking soda, olive oil and cinnamon as a scalp detox. Rinse out with water.
Massage Natural Neem oil into scalp overnight. It is part of most anti-fungal and antibacterial skin
medications; therefore, this oil can be used to treat other scalp issues.
Deep Condition your hair with Organic Coconut milk and Lavender Oil.
Use Fenugreek Seeds to hydrate the scalp. You can make it yourself, but if you are lazy like me you can just purchase a fenugreek mask. Be sure to read the directions on how to use it.
Rinse hair with Organic Lemon Juice to balance scalp pH.
Use Aloe Vera as an anti-fungicidal agent and to prevent itching. If you do not want to get a plant and create a hair mask in your blender there are Organic Aloe Vera products you can buy that are in various forms such as a gel, powder, shampoo or deep conditioner.
Treat your scalp with Tulsi Leaves as a strong antifungal and antibacterial agent which also strengthens the scalp. Tulsi Leaves can be purchased as a powder for best results.
Condition your scalp and hair with Organic Olive Oil to moisturize and balance the scalp pH or add lemon juice as an overnight remedy.
Pour Green Tea onto your hair to clear the flakes and moisturize the scalp. Wash out with Organic SLS-Free Shampoo.

If you love shopping online like me, you can buy most of these products on Amazon. I often choose Amazon because it is one of the most popular sites where you can find a multitude of reviews on each product. If you would rather create your own products with the options I have provided, I have found YouTube Videos and Pinterest Infographics to be the most helpful sites for DIY instructions.

Adding Zinc and Vitamin B to Your Diet

If believe that you lack Zinc and Vitamin B in your diet which can cause dandruff, then let’s discuss how you can also heal your scalp internally. Included below will be a breakdown of foods that contain these nutrients and supplements that you can take to remedy your vitamin deficiency.

Foods with Zinc include: Kefir, yogurt, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, cashews, mushrooms, spinach. Eat them more often!

Foods with Vitamin B12 include: Sardines, cottage cheese, eggs, salmon, trout. Eat these more often!

Foods with Vitamin B6 include: Banana, sweet potato, hazelnuts, turkey, garlic, sunflower seeds, avocado. Eat them more often!

Super B-vitamin Supplements For Scalp Health:

I prefer these methods instead of using the toxic dandruff shampoos that you can get at a local store near you. If you know that you are prone to dandruff, just stock up on these products by searching for them online. As I mentioned previously, I have found many of these on Amazon; however, if you choose any other sites, choose the ones that have reviews. If you have a natural store near you such as Sprouts, Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Fresh Market then you should find most of these products there. These stores are also great places to purchase such products because there will be someone there knowledgeable to help you and give you more options.

If you do not like any of the products, all of those stores will allow you to bring it back.